•  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS 


COMPRISING 


CHOICE  SELECTIONS,  ANECDOTES,  SIMILES,  INCIDENTS  EXPLANATORY  AND 

ILLUSTRATIVE,  GATHERED  FROM   MANY  SOURCES  IN  THIS  AND  OTHER  COUNTRIES,  TOGETHER 

WITH  ORIGINAL  ARTICLES  PREPARED  EXPRESSLY  FOR  THIS  WORK,  BY  WHICH  MORE  THAN 


ONE  THOUSAND  SELECTED  PASSAGES 

FROM 

THE     NEW    TESTAMENT 

ARE    ILLUSTRATED. 

BY 


REV.    WILLIAM    JONES, 
1 1 

WITH    ARTICLES    FROM 


Bishop  Clark,  Rev.  Dr.  Krummacher,  Rev.  T.  L.  Cuyler,  Rev.  D.     Curry,  D.  D.,  Bishop 

Thomson,     Rev.  Dr.  Crosby,  Bishop  Hall,  Rev.  Dr.  Buddington,  Rev.  Dr.  Chalmers, 

Rev.  Dr.  Tyng,  Bishop  Simpson,  Rev.  Dr.  Busline!!,  Rev.  C.  H.  Spurgeon, 

Rev.  T.  DeWitt  Talmadge,  and  other  Celebrated  Authors. 


ILLUSTRATED   WITH   STEEL    ENGX 


HARTFORD : 

THE   J.   B.   BURR    PUBLISHING    CO. 
1875. 


Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congress  in  the  year  1874,  by 

WILLIAM   JONES, 
In  the  Office  of  the  Librarian  of  Congress  at  Washington. 


3  PREFACE. 

It  has  been  the  intention  of  the  author  of  this  work,  from  the  begin- 
ning of  its  construction,  to  use  only  such  anecdotes  and  incidents  as 
peculiarly  illustrate  selected  passages  of  the  New  Testament.  It  is  pos- 
sible that,  to  the  minds  of  some  readers,  a  portion  of  its  articles  may  not 
appear  to  illustrate  the  texts  to  which  they  are  attached.  From  such  he 
craves  a  kind  and  charitable  regard  for  the  work,  hoping  they  will 
remember,  that  what  to  some  minds  may  appear  less  relevant  and  pointed 
than  desirable  to  them  may  be  valuable  to  others. 

It  is  humbly  believed  that  this  volume  fills  a  hitherto  unoccupied  space 
in  literature,  by  happily  combining  Scripture,  Incident,  and  Exposition, 
so  that  the  most  common  passages  of  Holy  Scripture,  when  read  in  con- 
nection with  the  articles  attached  to  them,  will  be  invested  with  new 
interest,  and  suggestive  of  new  lines  of -thought. 

The  following  pages  will  preserve  many  valuable  and  hitherto  scattered 
fragments  of  literature  by  putting  them  in  permanent  form.  About  five 
hundred  different  authors  are  represented  in  the  work,  which  comprises 
more  than  one  thousand  separate  articles.  Many  of  these  authors  have 
been  dead  for  centuries,  but  here  speak  again  as  voices  from  the  grave. 
The  compiler  trusts  that  the  minister  of  the  gospel  will  find  in  this  col- 
lection suitable  illustrations  to  use  in  the  pulpit,  and  helps  in  social  meet- 
ings ;  and  that  the  superintendent  of  the  Sunday  school  will  be  greatly 
aided  by  it  in  his  work,  while  the  common  reader  will  find  what  will 
interest  and  pro^t  him  wherever  he  may  open  the  book. 

The  author  would  not  Ml  to  make  acknowledgment  of  indebtedness 
to  the  New  Cyclopedia  of  Illustrations,  by  Rev.  E.  Foster,  from  which  a 
few  articles  have  been  taken;  also  from  Things  New  and  Old,  and 
Arvine's  Cyclopedia,  and  other  smaller  volumes;  while  many  of  the 
selections  have  come  from  religious  papers  of  various  Christian  denomi- 
nations. A  considerable  portion  of  the  book  has  never  appeared  in  print 
before,  being  original  articles  of  the  expository  and  incidental  class,  pre- 
pured  by  the  author  and  others  expressly  for  this  work. 

If  this  volume  shall  strengthen  the  weak,  encourage  the  young,  in  the 
service  of  Christ,  embolden  the  timid,  establish  the  wavering,  awaken 
the  careless,  and  recover  the  deceived  from  the  error  of  his  way,  the 
author  will  feel  that  the  labor  of  years  has  not  been  in  vain.  That  some 
of  these  results,  or  all  of  them,  may  be  realized  by  sending  forth  this 
book  to  the  world,  is  the  prayer  of 

WILLIAM  JONES. 

LYONS,  N.  Y.,  October,  1*874. 


LIST  OF  ILLUSTRATIONS. 


PAGE. 
THE  GOLDEN  GATE,  JERUSALEM FRONTISPIECE. 

JERUSALEM  AND  THE  MOUNT  OF  OLIVES,       .        .        .        .        .        .63 

CHRIST  WALKING  ON  THE  SEA, 71 

CHRIST  GIVING  SIGHT  TO  THE  BLIND, 146 

"SUFFER  LITTLE  CHILDREN  TO  COME  UNTO  ME,"       ....     153 

MOUNT  SINAI  AND  THE  PLAIN, 255 

FRIENDS  OF  JESUS, 261 

JESUS  AND  THE  SAMARITAN, 28 1 

MOSES  AND  THE  TABLES  OF  THE  LAW,  .       .  .       .       .       .30! 

THE  PRINCESS  FINDING  MOSES 383 

CITY  OF  ANTIOCH, 405 

MOUNT  LEBANON  AND  THE  COAST  OF  Si  DON,  ....    441 


CONTENTS. 


PAGE. 

A. 

A  Beautiful  Incident,        ....  218 

A  Boy's  Faith  in  God,        ....  875 

Absorbed  in  Religion, 630 

Access  to  God, 625 

Acknowledging  God  in  Eating,  .     .  68 

A  Command  disregarded,  ....  665 

A  Compliment, 545 

A  Constant  Miracle, 845 

A  Foretaste  of  Coming  Misery,  .     .  837 

A  Fruitful  Text, 424 

After  Death  Influence, 843 

Agony  of  Christ  in  the  Garden,       .  258 

A  Lesson  of  Trust, 557 

All  for  the  Best, 647 

All  Sufficiency  of  Christ,  ....  628 

A  Life  of  Faith, 786 

A  Lost  Man,        83 

Almost  and  Altogether,      ....  439 

A  man    who    Thought    he   Never  _ 

Prayed, 419 

Amusements,  Things  Miscalled,       .  636 

A  Minister  Reproved  by  his  Dream,  380 

A  More  Excellent  way,      ....  540 

Amusements,  what  are  Sinful,     .     .  835 

An  able  Ministry,      ." 565 

An  awful  Confession,  "I  Am  Lost,"  570 

And  the  Book  was  not  There,     .     .  162 

Anger  without  Sin, 807 

An  Incident  with  a  Lesson,     .     .     .  228 

An  Old  Sea  Captain's  Advice,    .     .  582 

A  Misdirected  Letter, 505 

Answers  to  Prayer, 875 

Apostles,  Fate  of, 355 

Apostacy,  Repenting  of,     ....  172 

A  Practical  Refutation, 780 

A  Pulpit  Baptism, 765 

A  Remarkable  Meeting,      ....  932 

A  Rich  Poor  Man, 742 

A  Sermon  that  Paid  Well,    .      .     .  434 

A  Skeptic's  Test, 300 

A  Skeptic  Silenced, 506 

Ask  Large  Blessings, 340 


PAGE. 

A  Solemn  but  True  Charge,  .  .  .  637 
A  Son  who  Preached  his  Father's 

Funeral  Sermon, 64 

Atonement  for  sin,  the  felt  want  of 

man, 545 

Atonement  Illustrated  by  a  Simile,..  766 

A  Touch  of  the  Whip,  ....  724 

A  Trusting  Faith  the  best, ....  192 

Avoiding  Temptation, 677 

Awakened  by  a  Father's  Dream,  .  547 

A  way  of  Escape, 533 

A  War  Against  the  Book,  .  .  .  9(5 

B. 

Bad  Books  and  their  Influence,  .  .  420 
Bad  Principles  Unsatisfactory  in 

Death, .  857 

Baptizing  in  the  Name  of  Jesus,      .  119 

Be  a  Christian  Everywhere,    .     .     .  920 

Beast,  A  Scarlet  Colored,  ....  929 

Beautiful  Prayers, 245 

Be  Careful  of  your  Influence,      .     .  528 
Be  Content  to  Know  what  God  Re- 
veals,        542 

Be  Devout  in  Conversation,    .     .     .  648 

Be  Fair  iii  Comparing, 506 

Be  Gigantic  Christians,      ....  640 

Begin  Your  Religion  Aright,  .  .  266 
Beguiling  Souls  by  Corrupting 

them, 595 

Belief,  A  Man  Responsible  for  his,  .  497 

Belief,  Dr.  Chalmer's  on,  ....  842 

Believe  and  not  Doubt, 91 

Be  Merciful  to  the  Poor,     ....  1 94 

Be  not  Burdened, 718 

Bethlehem  of  Judea, 23 

Beware  of  Pride, 8GO 

Be  Ye  Reconciled  to  God,  .     .     .     .  577 

Beyond  the  Mercy  of  God,      .     .     .  451 

Bible,  An  Eloquent  Tribute  to  the  .  103 

Bible  or  no  Bible, 2S 

Bible,  Authority  of  the,  .  .  .  .  191 
Bible  Promises  of  General  Application,  845 


8 


CONTENTS. 


PAGE. 

Bible  Reading,   Remarkable    Exam- 
ples of, 906 

Billy  Dawson's  Eloquence,     .     .     .  907 

Bishop  Ridley  on  Faithfulness,  .     .  422 

Boasting  in  Christ, 702 

Bodily  Indulgence, 465 

Book*  The  Inestimable,     ....  189 

Boldness  Through  Love,    .     .     .     .  872 

Bishop  Ilatto  or  the  Mouse   Tower,  867 

Bishop  Lattimer's  Old  Sermon,  .     .  446 

Blasphemy, 923 

Blessings  with  Restraint,    .     .     .     .  443  ! 

Blessed  are  the  Dead, 926 

Blood  Purifying, 779 

Blood/The  Price  of, 116 

Blood  of  Christ,  The 856 

Boldness  through  Love,     ....  872 

Bound  with  his  own  Chain,    ...  95 

Brilliant  but  not  Successful,  ...  201 

Buchanan,  Claudius  the  Highlander,  834 

Building  on  the  Sand, 42 

Business  that  God  will  not  take,     .  775 

Business  and  Prayer, 417 

By  these  we  Overcome,       ....  921 

C. 

Call  His  Name  Jesus,     .     .     .     .     .  178 

Can  you  Settle  your  Account  ?     .     ."  234 

Can  we  do  More  for  Christ?  .     .     .  464 

Cares  of  this  World, 61 

Captain  Waterman  at  the  siege  of 

Lucknow, 838 

Carrying  on  Business  for  Christ,     .  680 

Cast  all  upon  Christ,     ...'..  839 

Cheer  Him, 500 

Certainty  of  a  General  Judgment,  .  497 

Character,  Christian — a  growth,      .  134 

Character  indicated  by  works,     .     .  41 

Change  of  the  Sabbath,     ....  174 

Change —  a  Great  in  a  Short  Time,  137 

Character  made  up  of  Morsels,    .     .  803 

Cranmer's  Forgivingness,  ....  161 

Child,  a  Much  Indulged,     ....  6:39 

Children,  the  Early  Conversion  of,  .  82 
Children  to  be  Early  taught  Divine 

Truth, 733 

Childhood  recognized  in   Christian- 
ity,   153 

Christ's  Kingdom  founded  in  Thought  347 

Christ  is  Wonderful, 468 

Christ  the  Soul  Physician,     ...  390 


Christian  Experience  Everywhere,  .  410 

Children  and  Christianity,     .     .     .  372 

Christ  the  Only  Name, 368 

Christ's  Coming  at  the  Sea,    .     .     .  353 
Christ  the  Metropolis  of  the  Script- 
ures,      325 

Christians  represent  Christ,    .     .     .  344 

Christ  the  Model  Teacher,     .     .     .  275 

Christ  our   Sacrifice, 272 

Christ  our  Soul's  Food,     ....  297 

Christ  Divine, 317 

Christian  Faithfulness,      ....  47 

Christ  the  Son  of  God,     ....  72 

Christianity  a  Finality, 100 

Christ  in  the  Garden, 113 

Christ  our  Strength, 478 

Christ  our  King, 930 

Christ,  be  Alive  for, 257 

Christ,  boldly  Confessing,  ....  402 

Christ's  heart  given  for  the  World,  170 

Christ's  Appeal  to  the  Scriptures,    .  27 

Chiseled  to  make  better,     ....  798 

Christ  anticipating  his  finished  work,  341 
Christ's  love  Manifested  in  Sympathy,  320 

Christ  our  Deliverer, 471 

Christianity  Exemplified,  ....  492 

Christ  and  Him  Crucified,     .     .     .  511 

Christ  and  not  Oratory,     .     .     .     .  511 

Christian  Labor  not  Mascrline,  .     .  655 

Christ  the  Head  of  the  Church,  .     .  660 

Christian  Burden  a  Blessing,     .     .  598 

Christ  our  All  in-all, 622 

Christ  at  the  Heart's  Door,  ...  901 
Christ  described  by -St.  John,     .     .917 

Christ's  Ascension, 268 

Christian  Women, 265 

Christ  in  Sympathy  with  the  Suffer- 
ing,        45 

Christ,  double  Sufferings  of,    .     .     .  1 73 

Christmas  Evan's  Polislud  Arrow,  .  567 

Christian  Liberality, 589 

Christian  Courtesy, 833 

Christian  Effort, 652 

Christianity  proving  itself,     ...  318 

Church,  a  shining, 32 

Chrysostom's  Eloquence,    ....  67 

Cleaving  to  Christ, 335 

Clinging,  a  Scripture  Poem,  .     .     .  946 

Coming  back  to  Christ,     ....  853 

"  Come  ye  to  the  Waters,"     .     .     .  303 

Commune,  Refusing  to, 536 


CONTENTS. 


Come  now, 226 

Complete  only  in  Christ,    ....  664 

Coming  of  the  Son  of  Man,  .     .     .  102 

Converted  Late  in  Life, 227 

Confessor,  a  True, 484 

Continued  all  Night  in  Prayer,    .     .  1 93 

Convicted  by  their  own  Consciences,  305 

Conquering  one's  self, 657 

Conversion, 367 

Conscience,  Relief  for  a  Distressed,  455 

Count  Gasparin,  Conversion  of,     .  304 

Courteous  Reply  to  an  Infidel,  .     .  293 

Couple  Heaveti  with  it, 840 

Correct  view  of  the  Pulpit,     .     .     .  735 

Covetousness,  the  Sin  of,    .     .     .     .  219 

Covetousness, 635 

Covetousness,  a  Soul  Destroyed  by,  816 

Crucifixion  Described, 350 

Crowns  of  the  Saints, 903 

Cups  of  Cold  Water, 151 

Cyril  of  Cesarea, 573 

D. 

Dancing  that  led  to  Murder,  .     .     .  143 

Danger  in  Doubting, 307 

Daniel  confirmed  by  Historic  Discov- 
eries,    166 

Daniel,  Prophecy  fulfilled,      .     .     .  101 
Day  of  Judgment  and  Perdition  of 

Ungodly  Men, 851 

Death  of  a  Backslider, 713 

Dead  yet  Living, 785 

Death  of  a  Noted  Infidel,   .     .     .     .  115 

Dealing  with  a  Young  Infidel,  .     .  84 

Deceivableness  of  Sin, 470 

Death-bed  testimony  against  Avari- 

ciousness, 221 

Denying    Christ  through  Covetous- 
ness,    729 

Delivered  unto  death  for  our  sins,    .  459 

Deliver  us  from  evil, 214 

Delivered,  Providentially,  ....  396 

Departing  from  God, 754 

Delay  Dangerous, 758 

Description  of  our  Saviour,    .     .     .  349 

Despise  not  Prophesying,  ....  685 

Demonology  of  the  Bible,     ...  407 

Despising  and  Ridiculing  Religion,  400 

Did  she  Walk  in  Newness  of  Life?  463 

Did  he  not  do  Right  ? 370 

Did  you  ever  drink  of  that  Fountain  ?  937 


PAGE. 

Did  not  belong  to  Christ's  Flock,  .  862 

Difficulties  settled  by  Forgiving  them,  559 

Dignity  of  Believers, 749 

Discipline  of  the  Young,    ....  797 

Diligent  in  Doing  Evil,      ....  521 

Dissimulation, 604 

Divinity  and  Humanity  of  Christ,  480 
Devices   of   Satan   for  purposes   of 

advantage  over  Men,     ....  560 

Divine  Anathema  explained,      .     .  556 

Divine  Love  'for  the  Unworthy,  .     .  804 

Doctrinal  Preaching, 711 

Doctrinal  and  Practical  Preaching,  715 

Doers  of  the  Word, 805 

Double   Sufferings  of  Christ,     .     .  173 

Dome  of  God's  Providence,    .     .     .  146 

Do  Nothing  Religion, 208 

Do  not  leave  Christ  out,    ....  386 

Do  not  Fret, 253 

Do  the  Truth, 2SO 

Donald  and  the  Duke, 779 

Doing  the  Devil's  Work,    ....  393 

Doing  Good  prevented  Sin,     .     .     .  453 

Do  you  Ever  Pray  ? 489 

Dr.  Cummings  on  "  The  Real  Pres- 
ence,"       5.35 

Dr.  Channing  as  a  Preacher,      .     .  C01 

Dr.  Fletcher  and  the  Dying  Infidel,  316 

Dr.  Guthrie's  Secret,     .....  135 

Dr.  Hall's  Tract,  "Come   ta  Jesus,"  55 

Drifting, 6CO 

Dr.  Mason  and  the  Dying  Unitarian,  COS 

Dr.  Miller's  Duck  Story,  ....  641 

Dr.  Morrison,  Boyhood  of,     ...  693 

Dr.  Nettleton's  reply  to  a  Caviler,  .  409 

Dr.  Judson's  Conversion,  ....  821 

Dress  of  Christian  Women,    .     .     .  831 

Dress  as  an  Idol, 808 

Drunkenness, 524 

Dr.  Rush  on  Theater  Going,       .     .  466 

Dying  of  Thirst, 284 

Dying  Without  Hope,    .     .     .     .     .  782 

E. 

Earnest  Faith,       .     .     /TV   .     .  720 

Earth,  Destruction  of  by  Fire,    .     .  853 

Effects  of  Prayer, 868 

Effectiveness  of  Appropriate  Illustra- 
tion,    128 

Embarrassing  a  Priest, 144 

Emotional  Christianity,     ....  426. 


10 


COXTENTS. 


PAGE. 

Enlargement  a  Great  Blessing,  .     .  580 

Epistle,  a  Living, 563 

Epistles  of  Christ, 564 

Error,  Contributions  to,     ....  847 

Error  Blind?  the  Mind;      ....  696 

Established  in  Faith, 406 

Eternal  Life, 452 

Eternal  Duration, 85 

Eternity, 132 

Evangelism  against  Boinaiiisin,  •     •  694 

Evidences  of  Genuine  Conversion,  .  5S8 

Evil  Company, 523 

Expository  Preaching,       ....  717 

Example,  a  bad,  and  its  Influence,  .  499 

Exposition  of  St.  Matt.  1G:  18,  .     .  75 

F. 

Faith,  a  Mother's,  Rewarded,      .     .  75 

Faithful  Treadling, 103 

Fair  weather  Christians,    .     .     .     .  115 

Faith  that  Removes  Mountains,       .  160 

Faith  Triumphing  over  Nature,       .  457 

Faith  which  Justifies, 460 

Faith  Subject  to  the  Will,       ...  483 

Faith,  Contending  for  the,      ...  882 

Faithful  Frances,  ..;...  C50 
Faithful  Resistance  to  Evil,  .  .  .716 
Faithfulness  in  the  Discharge  of 

Duty, .     .  8SO 

Faith,  Early  Christian,       ....  878 

Faithful  unto  Death 894 

Faithfulness  Rewarded,       ....  927 

Faithful  Dealing  with  Sinners,     .     .  931 

False  Conscientiousness,     ....  100 

False  Charity,      .......  239 

Falsir  rivtenses,  Rebuked  for,      .     .  259 

False  Representations,       ....  436 

False  Philosophy  corrected  by  Chris- 
tianity,    552 

Far  from  God,  a  Punishment,     .     .  151 

Farragut,  Admiral,  and  the  Priest,  .  880 

Fashionable  Women, 527 

Father  and  Son,  Equal  Honor  to,    .  290 

Father  Sewell,  Anecdote  of,    .     .     .  169 

Frar  the  Sexton, 216 

I-Y.-d  My  Lambs, 354 

Female  Influence, 262 

Female  Helpers  in  the  Ministry,       .  503 

Fenclon,  A  Pupil  of, 569 

Figures  of  Heaven, 911 

Final  Destruction  of  the  Covcteous,  2::8 


Finding  Happiness  in  God,     .     .     . 

Fisk,  1).  D.,  Rev.  Wilbur,      .     .     . 

Five  Steps  to  the  Gallows,     .     .     . 

Flying  to  Christ,  as  the  only  Hope, 

Follow  the  True  Light,        .... 

For  or  Against  Christ, 

Forgiveness  Among  Neighbors, .     . 

Foolish  Questions  Wisely  Answered, 

For  Charlie's  Sake, 

For  the  Gospel's  Sake, 

Forgiveness,  Rule  of, 

Form  of  Godliness  without  the 
Power, 

Found  Again  in  Safety,      .... 

Fruit  after  Many  Days,      .... 

Fruitless  Professors, 

From  Darkness  to  Light,  . 

Funeral  Sermons,  Be  True  in  Preach- 
ing,   

Fully  Saved, 


G. 

Getting  on  too  Fast, 

Gcrizime  and  Ebal, 

Giving  Thanks  to  God,      .... 

Giving  to  God,  a  Condition  of  Re- 
ceiving,   

Gifts  of  Gold  to  Jesus, 

Give,  Exalted  to, 

Giving,  Father  Sewell 's 

Giving  Scripturally  and  by  Resolu- 
tion,   

Glory  Awaiting  us, 

Glorying  in  the  Cross  of  Christ,     . 

Glorifying  God  in  all  Things,      .     . 

Glorying  in  Tribulation,     .         .     . 

"  God  was  in  Christ,  " 

God's  Promises, 

God's  Way  the  Best  Way,      .     .     . 

God  is  not  a  Me  reliant,       .     .     .     . 

God*s  Name, 

God  our  all  Sufficiency,       .... 

God's  Providence  and  Poor  Jack,    . 

God  our  Inheritance, 

God's  Love  to  Man 

Gospel  Likened  unto  an   Angel,  . 

Good  Things  Given  with  Grace, 

God's  Testimony  of  Approbation,  . 

God  Answers  Prayer, 

"Go,"  .  .  .  ! 

Go  Ye  and  do  Likewise,  .... 


PAGE 
(.28 
405 
916 
771 
21 
56 
240 
251 
328 
529 
667 

730 
830 
612 
897 
941 

375 

6SO 


26 

285 
682 


773 
23 

378 
391 

554 
572 
619 
836 
403 
576 
583 
593 
623 
G51 
65S 
731 
751 
870 
913 
38 
79 
92 
175 
211 


CONTENTS. 


11 


God  and  Two  Cents  are  Everything,  241 

Gospel  Light,  the  only  True,  .     .     .  270 

God  Only  can  do  These  Things,       .  338 

Gospel,  Characteristics  of,      ...  121 

God's  Word, 342 

God  with  His  People, 382 

Good  Shepherd,  Christ  the,     ...  315 

God's  Way  to  a  Wicked  Heart,  .     .  412 

God's  Special  Providence,       .     .     .  432 

God's  Anvil,     . 460 

Good  Out  of  Evil, 475 

God  is    Able    to    Graft    Them   in 

Again, 488 

God's  Word  the  Only  Authority,     .  508 
God  Giveth  the  Increase,    .     .     .     .  515 
Great   Results  from    Small  Begin- 
nings,'   810 

Grace  and  Salvation  from  God,  .     .  812 

Grace,  A  Better  View  of,  ....  852 

Growth  in  Grace, 855 

Grace,  a  Spiritual  Sight,    ....  911 

Grace  Freely  Offered, 461 

Guilty  for  not  Coming  to  the  Light,  279 

H. 

Have  Faith  in  God, .159 

Harmony  of  Voice  and  Life,  .     .     .  198 

Habitual  Christian  Activity,  .     .     .  501 

Half  a  Century's  Labors,  ....  596 

Having  the  Mind  of  Christ,    .     .     .  650 

Handsomely  Declined, 717 

Hardships  of  the  Rich,       .     .     .     .  721 

Having  the  Glory  of  God,      .     .     .  941 

He  was  God  and  Man, 44 

Heaven  Entered  with  Difficulty,      .  154 

Hearer,  An  Honest, 133 

Hearing  and  Retaining,     ....  199 

He  Rcceiveth  Sinners, 230 

He  Pleads  Guilty, 248 

Heaven,  Straight  Road  to,     ...  239 

He  Mistook  the  Light, 252 

He  Healed  the  Distant  Sick,  ...  287 

Heat  and  Light, 292 

He  Needed  Light  from  Above,     .     .  319 

"  He  Purgeth  It," 333 

Heaven  a  Locality, 357 

Heroism  of  a  Female  Missionary,  .  428 

He  will  Raise  us  up, 472 

"Heaven  a  Prepared  Place,  .     .     .     .  480 

He  did  not  Keep  his  Vow,      .     .     .  590 

He  gave  More  and  felt  Better,      .     .  591 


PACK. 

"He  Knows  not  what  ho  Saith,"      .  C01 

He  Died  for  us, 60:2 

He  shrewdly  Covered  his  Tracks,     .  646 

He  was  Tempted  Like  as  we  are,     .  763 

"  Heavier  the  Cross," 796 

Heart,  A  Pure, 741 

He  Found  an  Altar  for  his  Sacrifice,  802 

Heavenly  Inheritance,   .....  823 

He  had  the  True  Hope,     ....  8G6 

Helping  the  Preacher, 881 

Hear  for  thy  Life, 889 

His  Name  called  Jesus,     ....  20 

His  Blood  Shed  for  Us,     ....  256 

"  Him  that  Cometh  to  Me,"   ...  299 

Hidden  Treasures  in  the  Word,     .  663 

His  Doctrine  old  enough, — not  true,  695 

His  Mouth  was  Stopped,    ....  739 

His  Rights  Forfeited, 800 

How  the  Pure  in  Heart  see  God,     .  30 

How  do  you  Treat  my  Master?     .     .  50 

How  this  World  may  End,     .     .     .  167 

How  could  you  say  the  Lord's  Prayer?  195 

Holy  Bible,  Great  is  the,    ....  186 

Holding  to  our  Profession,     .     .     .  781 
How  an    Ignorant    Cobbler    knew 

Christ  to  be  God, 198 

Honor  to  Christ  not  to  be  Divided,  .  204 

How  much  do  you  owe  the  Lord  ?     .  235 

How  to  have  a  Revival  Church,     .  364 
How  much  a  Christian  is  worth  to 

the  Church, 379 

How  all  may  Preach, 427 

Honor  God  in  Asking  much,     .     .  339 

How  we  should  Eat  and  Drink,     .  5.74 

How  the  Doctor,  found  Jesus,     .     .  5G5 

How  can  I  meet  it? 58"J 

Hoarding  and  Giving, 586 

How  Drunkards  arc  made,     .     .     .  615 

How  best  to  Live  in  Pence,     .     .     .  639 

How  to  Make  Successful  Pastors,    .  688 

Holiness, 799 

How  a  Fly  Helped  the  Minister,     .  895 

Elugh  Latimer's  Conversion,  .     .     .  200 

Humility  and  Truth, 205 

Elumility  a  Christian  Grace,  .     .     .  626 

Humbled  but  Exalted, 813 

Hurtful  Pleasures  Forbidden,     .     .  817 

I. 

I  am  Jesus," 369 

I  Am," ,944 


12 


CONTEXTS. 


PAGE. 

Idlers  in  the  Church, 88 

Identity  not  lost  in  Death,  .  .  .  549 

Idleness  the  Root  of  Vices,  .  .  .  698 

"  If  thou  Knewest  the  Gift  of  God,"  283 

If  Untrue  to  God,  why  not  to  Man  ?  611 

Ignorance  the  Father  of  Infidelity,  849 

Ignatius,  a  Primitive  Marlyr,  .  .  922 

"  I  in  You," 329 

Illustrious  Scholars  Give  a  United 

Testimony, 676 

Importunity  in  Prayer,  ....  215 

Improve  the  Light  now,  .  ...  323 

Importance  of  Revival  Labors,  .  .  368 

Imputed  Righteousness  of  Christ,  .  458 

Immortality  of  the  Soul — Proof  of,  723 

Imitation  of  Christ 858 

Intended  for  a  Joke, 85 

Intention  is  Rewarded, 167 

Infidelity  does  not  Know,- ....  207 

Integrity  of  the  Sacred  Text,  .  .  331 

Inspiration, 362 

Infidelity  without  Hope,  ....  437 

Intercession  of  the  Spirit,  .  ".  .  474 

Invitation  Society, 285 

Instructive  Etymology  of  the  Word 

Tribulation, 477 

Internal  Glory  of  the  Believer,  .  .  566 
Intellectual  Culture  not  the  Highest 

Good, 606 

Influence  of  the  Hidden  Life,  .  .  666 

Infidel,  An,  and  his  Dog,  .  ,  .  .  509 

Inheritance,  The  Unseen,  ....  659 

Infinite  Saviour,  We  need  an,  .  .  664 

In  Season — out  of  Season,  ...  734 

Innocence  and  Guilt  Pictured,  .  .  755 

Inscriptions  on  Believer's  "Tombs,  .  789 

In  Heaviness  for  a  Season,  .  .  .  823 

Interesting  Variety  of  the  Bible,  .  846 

In  the  Spirit  on  the  Lord's  Day,  .  893 

Inexhaustible  Store-house  of  Truth,  904 

"It  is  I," 69 

"  It  must  Rain  faster,"  ....  361 
"  It  doth  not  yet  Appear  what  we 

shall  be," 865 

"  I  was  Sick,  and  ye  Visited  Me,"  .  103 

I  will  Give  Nothing, 194 

"  I  will  never  Leave  Thee,"  ...  801 

I  would  see  Jesus. 322 


J. 


Jesus  Swift  to  Save, 


PAGE. 

Jewish  Phylacteries, 98 

Jesus  Tempted  by  Satan,   ....  123 

Jesus  and  the  Blind  Man,     .     .     .  146 

Jehoiada's  Idea  of  Giving,     .     .     .  163 

Jesus  in  His  Childhood,     ....  185 

Jesus  at  Jacob's  Well, 281 

Jesus  the  True  Bread, 299 

"Jesus  Wept," 321 

Jesus  Whispering, 454 

Jesuitical  Ilvpocrisy, 708 

Jesus  Christ  the  True  God,     ...  878 

Jesus  the  Lock, 899 

John  Maynard,  the  Faithful  Pilot,  .  106 

Joy  in  Heaven, 231 

Joy  from  Refreshing  the  Saints,     .  747 

John  on  Patmos, 892 

Judgment  Day  Separations,   ...  27 

Judas,  the  Covetous  Disciple,     .     .  168 

Justly  Ridiculed  for  his  Wickedness,  309 

Judgments  of  God  Manifested,    .     .  374 

Justification  and  Sanctification,  .     .  399 

Judgment,  the  Future, 416 

Judicious  Advice  to  a  Wag,     .     .     .  454 

Justly  Rebuked, 578 

Judgment,  Fear  of, 574 

Justified  through  Faith  in  Christ,    .  605 

Judgment,  A  Solemn, 928 

Judged  at  the  Last  Day,     ....  935 

K. 

Keep  the  Commandments,     ...  86 

Keep  the  Gate  Shut, 788 

Keeping  Our  Garments  Pure,     .     .  928 

Kingdom  of  Heaven,  Least  in,    .     .  52 

Kingdom  of  God,      ^y^l  -     -     -  521 

Knowledge  that  will  not  Profit,  .     .  527 

Knowledge  shall  Vanish  away,    .     .  541 


Laborer,  a  True  Harvest,  .  . 
La.ncntations  of  a  Lost  Soul, 
Laying  up  Eternal  Stores,  . 

Labor,  Personal, 

Laying  Aside  the  Bones,    .     . 


.  46 

.  Ill 

.  450 

.  418 

.  854 

Left  Behind,     .     .  * 43 

Leaving  all  for  Christ,  .     .     .     .     •  155 

Learn  to  be  Silent, 172 

Learning  the  Way  to  Heaven,     .     .  512 
Less  Denominational — More  Chris- 
tian,       514 

Lepers  of  Jerusalem, 241 


CONTENTS. 


13 


PAGE. 

Let  me  go,  for  7  am  a  Christian,     .  933 

Living  by  the  Day, 38 

Life  Printing  Itself, 59 

Liberal  Christians  and  Broad  Church- 
ism,      247 

Life  from  God  alone,     .     .    '.     .     .413 

Light  Shining  into  Hearts,     .     .     .  570 

Live  to  be  Useful, 575 

Limited  Atonement, 742 

"  Lord  Save  Me," 70 

Lost  Souls,  no  Hope  to,     .     .     .     .  Ill 

"  Lo,  I  am  with  you," 121 

Love  for  Christ  Stronger  than  Filial 

Kelations, 229 

Lost  from  Loving  the  Applause  of 

Men, 294 

Looking  only  to  Christ,      ....  365 

Longing  to  Save  Souls,     ....  529 

Love  the  True  Test, 541 

Loving  Silver  the  Eoot  of  Evil,     .  719 

Love  for  the  Saints, 746 

Look  to  Jesus, 794 

Love  a  Christian  Duty,     ....  828 

"Lost,"  "Lost," 936 

Luther's  Mode  of  Preaching,      .     .  510 

Luther's  Argument  with  the  Devil,  .702 

M. 

Made  of  one  Blood, 414 

Making  Mock  of  Divine  Things,     .  224 

Making  the  Right  Use  of  his  Eyes,  656 

Mammoth  Place  of  Amusement,      .  421 

Mansion,  A  Finer, 327 

Martyr,  A,  of  the  Roman  Coliseum,  51 

Martyrdom  of  Paschal,      ....  909 

Martins,  the  Young  Martyr,  .     .     .  202 

May  Women  Preach  the  Gospel,     .  286 

May  we  so  Pray  ? 644 

Martyrdom  at  Rome,     .....  792 

Means  of  Gi-ace  properly  used,     .     .  856 

Mediator, — Chi'ist — our 704 

Meditation,  as  a  Moral  Duty,     .     .  711 

Melancholy  and  Temptations,     .     .  784 

Meeting  for  the  first  time  in  Heaven,  919 

Mirage,  The  Fatal, 616 

Ministerial  Propriety, 671 

Ministerial  Pride 705 

"  Mine  is  a  Religion  for  all  Weather,"  873 

Ministering  to  Him,  ......  107 

Ministers,  A  Word  to,' 130 

Misfortune  Changed  to  a  Blessing,  136 


Ministers    Baptized    of    the    Holy 

Ghost, 355 

Ministering  Angels,  ......     396 

Ministering  at  the  Sick  Bed,.       .     .     109 

Missions,  Progress  of, 401 

Ministry  of  Affliction, 473 

Ministers,  Suggestions  to,  ....     502 

Miser,  The, 220 

Moral  Instincts,  or  Sonl  Powers, 
Moral  and  Christian  Men  Contrasted, 
Money  Received  in  Exchange  for  his 

Soul, 

Modern  Iscariots, 

Modern  Dancing  and  the  Bible,  .     . 

Modesty  of  Apparel, 

Mother's  Example,  A  Pious,  .     .     . 
My  Master's  Errand, 


N. 

Natural  Goodness, 

Named  by  the  Angel,  "  The  Son  of 

God," 

Nathaniel  R.  Cobb's  Covenant,  .     . 

Neglecting  Salvation, 

Neglected  Truths, 

Not  Saved, 

Nothing  to  do, 

"  Now  God  take  Baby,"  .... 
Novel  Reading,  President  Humphrey 

on, 

"  Nothing  but  Leaves,"  .... 
Not  Satisfied  with  a  Part,  .... 
Noah  did  not  Close  the  Door,  .  . 
No  Hope  for  the  Moralist,  .  .  . 
Noah  Webster,  Conversion  of,  .  . 
Not  by  Works  but  by  Faith,  .  .  . 
Not  Conformed  but  Transformed,  . 
Now  is  the  Accepted  Time,  .  .  . 
No  Longer  a  Persecutor,  .... 

Not  Feeling  but  Faith, 

Not  Justice  but  Pardon,  .... 
Not  What  I  Want  Now,  .... 
Not  Ashamed  to  call  Them  Breth- 


54 

87 

149 
171 
233 
705 
723 
176 

145 

179 
196 

750 


ren, 


No  Mercy  Except  through  Christ,  . 
Not  Eloquence  but  Love,  .... 
Not  Denominational  but  Christian, 
Not  Afraid  of  Father's  Voice,  .  , 

O. 

Obedience  the  Test  of  Piety,  .     .     .     330 
Obedience  to  Parents, 669 


62 
88 
90 

131 
158 
183 
242 
327 
276 
482 
490 
578 
603 
C07 
634 
678 

752 
783 
869 
910 
915 


CONTENTS, 


Obey  Authorities, 744 

Obedience  a  Moral  Obligation,    .     .  748 
"O !  He  is  a  Great  Forgiver,"     .     .261 

Oldest  Christian  Hymn,     ....  543 

Olympian  Race, 793 

Omniscience  of  God, 404 

Only  Believe, 140 

Ordained  to  Stewardship,  ....  517 

Our  Sorrows  a  Bitter  Cup,     .     .     .  345 

Our  Accusers, 433 

Our  Relation  to  God, 609 

Our  High  Callings, 654 

Our  Completeness  in  God,      .     .     .  670 

Our  Sins  not  Hidden  from  God,       .  761 

Over-Scrupulousness, 165 

Our  Religion  the  First  Thing,     .     .  627 

Our  Faith  Pleasing  to  God,     ...  787 

P. 

Paintings,  The  Spoiled 795 

Parables,  New  Testament,       .     .     .  209 
Paine,  Thomas,  silenced,    ....  225 
Parental  Duties  in  Regard  to  Child- 
ren,      311 

Payson's  Illustration  by  the  Thread,  324 

Paul  and  Felix,     .     .     ...     .     .     . '  435 

Passover,  Christ  the  Christian,    .     .  522 

Passed  through  the  Sea,     ....  532 

Pastoral  Prudence, 620 

Paul  and  Trophimus,     .     .....     .  737 

"  Pearl  of  Great  Price,"     ....  65 

Peace  Proclaimed,  an  Illustration,  .  139 

Persistent  Praying  Illustrated,    .     .  244 

Peril  in  Amassing  Riches,       .     .     .  274 

Peace  in  Jesus, 332 

Pentecost,  A  Modem, 360 

Pentecostal  Gifts, 360 

Persecuted  because  he  was  Good,     .  430 
Peter  Yannest   and  the  Prcdestina- 

rian 531 

Persecuted  but  not  Forsaken,      .     .  571 

Perfeetncss  of  Christianity,    .     .     .  806 

Pigalle's  Almsgiving, 215 

Pilot,  The  Safe,    . 296 

Pious  Christian  Female,     ....  503 

Plants  that  shall  be  Rooted  up,    .     .  73 

Power  of  a  Mother's  Prayer,  ...  74 

Power  of  the  Lord  to  Save,    .     .     .  192 

Power,  The  Indispensable,      .     .     .  267 

Power  of  Truth,  The, 271 

Power  of  Prayer, 373 


PAGE. 

Power  of  a  Good  Man's  Life,      .     .  394 

Power  of  God's  Word,       ....  496 

Possessing  all  Things, 579 

Positive  Christianity, 647 

Power  in  the  Pulpit, 653 

Popish   Practices    in    a  Protestant 

Church, 850 

Polycarp's  Noble  Confession,       .     .  924 

Power  Preaching  of  the  Gospel,      .  925 

Power  of  the  Bible, 937 

Pray, 392 

Prayer  Answered,  The  "Wife's,     .     .  525 

Prayer,  Wrestling  in, 670 

Prayer,  Extraordinary   Answer   to,  443 

Praying  in  the  Name  of  Christ,       .  235 
Prayer  Answered     Though     Long 

Delayed, 244 

Prayer,  An  Extraordinary  Act,       .  364 

Prayer,  Acceptable,  Essential  to,      .  176 

Pray  for  the  Preacher, 697 

Prayer  Answered  to  his  Ruin,      .     .  754 

Pray  that  Sermon, 767 

Prayer  Answered  in  Judgment,  .  814 
Prayer,  Efficacy  in  Healing  the  Sick,  818 
Preach  to  Them  as  Sinners,  .  .  .  142 
Preach  for  the  Masses,  ....  163 
Preaching  Accompanied  with  Di- 
vine Power, 189 

Preaching  that  Takes  Hold,    ...  562 

Preaching  by  Telegraph,    .     .     .     .  313 

Preaching  the  Main  Thing,    .     .     .  385 

Preaching  to  a  Single  Hearer,     .     .  388 

Preaching  Peace  by  Jesus  Christ,     .  393 

Preaching  the  Whole  Truth,       .     .  424 

Preaching  an  Institution  of  God,     .  485 

Preach  Christ  Crucified,     ....  507 

Preaching  to  one  Passenger,  .     .     .  693 

Preach  so  as  to  Please  God,     .     .     .  675 

Preaching  from  Experience,    .     .     .  640 

Preachers,  Advice  to, 631 

Preach  Pointedly  and  to  Save,     .     .  53 

I' reaching  for  a  Crown,      ....  7.'i6 

Preacher,  An  Unfaithful,    ....  738 
Prevailing  Prayer  in  the  Old    South 

Church,      ". 80 

1 'reservation  of  Moses,       ....  3b3 

"  Prepare  to  M.-.-t  Thy  God,"     .     .  433 

Present  the  Promises, 841 

Presumption  is  not  Faith,  ....  848 

Presented  Faultless, 886 

Private  Prayer, 143 


CONTENTS. 


15 


Prince  of  Excellence,  .... 
Profane  Language,  .... 
Problem,  A  Hard  to  Solve,  .  . 

Providence, 

Proportionate  Giving,        .     .     .     , 
Providential  Deliverance,       .     .     , 

Pruning  the  Vine, 

Put  a  King  on  his  Hand,    .     .     .     , 
Public  Worship,  Excuses  for  N"on 

attendance 

Pulpit,  A  Wonderful,     .     .     .     . 

Punished  in  Part, 

Punished  Forever  and  Ever,  .     .     . 
Purity,  the  Beauty  of  the  Soul, 
Punishment,  Endless,    .     .     .     . 
Punished  by  a  Judgment  from  God, 

a. 

Queen,  A  Christian,  .  .  .  . 
Queen  Victoria  and  the  Sabbath, 
Quenching  the  Spirit,  .... 
Quietness  of  Spirit,  .... 


K. 

Reason  and  Religion 

Reaching  the  Hearts  of  the  People, 
Reasons  for  Serving  the  Lord,  .  . 
Reading  Prayers  under  Difficulties, 

Ready  to  Die,        

Religion,  A,  That  can  be  Despi  ed,  . 
Religious  Excitement  Justifiable,  . 

Rebuking  a  Scoffer, 

Rebuke,  A  Just, 

Religious  Conversation,  .... 
Reliei  Obtained  by  a  Dream,  .  . 
Recognition  oi  Friends  in  Heaven,  . 
Refuge,  City  of,  Christ  our,  .  .  . 
Remarkable  from  Association^,  .  . 
Remarkable  Description  of  St.  Paul, 
Reproducing  the  New  Testament,  . 

Repeating  Sermons, 

Remarkable  Facts, 

Redeemed  from  all  Iniquity,  .  .  . 
Religion  the  Power  of  God,  .  .  . 

Retribution, 

Religion  not  to  be  Covered  up,    .     . 

Reproach  is  Wealth, 

Retribution,  Future, 

Resisting  the  Spirit, 

Resisting  the  Devil, 

Request  of  the  Dying  Infidel,  .  . 
Revelation, 


PAGE. 
173 
99 
148 
431 
584 
737 
334 
232 

336 
462 
689 
691 
710 
768 
915 


GO 
263 

683 
832 

126 
129 
23? 
408 
382 

50 
386 
884 
740 
266 
117 
250 
186 
440 
593 
255 
401 

63 
743 
445 
449 
482 
791 
883 
632 
812 
876 
888 


Resurrection,  The, 550 

Resurrection  of  the  Dead,  .  .  .  434 

Rewarded  Now  or  Then,  ....  36 

Rewarded  for  a  Cup  of  Cold  Water,  282 

Resurrection,  The  Final,  ....  291 

Revivals,  Dr.  Lyman  Beecher  on,  .  376 

Responsibility,  Personal,  ....  498 

Righteous  Tribulation  to  Tfcv.iblevs,  690 
Right  and  Wrong  Relations  of 

Money, 722 

Rich  for  a  Moment, POl 

Riches  of  the  Gospel,  .  •  .  .  .  .  06 1 

Riches,  Danger  of, 246 

Romanism,  Escaped  from,  .  .  .  777 

Romans,  The  First  Chapter  of,  .  .  446 

Romish  Errors,  Date  of,  ....  447 

Rowland  Hill's  Master  Stroke,  .  .  672 

Romanism  Opposed  to  Improvement,  694 
Rowing  and  Steering  the  Boat  of 

Life, 426 

S. 

Sabbath  Keeping,  A  Blessing,  .  .  129 

Salt,  Covenant  of, 152 

Salvation,  the  Central  Idea  of  the 

Bible, 180 

Salvation  of  one  Soul,  The,  .  .  .  17r> 

Saved  by  Believing, 321 

Sanctification  Through  the  Truth,  .  343 

Satan  Vanquished, 279 

Saved  Through  Grace,  .  .  .  .  4(»3 

Saved  with  Utmost  Completeness,  .  776 

Sanctification  Lost  and  Regained,  »  769 
Sanctification,  Archbishop  Usher's 

Views  of, 6S7 

Saying  the  Same  Words, 114 

Scarlet  and  Crimson  Sins,  .  .  .  910 

Scandal, 714 

Sharper  than  a  Two  Edged  Sword,  709 
Small  Things  Make  up  a  Godly 

Life, 4.30 

Stars  of  the  First  Magnitude,  .  .  5-18 

Stand  up  for  Jesus,  ......  377 

Stand  Fast  for  Christ, 613 

Stand  Fast  when  Tempted,  .  .  .  752 

Stand  by  your  Candidate,  .  .  .  697 

Straitened  in  Themselves,  .  .  .  580 

Shall  I  be  one  of  Them  1  ....  926 

St.  Paul,  the  Apostle  of  the  Gentiles,  429 

St.  Paul  in  Paradise, 597 

Secret  Prayer, 37 


16 


CONTENTS. 


PAGE. 

Send  for  the  Gas  Man,       ....  93 

Search  the  Scriptures, 293 

Selling  a  Soul, 78 

Second  Birth, 276 

"  Seen  of  Angels," 707 

Seeing  Jesus, 750 

Swearing  in  Hebrew, 33 

She  Preferred  Christ  to  Home,     .     .  147 

She  Died  without  Mercy,  ....  782 

Speaking  Evil, 633 

Speak  the  Truth  Always,  ....  644 

Swearing  a  Great  Sin, 818 

Steadfastness  to  Principle  Rewarded,  756 

Speaking  of  Christ, 81 

Speaking  for  Christ, 81 

Serious  Affairs  To-morrow,    .     .     .  662 

Sleeping  in  Church, 421 

Swearing  Alone, 938 

Skepticism,  Belief  and, 613 

Sincerity  not  a  Saviour,     ....  387 

Simplicity  of  Saving  Faith,    .     .     .  459 

Sin,  Different  Estimates  of,     .     .     .  471 

Simplicity  of  the  Gospel,  ....  558 

Sin,  Every  Forbidden, 808 

Sins  are  Linked  Together,      .     .     .  187 

Simply  Believe, 297 

Sin  Against  the  Holy  Ghost,       .     .  57 

Simple  Preaching, 29 

Stingy  Christians, .589 

Spiritual  Wrestling, 643 

Spiritism, 868 

Scriptures,  How  to  Read  Them,       .  384 

Scriptural  Titles  of  Christ,     ...  20 

Scripture  Transcribers, 66 

Scriptural     Separation     from     the 

World, 342 

Spiritual  Vision,        312 

Spiritual  Gifts 537 

Spiritual  Life  Better  than   Ceremo- 
nies,    809 

Scriptural  Drink, 533 

Striking  God's  Children,  .     .     .     .  110 

Striking  Retribution, 397 

So  Ought  Husbands  to  Love  Tlu.«ir 

Wives, 638 

Something   More     Valuable    Thau 

Gold, 931 

Sorrows  of  the  Rich 815 

Something  to  Hold  on  by,      .     .     .  762 

Some  one  Must  Pray, 43 

So  it  is  When  Believers  Die,  .     .     .  551 


PAGE. 

Sons  in  the  Family  of  God,  .     .     .  610 

Soul-Saving  Perseverance  in,      .     .  618 

Sowing  and  Reaping, 617 

So  we  Preach, 546 

Solemn  Thought  Awakened,  ...  26 

Scoffer,  A,  Answered, 850 

Snowden  and  his  Unitarian  Friend,  281 
Slothfulness  Forbidden,      ....  492 
Successfully  Preaching  Christ,    .     .  406 
Sunday-school  Teacher,  A  Success- 
ful,        558 

Sunday,  John,  Anecdote  of,     .     .     .  575 
Suffering  and  Reigning  Joined  To- 
gether,      726 

Successful  Preaching, 726 

Sunday  After  the  Resurrection,  .     .  352 

Surrender,  A  Genuine,       ....  298 

Superstition  and  Conscience,  .     .     .  346 

Substitute,  Christ  our, 681 

Systematic  Giving, 555 

St.  Chrysostom's  View  of  Piv.yer,   .  212 

T. 

Table  of  Bible  Money, 81 

Transfiguration  of  Christ,      .     .     .  150 

Transubstantiation,        169 

The  Book  that  is  ever  Ahead,      .     .  19 

The  Cruse  that  Faileth  not,          .     .  34 

The  Rector's  Happy  Experience,     .  35 

The  Pen  of  Heaven, 59 

They  Took  no  oil  with  Them,     .     .  104 

The  Door  is  Shut, 105 

The  Last  Time, 1">6 

The  Widow's  Mite, 164 

The  Glory  of  the  Lord,       ....  182 

The  one  Thing  Needful,     ....  212 

The  Value  of  Churches,     ....  230 

The  Eternal  Rock, 249 

The  Mountains  of  Scripture,  .     .     .  254 

The  Word,  Awakened  by,       ...  269 

The  Boy  that  Would  not  Lie,     .     .  308 

The  day  of  Christ  seen  from    Afar,  310 

The  Eleventh  Commandment,     .     .  326 

The  Divine  Comforter,       ....  337 

The  Priceless  Gift, 345 

The  Primitive  Church  and  their  Prop- 
erty,    3"3 

The  S'ilver  Cup  Restored,        ...  438 

The  Rescue, 441 

The  Railway  Ticket, 456 

The  Body  of  Sin  Destroyed,  .     .     .  464 


CONTENTS. 


17 


PAGE. 

The  Flags  that  Saved  Life,    ...  476 

The  Old  Scotch  Woman's  Faith,     .  479 
The  Gospel  of  Christ  the  True  Civ- 

ilize.r, 481 

The  Bible  is  the  Root, 487 

Temperance,  Catechism  on,    .     .     .  493 

The  Young  Philosopher  Confounded,  515 

Temperance,  Scriptural,      ....  530 

The  Dividing  Line, 581 

The  Fulness  of  Christ,     ....  607 

The  Noble  Convict, 613 

The  Absurdity  of  Error,     ....  615 

The  Only  Foundation, 625 

The  Coming  of  the  Lord,     .     .     .  679 

The  Miller  and  the  Camel,     .  '  .     .  686 

Theological  Preaching,      .     .     .     .  712 

The  Bible  Tried  by  a  Jury,     .     .     .  725 

The  Snare  of  the  J)cvil,     ....  728 

The  Anchor  Holds, 772 

The  Poisoned  Ring, 805 

The   Tongue   as   an   Index   of   the 

Heart, 811 

The  Humanness  of  the  Saints,    .     .  820 

The  Manifest  Wisdom  of  God,    .     .  824 

The  Watchword, 825 

The  Holy  Scriptures, 827 

The  Christian's  Calling,     .     ...  829 

The   Weaker  Vessel,     ....     .  833 

The  Devil  a  Wily  Foe,     ....  839 

T  he  Bib'e, 844 

The  Anti-Christs  of  to  day,     .     .     .  861 
The  Promises   of  Christ,"  Proof  of 

Divinity, 891 

The  Deserting   Soldier,     ....  899 

The  Destroyer's  Work,     .     .     .     .  918 

The  Devil  Leads  en  to  Destruction,  934 

The  New  Jerusalem, 939 

The  Bible  to  be  much  Read,  .     .     .  942 
"  This  I  Did  for  Thee,  What  Doest 

Thou  for  Me?" 871 

Trials  and  Endurance, 771 

Trinity,  Doctrine  of, 863 

Trinity  in    Unity, 472 

Time's  Flight,  Texts  for,    ....  526 

To  Bristol  either  Way,     ....  40 
Thomas  Paine's  Last  Hours, 

Two  Scenes, .491 

Thoroughness  in  Preaching,   .     .     .  727 

Through  Much  Tribulation,  ...  340 

Tholuck's  Seeking  and  Following,  .  587 

Trusting  in  God's  Providence,     .     .  222 


PAGE. 

Trust  in  God,  . 703 

Trusted  and  Were  Delivered,     .     .621 


TJ. 

Unapproachable  Light,  Glimpses  of, 
Unappreciation  of  the  Bible,  .  .  . 
Unchangeable  One,  Christ  the,  .  . 
Unfaithfulness,  t  Temptations  to,  in 

the  Ministry, 

Unbelief,  Marvelotisncss  of,  ... 
Uncle  Johnson,  Bound  for  Canaan, 
Understanding  and  Faith,  .  .  . 

Unbelief,  A  Victim  to, 

Unlearned  yet  Powerful,  .  .  .  . 
Unbelief  a  Sliding  Agency,  .  .  . 
Universalism,  Christ's  Teaching  on, 
Unitarianism  not  Successful,  .  . 
Undivided  Attention  to  the  Ministry 

of  the  Word,  ....... 

Unity  of  the  Bible, 

Universal  Obligation, 

Unitarianism,  Dr.  Holland's  Views 

on, 

Unconscious  Influence, 

Unthought  of  Consideration,  .  . 
"  Unto  Him  Who  hath  Loved  Us," 
Use  Your  Talents, 

V. 
Various  Seasons  of  Prayer,    .     .     . 

Various  Readings, '. 

Variety  in  Gifts, 

Variety  in  Experiences,  .... 
Value  of  a  Single  Tract,  .  .  .  . 
Value  of  Personal  Experience,  .  . 

Very  Injudicious, 

Victory  Over  Himself, 

Voltaire  as  a  Translator,     .... 


720 
486 

801 

371 

y» 

225 
278 
306 
369 
757 
224 
363 

381 
629 

743 

887 
351 
495 
890 
533 


126 
734 
539 

594 
204 
273 
701 
874 
732 


W. 

Warned  by  a  Dream, 25 

Warning,  A  Timely,  Unheeded, .     .  134 

Walking  in  the  Fatherhood  of  God,  39 

Waiting  to  be  Released,      .     .     .     .  177 

Walking  and  Talking  with   Christ,  2G4 

Warned  by  a  Signal  Fire,       .     .     .  520 

467  I  Walking  after  the  Pattern,     .     .     .  603 

Walking  with  God, 893 

Warm  Hearts  Wanted 900 

Waring    Against  the  Saints,       .     .  918 

Waiting  to  be  Born  Again,     .     .     .  82f> 

What  Jesus  is  Able  to  do.  46 


18 


CONTENTS. 


PAGE. 

What  will  you  say  Sir  ?       ....  94 

What  Think  Ye  of  Christ,     ...  97 

What  Shall  I  do  with  Jesus,       .     .  118 

What  it  Cost  Him, 203 

What  I  Have  Seen, 237 

"  What  is  Truth  ?" 348 

What  the  Church  Most  Needs,    .     .  356 
What  the  Reading  of  a  good  Book 

Did, 518 

\V*hat  Disqualifies  for  the  Kingdom 

Of  God,        524 

"  What  is  the  State   of  Your  Soul, 

My  Friend  V GOO 

What  has  it  Done  for  You  ?  .     .     .  G54 

What  a  Country  that  will  be,      .     .  791 

What  Shall  /  Carry  into  Eternity  ?  943 

"  Wrath  to  Come," 674 

Watchfulness,      a      Condition      of 

Strength, 897 

We  Have  a  Merciful  God,       ...  745 

Wo  Know  in  Part, 543 

Weapons  that  are  Mighty,      .     .     .  592 

Well  Answered, 181 

Wesley's  Testimony  Against  Intoxi- 
cating Liquors, 359 

We  Live  by  Believing, 785 

Wreck  of  "  The  Sabbath  Breaker/'  448 
Where  did  Moses  get  that  Law  ?       .301 

Where  is  our  Self-denial  ?        ...  77 

Where  is  the  Redeemer,      ....  415 

Witnesses  for  the  Bible,      .     .     .     .  411 

Wise  in  Spiritual  Things,       .     .     .  914 

Willing  to  Bear  his  Proportion,       .  395 


PAGE. 

Wine  that  Jesus  Made, 273 

Wines,  Communion, 112 

Wise  for  the  World  to  Come,      .     .236 

Wise  in  Winning  Souls,     ....  48 

Whitefield's  Eloquence,      ....  416 

Whirlpool,  Avoid  the, 758 

Wisdom    to    Learn    the    Way     to 

Heaven, 804 

Worship  to  be  given  to  the  Creator 

Only, 903 

Working  for  a  Penny  a  Day,     .     .  89 

Working  in  God's  Vineyard,      .     .  92 

Women  as  Helpers  in  the  Church,  .  358 

Words  Timely  Spoken,      ....  668 

Work  of  the  Spirit,        945 

Words  Acceptable  to  God,      •"•'•>  96 
Worthy  Example  of  Moral   Princi- 
ple,       494 

Who  are  Saints  ? 444 

Who  are  Truly  Strong,  ....  860 
Who  Separate  Themselves,  ...  885 
Why  the  Judge  did  not  Help  Them,  635 
Why  the  Infidel  was  Troubled,  .  .  22 
Why  am  I  not  a  Christian  ?  .•  .  .157 
Why  the  Jewesses  are  Beautiful,  .  261 
Why  were  not  the  Angels  Redeem- 
ed?    883 

Y. 

Ye  are  the  Salt  of  the  Earth,       .     .  31 

Ye  are  my  Witnesses, 896 

Youthful  Firmness  in  Persecution,  .  429 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 


THE  BOOK  THAT  IS  EVER  AHEAD. 

The  book  of  the  generation  of  Jesus  Christ,  the  Son  of  David,  the  Son  of 
Abraham.  —  Matthew  1:1. 

THE  Bible  has  a  history  in  its  make-up  that  belongs  to  no 
other  book.  Portions  of  it  antedate  all  other  books  by 
at  least  one  thousand  years.  It  was  not  written  during  the 
lifetime  of  any  one  man,  nor  in  any  one  generation,  nor  in  any 
one  country;  for  it  was  about  seventeen  hundred  .years  in 
being  written.  It  had  nearly  one  hundred  different  writers, 
of  various  educational  attainments  ;  yet  it  contains  no  essential 
error  in  science,  philosophy,  or  art,  while  it  is  the  standard 
in  morals  for  the  whole  world.  Though  written  so  long  ago, 
and  by  so  many  different  persons,  under  such  a  variety  of 
social  and  political  conditions,  it  needs  no  alteration  in  its  de-" 
scription  of  God,  its  code  of  morals,  its  system  of  motives,  and 
its  adaptation  to  the  needs  of  mankind.  Other  books  wear 
out,  and  are  laid  aside  —  this  Book  multiplies  with  years. 
Other  books  speak  of  the  past,  or  cautiously  approach  the 
present  —  this  Book  opens  up  the  future.  The  world  out- 
grows other  books  —  the  world  grows  into  this,  for  the 
world  is  taking  on  the  letter  and  spirit  of  the  Bible.  —  Bishop 
T/iomson. 

19 


20  NEW   TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 


HIS  NAME  CALLED  JESUS. 

And  she  shall  bring  forth  a  son,  and  thou  shalt  call  his  name  JESUS  :  for 
he  shall  save  his  people  from  their  sins.  —  Matthew  1  :  21. 


"  nPHOU  shalt  call  his  name  Jesus,"  said  the  angel  who  an- 
JL  nounced  his  birth  to  Joseph,  "  for  he  shall  save  his  peo- 
ple from  their  sins."  -Even  Joshua,  whose  name  is  identical 
in  Hebrew,  was  so  called  prophetically,  as  the  saviour  or 
deliverer  of  Israel  from  enemies  and  dangers  ;  and  in  this  he 
was  a  type  of  him  who  was  to  come,  not  as  a  military  con- 
queror and  earthly  prince,  though  men  so  expected  him  ;  not 
as  a  deliverer  of  the  Jews  from  Roman  vassalage,  and  the  re- 
storer of  their  ancient  independence,  but  as  a  Saviour  from 
a  far  worse  bondage  and  a  more  terrific  ruin  —  from  perdition, 
from  damnation,  not  of  angels,  nor  of  devils,  nor  of  men,  with- 
out exception  or  discrimination  ;  but  of  those  predestined  to 
belief  in  him  ;  his  people,  the  Saviour  of  his  people  ;  not  from 
temporal  or  physical  distresses,  but  from  sin  ;  not  from  the 
sins  of  others,  but  their  own  ;  not  from  its  effects,  but  from 
itself;  not  merely  in  the  life,  but  in  the  heart  ;  not  merely  in 
the  stream,  but  in  the  spring,  the  source,  the  principle,  the 
essence  ;  for  the  gospel  is  not  only  good  news  of  a  Saviour, 
but  of  him  who  came,  of  him  who  was  called  Jesus,  because  he 
was  to  save  his  people  from  their  sins.  —  Joseph  A.  Alexan- 
der, D.  D. 

SCRIPTURAL  TITLES  OF  CHRIST. 

Behold,  a  virgin  shall  he  with  child,  and  shall  bring  forth  a  son,  and  they 
shall  call  his  name  Emmanuel,  which  being  interpreted  is,  God  with  us.  — 
Matthew  1  :  23. 

THE  following  collection  of  scriptural  names  which  refer  to 
Christ  is  both  curious  and  remarkable  :  Adam,  Advocate, 
Almighty,  Amen,  Angel,  Ancient  of  Pays,  Anointed,  Apostle, 
Author  and  Finisher  of  Faith  ;  Babe,  Beginning  of  the  Creation 
of  God,  Begotten  of  the  Father,  Beloved,  Bishop,  Blessed, 
Branch  of  Righteousness,  Brazen  Serpent,  Bread  of  Life, 
Bridegroom,  Brightness  of  the  Father's  Glory,  Bundle  of 
Myrrh  ;  Camphire,  Captain,  Child,  Chosen,  Consolation  of 


NEW   TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  21 

Israel,  Corner  Stone,  Covenant,  Counsellor,  Covert,  Crea- 
tor; David,  Day's  Man,  Day  Star,  Deliverer,  Desire  of  all 
Nations,  Dew,  Diadem,  Door  of  the  Sheep ;  Eagle,  Elect, 
Emmanuel,  Ensign,  Eternal  Life,  Everlasting  Father,  Express 
Image  ;  Faithful  Witness,  Feeder,  Finisher  of  Faith,  Fir  Tree, 
First  Begotten,  First  Fruits,  First  and  Last,  Flesh,  Fountain, 
Forerunner,  Friend  of  Sinners  ;  Gift  of  God,  Glory  of  God, 
Glorious  Lord,  God,  Gold,  Golden  Altar,  Governor,  Gracious, 
Guide ;  Habitation,  Head  of  the  Church,  Heir  of  all  Things, 
Help,  Heritage,  Highest,  High  Priest,  Most  High,  Holy  One 
of  God,  Holy  One  of  Israel,  Holy  Child,  Honey-comb,  Hope, 
Horn  of  Salvation,  Husband;  I  Am,  Jacob,  Jah,  Jehovah, 
Jesus,  Image  of  God,  Immanuel,  Immortal,  Inheritance,  In- 
visible, Israel,  Judah,  Judge  ;  King ;  Ladder,  Lamb,  Lawgiver, 
Leader,  Light,  Lion  of  the  Tribe  of  Judah,  Living  God,  Long 
Suffering,  Lord,  Lovely ;  Man,  Master,  Mediator,  Melchisedek, 
Merciful,  Messenger,  Messiah,  Michael,  Mighty  God,  Minister, 
Morning  Star  ;  Nazarite  ;  Offspring  of  David,  Only  Begotten, 
Ointment;  Passover,  Plant  of  Renown,  Potentate,  Prince, 
Prophet,  Propitiation,  Power  of  God,  Purifier,  Physician,  Pol- 
ished Shaft,  Priest ;  Ransom,  Reaper,  Redeemer,  Resurrection, 
Refiner,  Refuge,  Righteousness,  Rock,  Rod  and  Staff,  Root 
of  David,  Rose  of  Sharon,  Ruler  in  Israel ;  Sacrifice,  Salvation, 
Samaritan,  Sanctification,  Sanctuary,  Seed  of  Abraham,  Seed 
of  the  Woman,  Seed  of  David,  Second  Man,  Servant,  Shepherd, 
Shield,  Shiloh,  Solomon,  Son  of  God,  Son  of  Man,  Spirit,  Stone 
Refused,  Strength  of  Israel,  Strong  God,  Substance,  Sun  of 
Righteousness,  Surety,  Sharp  Sword ;  Tabernacle,  Teacher, 
Temple,  Testator,  Treasurer,  Tree  of  Life,  Truth  ;  Vine  ;  Wall 
of  Fire,  Way,  Well  of  Living  Water;  Wedding  Garment,  Wis- 
dom of  God,  Witness,  Wonderful,  Word  of  God,  Worthy ; 
Yesterday,  To-day,  and  Forever. 


FOLLOW  THE  TRUE  LIGHT. 

Saying,  Where  is  he  that  is  born  King  of  the  Jews?    for  we  have  seen  his 
star  in  the  east,  and  are  come  to  worship  him.  —  Matthew  2  :  2. 

T  is  the  observation  of  a  good  man  now  with  God  (Bishop 
Hooper,  in  a  letter  to  Mistress  Anne  Warcup),  that  the 


I 


22  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

wise  men,  travelling  to  find  Christ,  followed  only  the  star,  and 
as  long  as  they  saw  it  they  were  assured  that  they  were  in 
the  right  way,  and  had  great  mirth  in  their  journey  ;  but  when 
they  entered  into  Jerusalem  (whereas  the  star  led  them  not 
thither,  but  unto  Bethlehem),  and  there  would  be  instructed 
where  Christ  was  born,  they  were  not  only  ignorant  of  the 
place  where,  but  they  had  lost  the  sight  of  the  star  that  should 
guide  them  thither.  Whereof  we  learn  in  any  case,  that  whilst 
we  be  going  to  learn  Christ,  to  seek  Christ,  which  is  above, 
to  beware  we  lose  not  the  star  of  God's  Word,  who  only  is 
the  mark  that  shows  us  where  Christ  is,  and  which  way  we 
may  come  to  him.  These  are  the  good  man's  own  words ; 
whereunto  may  be  added,  that  whereas  David  made  the  Word 
of  God  a  lantern  to  his  feet,  and  a  light  unto  his  path  (Psalm 
119  :  105),  we  would  not  suffer  ourselves  to  be  led  aside  by 
every  ignis  fatuus,  every  false  fire  that  presents  itself  unto  us, 
but  to  keep  close  to  the  Word  of  God,  which  will  bring  us  to 
the  knowledge  of  Christ  here,  and  the  full  enjoyment  of  him 
hereafter. 


WHY  THE  INFIDEL  WAS  TROUBLED. 

When  Herod  the  king  had  heard  these  things,  he  was  troubled,  and  all 
Jerusalem  with  him.  —  Matthew  2  :  3. 

"YTOTHING  save  the  essential  truths  of  God's  Word  can 
li  give  comfort  and  true  peace,  either  living  or  dying. 
And  in  living,  if  men  are  not  resting  on  the  Word  of  God, 
they  can  at  least  have  no  rest  in  denying  it.  The  very  fear 
lest  the  Bible  be  true  is  enough  to  mar  all  earthly  enjoyment. 
A  celebrated  infidel  said  one  day  to  a  friend  of  his  who 
had  imbibed  the  same  principles,  "  There  is  one  thing  that 
mars  all  the  pleasures  of  my  life."  "  Indeed  ! "  replied  his 
friend.  "  What  is  that  ?  "  He  answered,  "  I  am  afraid  the  Bible 
is  true  !  If  I  could  know  for  certain  that  death  is  an  eternal 
sleep,  I  should  be  happy ;  my  joy  would  be  complete  !  But 
here  is  the  thorn  that  stings  me.  This  is  the  sword  that 
pierces  my  very  soul.  If  the  Bible  is  true,  I  am  lost  forever." 
He  will  find  it  true. 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  23 


BETHLEHEM  OP  JUDEA. 

And  thou  Bethlehem,  in  the  land  of  Judah,  art  not  the  least  among  the 
princes  of  Judah :  for  out  of  thee  shall  come  a  Governor,  that  shall  rule  my 
people  Israel.  —  Matthew  2  :  6. 

VHAT  sacred  emotions  fill  the  soul  at  the  mention,  of 
Bethlehem !  What  deep  prophetic  truths  are  uttered 
concerning  the  nativity  of  our.  Saviour  1  "  And  thou  Bethle- 
hem, in  the  land  of  Judah,  art  not  the  least  among  the  princes 
of  Judah :  for  out  of  thee  shall  come  a  Governor,  that  shall 
rule  my  people  Israel."  More  than  eighteen  centuries  have 
rolled  away  since  the  shepherds  of  Judea  watched  on  the 
plains  of  Bethlehem,  listening  to  the  angelic  strains,  "  Glory 
to  God  in  the  highest,  and  on  earth  peace,  good  will  toward 
men."  Since  then,  the  name  of  Jesus,  dear  to  millions,  has 
bowed  the  heart  wherever  it  has  been  proclaimed.  And  at 
this  period,  sublime  with  the  march  of  Christianity,  the  name 
of  Jesus,  upheld  on  the  starry  banner  of  the  cross,  pours  the 
oil  of  healing  on  the  stricken,  the  suffering,  and  the  oppressed, 
with  magic  power.  The  pilgrim  goes  and  comes  from  this 
sacred  spot  deeply  impressed  with  the  sanctity  of  the  place. 
The  Christian  grows  strong  in  faith,  expecting  the  fulfill- 
ment of  the  divine  prophecy,  when  the  Son  of  God  shall  ap- 
pear in  all  his  glory,  descending  to  judge  the  nations  of  the 
earth.  —  Wm,  D.  Ensign. 


GIFTS  OF  GOLD  TO  JESUS. 

And  when  they  were  come  into  the  house,  they  saw  the  young  child  with 
Mary  his  mother,  and  fell  down,  and  worshiped  him:  and  when  they  had 
opened  their  treasures,  they  presented  unto  him  gifts;  gold,  and  frankincense, 
and  myrrh.  —  Matthew  2:11. 

ALL  down  through  the   Christian  centuries,  covetousness 
has  been  the  chief  barrier  to  Christ's  cause ;  the  one  great 
and  only  insurmountable  obstacle  in  the  way  of  the  world's 
evangelization.     This  world  will  never   be    converted   until 
Christian  nations,  imitating  the  example  of  the  wise  men  front 


24  NEW   TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

the  east,  shall  lay  their  gold  at  Jesus'  feet.  Prophecy  is  full 
of  this  idea.  Whenever  she  takes  her  harp  to  hymn  the  glories 
of  Messiah's  reign,  the  consecration  of  the  world's  wealth 
forms  a  prominent  strain  in  the  lofty  anthem.  "  To  him  shall 
be  given  of  the  gold  of  Sheba."  "  The  merchandise  of  Tyre 
shall  be  holiness  to  the  Lord  ;  it  shall  not  be  treasured  nor  laid 
up."  "  Surely  the  isles  shall  wait  for  me,  and  the  ships  of 
Tarshish,  first  to  bring  thy  sons  from  far,  their  silver  and  their 
gold  with  them,  unto  the  name  of  the  Lord  thy  God.';  "  Kings 
shall  bring  presents  unto  him.7'  '-  They  shall  bring  gold  and 
incense."  Dr.  John  Harris,  in  his  admirable  treatise  on  "  Mam- 
mon," utters  a  sentiment  which  ought  to  be  read  and  re-read, 
and  pondered,  and  prayed  over,  by  every  disciple  of  Jesus. 
He  says,  "  We  repeat  the  momentous  inquiry,  and  we  would 
repeat  it  slowly,  solemnly,  and  with  a  desire  to  receive  the  full 
impression  of  the  only  answer  which  can  be  given  to  it,  What 
has  prevented  the  gospel  from  fulfilling  its  first  promise,  and 
completely  taking  effect  ?  What  has  hindered  it  from  filling 
every  heart,  every  province,  the  entire  mass  of  humanity,  with 
•the  one  spirit  of  divine  benevolence  ?  Why,  on  the  contrary, 
has  the  gospel,  the  great  instrument  of  divine  love,  been  threat- 
ened, age  after  age,  with  failure  ?  It  must  be  attributed  solely 
to  the  treachery  of  those  who  have  had  the  administration  of 
it  —  to  the  selfishness  of  the  church.  No  element  essential  to 
success  has  been  left  out  of  its  arrangements ;  all  those  ele- 
ments have  always  been  in  the  possession  of  the  church  ;  no 
new  form  of  evil  has  arisen  in  the  world,  no  antagonist  has 
appeared  there,  which  the  gospel  did  not  encounter  and  sub- 
due in  its  first  onset ;  yet  at  this  advanced  stage  of  its  ex- 
istence, when  it  ought  to  be  reposing  from  the  conquest  of  the 
world,  the  church  listens  to  an  account  of  its  early  triumphs, 
as  if  they  were  .meant  only  for  wonder,  and  not  for  imitation ; 
as  if  they  partook  too  much  of  the  romance  of  benevolence  to 
be  again  attempted." 


NEW   TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  25 

WARNED  BY  A  DREAM. 

And  being  warned  of  God  in  a  dream  that  they  should  not  return  to  Herod, 
they  departed  into  their  own  country  another  way.  —  Matthew  2  :  12. 

REV.  G.  TENNBNT,  of  New  Jersey,  relates  that  a  young 
man  of  his  congregation,  by  trade  a  carpenter,  from  being 
of  sober  habits  became  an  habitual  drunkard.  He  dreamed  one 
night  that  he  returned  home  intoxicated,  fell  from  the  top  of 
the  stairs  to  the  bottom,  broke  his  neck,  and  opened  his  eyes 
in  hell.  Horrified  at  what  he  heard  and  saw,  he  entreated  the 
governor  to  let  him  depart.  "  No,  no,"  said  the  governor, 
"  there  is  no  discharge  from  this  place  ;  you  see  thousands 
coming  in,  but  none  going  out."  He,  however,  continued  his 
entreaties,  and  at  last  was  allowed  to  leave  on  one  condition — • 
that  he  would  return  that  day  twelvemonth.  In  his  efforts  to 
flee  he  awoke,  and  found  it  was  a  dream!  He  called  on  Mr. 
Tennent  the  next  day,  and,  greatly  alarmed,  related  his  dream. 
Mr.  Tennent  told  him  it  was  a  mercy  he  was  out  of  hell,  and 
that  if  he  did  not  repent,  and  seek  for  mercy  through  Christ, 
he  would  in  reality  reap  the  fruit  of  his  doings  through  an 
eternity  in  hell.  The  young  man  forsook  his  former  com- 
pany, applied  himself  cheerfully  to  work,  and  became  a  re- 
formed character.  About  six  months  after  this  he  was  met  by 
some  of  his  old  profligate  companions,  who  began  to  jeer  him 
for  his  sober  habits,  and  asked  him  to  go  with  them  and  take 
a  glass.  He  first  refused,  but  at  last  gave  way.  This  led  to 
his  former  drunken  habits.  He  returned  home  one  night  in- 
toxicated, fell  from  the  top  of  the  stairs  to  the  bottom,  broke 
his  neck,  and,  without  doubt,  his  guilty  spirit  must  have  been 
hurried  to  that  place  of  woe  where  hope  never  comes.  "  No 
drunkard,"  says  the  Bible,  "shall  inherit  the  kingdom  of  God." 
From  a  memorandum  made  by  Mr.  Tennent  at  the  time  the  man 
called  on  him,  it  appeared  he  was  killed  on  the  night  twelve- 
month on  which  he  had  dreamed  the  fearful  dream.  His  dream 
had  been  actually  fulfilled. 
4 


26  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

GETTING  ON  TOO  FAST. 

And  saying,  Repent  ye :   for  the  kingdom  of  heaven  is  at  hand.  —  Mat- 
thew 3  :  2. 

A  PIOUS  old  slave  had  a  wicked  master.  This  master  had 
much  confidence,  however,  in  the  slave's  piety.  He  be- 
lieved he  was  a  Christian.  Sometimes  the  master  would  be 
serious  and  thoughtful  about  religion.  One  day  he  came  to 
the  old  slave,  with  the  New  Testament  in  his  hand,  and  asked 
if  he  would  explain  a  passage  to  him.  The  slave  was  willing 
to  try,  and  asked  what  it  was.  "  It  is  here  in  Romans/'  said  the 
master.  "  Have  you  done  all  that  it  tells  you  to  do  in  Matthew, 
Mark,  Luke,  and  John  ?  "  inquired  the  slave,  seriously  fixing  his 
eye  upon  his  master's.  "  No,  I  haven't/'  said  he.  "  Then  you're 
getting  on  too  fast,  too  fast,  master.  Go  back  to  the  begin- 
ning of  the  book,  do  all  that  it  tells  you  till  you  get  to  Romans, 
and  you  will  understand  it  easy  enough  then,  for  the  book  says, 
If  a  man  will  do  my  will,  he  shall  know  of  the  doctrine." 


SOLEMN  THOUGHT  AWAKENED. 

But  when  he  saw  many  of  the  Pharisees  and  Sadducees  come  to  his  bap- 
tism, he  said  unto  them,  O  generation  of  vipers,  who  hath  warned  you  to  flee 
from  the  wrath  to  come  ?  —  Matthew  3  :  7. 

AN  irreligious  young  man  once  went  to  hear  Mr.  Whitefield 
preach;  he  took  for  his  text  Matthew  3:7,  8.  "Mr. 
Whitefield,"  said  the  young  man,  "  described  the  Sadducean 
character ;  this  did  not  touch  me.  I  thought  myself  as  good 
a  Christian  as  any  man  in  England.  From  this  he  went  to  that 
of  the  Pharisees.  He  described  their  exterior  decency,  but 
observed  that  the  poison  of  the  viper  rankled  in  their  hearts. 
This  rather  shook  me.  At  length,  in  the  course  of  his  sermon, 
he  abruptly  broke  off,  paused  for  a  few  moments,  then  burst 
into  a  flood  of  tears,  lifted  up  his  hands  and  eyes,  and  ex- 
claimed, '  0,  my  hearers,  the  wrath  to  come  !  the  wrath  to 
come  ! '  These  words  sank  deep  into  my  heart,  like  lead  in 
the  waters.  I  wept,  and  when  the  sermon  was  ended,  retired 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  27 

alone.  For  days  and  weeks  I  could  think  of  little  else.  Those 
awful  words  would  follow  me  wherever  I  went:  i  The  wrath 
to  come !  the  wrath  to  come  ! ' '  The  result  was,  that  the 
young  man  soon  after  made  a  public  profession  of  religion,  and 
in  a  short  time  became  himself  a  preacher  of  the  gospel. 


JUDGMENT  DAY  SEPARATIONS. 

Whoso  fan  is  in  his  hand,  and  he  will  thoroughly  purge  his  floor,  and  gather 
his  wheat  into  the  garner ;  but  he  will  burn  up  the  chaff  with  unquenchable 
fire.  —  Matthew  3  :  12. 

AS  wheat  or  chaff  we  all  shall  appear  in  the  great  day  of 
judgment.  There  is  a  machine  in  the  Bank  of  England 
which  receives  sovereigns,  as  a  mill  receives  grain,  for  the  pur- 
pose of  determining  wholesale  whether  they  are  of  full  weight. 
As  they  pass  through,  the  machinery,  by  unerring  laws,  throws 
all  that  are  light  to  one  side,  and  all  that  are  of  full  weight  to 
another.  That  process  is  a  silent  but  solemn  parable  for  me. 
Founded  as  it  is  upon  the  laws  of  Nature,  it  affords  the  most 
vivid  similitude  of  the  certainty  which  characterizes  the  judg- 
ment of  the  great  day.  There  are  no  mistakes  or  partialities 
to  which  the  light  may  trust :  the  only  hope  lies  in  being  of 
standard  weight  before  they  go  in.  —  Arnot. 


CHRIST'S  APPEAL  TO  THE  SCRIPTURES. 

Jesus  said  unto  him,  It  is  written  again,  Thou  shalt  not  tempt  the  Lord  thy 
God.  —  Matthew  4  :  7. 

WE  cannot  fail  to  be  struck,  in  the  course  of  the  Saviour's 
public  teaching,  with  his  constant  appeal  to  the  word  of 
God.  While  at  times  he  utters,  in  his  own  name,  the  author- 
itative behest,  "  Verily,  verily,  J  say  unto  you,"  he  as  often  thus 
introduces  some  mighty  work,  or  gives  intimation  of  some  im- 
pending event  in  his  own  momentous  life  :  "These  things  must 
come  to  pass,  that  the  Scriptures  be  fulfilled,  which  saUli"  He 
commands  his  people  to  "  search  the  Scriptures ;  "  but  he  sets 


28  NEW   TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

the  example  by  searching  and  submitting  to  them  himself. 
Whether  he  drives  the  money-changers  from  their  sacrilegious 
traffic  in  the  temple,  or  foils  his  great  adversary  on  the  mount 
of  temptation,  he  does  so  with  the  same  weapon:  "  It  is -writ- 
ten" When  he  rises  from  the  grave  the  theme  of  his  first 
discourse  is  one  impressive  tribute  to  the  value  and  authority 
of  the  same  sacred  oracles.  The  disciples  on  the  road  to  Em- 
maus  listen  to  nothing  but  a  Bible  lesson :  "  He  expounded 
unto  them  in  all  the  Scriptures  the  things  concerning  himself." 
How  momentous  the  instruction  herein  conveyed  !  The  ne- 
cessity of  the  absolute  subjection  of  the  mind  to  God's  written 
word,  making  churches,  creeds,  ministers,  books,  religious 
opinion,  all  subordinate  and  subservient  to  this  — "  How 
readest  thou  ?  "  rebuking  the  philosophy,  falsely  so  called,  that 
would  distort  the  plain  statements  of  Revelation,  and  bring 
them  to  the  bar  of  proud  Reason.  If  an  infallible  Redeemer, 
"  a  law  to  himself,"  was  submissive  in  all  respects  to  the 
"  written  law,"  shall  fallible  man  refuse  to  sit  with  the  teacha- 
bleness of  a  little  child,  and  listen  to  the  divine  message  ?  There 
may  be,  there  is,  in  the  Bible  what  reason  staggers  at :  "  We 
have  nothing  to  draw  with,  and  the  well  is  deep."  But  "  Thus 
saith  the  Lord  "  is  enough.  Faith  does  not  first  ask  what  the 
bread  is  made  of,  but  eats  it.  It  does  not  analyze  the  compo- 
nents of  the  living  stream,  but  with  joy  draws  the  water  from 
"  the  wells  of  salvation." 


BIBLE  OR  NO  BIBLE. 

•  The  people  which  sat  in  darkness  saw  great  light;  and  to  them  which  sat  in 
the  region  and  shadow  of  death  light  is  sprung  np.  —  Matthew  4  :  1C. 

REV.  DR.  ADAMS,  addressing  the  New  York  Bible  Society, 
beautifully  illustrated  the  benign  influence  of  the  Word  of 
God,  by  contrasting  those  countries  where  it  is  perused  with 
those  in  which  it  is  prohibited.  "  Tell  me,"  said  he,  "  where 
the  Bible  is,  and  where  it  is  not,  and  I  will  write  a  moral  geog- 
raphy of  the  world.  I  will  show  what,  in  all  particulars,  i.s  the 
physical  condition  of  that  people.  One  glance  of  your  eye 


NEW   TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  29 

will  inform  you  where  the  Bible*  is,  and  where  it  is  not.  Go 
to  Italy :  decay,  degradation,  suffering,  meet  you  on  every 
side.  Commerce  droops,  agriculture  sickens,  the  useful  arts 
languish.  There  is  a  heaviness  in  the  air ;  you  feel  cramped 
by  some  invisible  but  mighty  power.  The  people  dare  not 
speak  aloud  —  they  walk  slowly  —  an  armed  soldiery  is  around 
their  dwellings  —  the  armed  police  take  from  the  stranger  his 
Bible  before  he  enters  the  territory.  Ask  for  the  Bible  in  the 
bookstores  :  it  is  not  there,  or  in  a  form  so  large  and  expensive 
as  to  be  beyond  the  reach  of  the  common  people.  The  preacher 
takes  no  text  from  the  Bible.  Enter  the  Vatican,  and  inquire 
for  a  Bible,  and  you  will  be  pointed  to  some  case  where  it  re- 
poses among  prohibited  books,  side  by  side  with  the  works  of 
Diderot,  Rousseau,  and  Voltaire.  But  pass  over  the  Alps  into 
Switzerland,  and  down  the  Rhine  into  Holland,  and  over  the 
Channel  to  England  and  Scotland,  and  what  an  amazing  con- 
trast meets  the  eye  !  Men  look  with  an  air  of  independence  ; 
there  are  industry,  neatness,  instruction  for  children.  Why 
this  difference  ?  There  is  no  brighter  sky  —  there  are  no 
fairer  scenes  of  nature  — -but  they  have  the  Bible  ;  and  happy 
is  the  people  who  are  in  such  a  case,  for  it  is  righteousness 
that  exalte th  a  nation,"  The  light  shines  in  Italy  now. 


SIMPLE  PREACHING. 

And  Jesus  went  about  all  Galilee,  teaching  in  their  synagogues,  and  preach- 
ing the  gospel  of  the  kingdom,  and  healing  all  manner  of  sickness  and  all 
manner  of  disease  among  the  people.  —  Matthew  4  :  23. 

A  CORRESPONDENT  of  the  Christian  Intelligencer,  writ- 
JLJL  ing  from  Saratoga,  speaks  as  follows :  "  One  of  the  most 
delightful  acquaintances  I  have  formed  at  the  springs  this 
season  was  the  great  and  good  Judge  McLean,  of  the  United 
States  Court.  He  was  built  for  the  Supreme  Bench,  physically 
and  mentally.  I  was  specially  interested  in  his  criticisms  on 
preaching.  l  We  want,'  said  he,  l  more  simple,  practical  ser- 
mons—  right  to  the  conscience  —  made  lively  by  Scripture, 
history,  and  incidents.  I  like  an  occasional  anecdote,  if  well 


30  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

put ;  for  our  Saviour  spoke  ifi  parables.  But  I  cannot  abide 
dry,  abstract  discussions,  or  cold  homilies.  Preaching  should 
be  piquant  and  popular,  and  suited  to  "  common  people."  ' 
There  was  a  capital  lecture  on  pulpit  rhetoric  in  the  judge's 
remarks."  Luther,  reproving  Dr.  Mayer  because  he  was  faint- 
hearted and  depressed  on  account  of  his  simple  kind  of  preach- 
ing, as  he  supposed,  in  comparison  with  other  divines,  reproved 
him,  and  said,  "  Loving  brother,  when  you  preach,  pay  little 
attention  to  the  doctors  and  learned  men,  but  think  of  the  com- 
mon people,  and  try  to  instruct  and  benefit  them.  In  the 
pulpit  we  must  feed  the  common  people  with  milk ;  for  each 
day  a  new  church  is  growing  up  which  stands  in  need  of  plain 
and  simple  diet." 


HOW  THE  PURE  IN  HEART  SEE  GOD. 

Blessed  are  the  pure  in  heart :  for  they  shall  see  God.  —  Matthew  5  :  8. 

NOT  the  beholding  of  his  glorious  majesty  in  eternity,  nor 
yet  the  glorious  God-Judge  at  the  last  great  day.  The 
idea  of  union  and  communion  with  him  in  this  life  is  involved 
in  this  declaration  of  our  Lord.  It  means  that  our  spiritual 
vision  shall  be  so  illuminated  and  enlarged,  that  we  shall  see 
God  in  his  works,  his  ways,  and  his  Word.  In  his  works,  by 
seeing  him  in  this  world  as  we  never  saw  him  before.  We 
see  him  in  the  green  fields  and  budding  trees ;  we  hear  him 
in  the  singing  birds,  the  rippling  stream,  and  roaring  sea. 
The  pure  in  heart  see  God  in  his  ways  with  the  children  of 
men.  Providences  that  by  some  are  called  severe,  and  that 
often  lead  the  unsaved  to  murmur  and  complain,  are  to  the 
sanctified  soul  all  right.  His  heart  saith,  My  Father  is  too 
wise  to  err,  and  too  good  to  be  unkind.  "  Even  so,  Father, 
for  so  it  seemeth  good  in  thy  sight."  The  pure  in  heart  see 
God  in  his  Word.  To  him  the  Bible  is  a  new  book. 
"with  open  face,  he  beholds  the  glory  of  the  Lord." 
portions  that  used  to  be  passed  over  with  comparative  indif- 
ference, are  now  thought  upon  with  delight,  and  he  is  often 
led  to  say,  "  Lo,  God  is  hero,  and  I  knew  it  not."  —  Rev.  J. 
in  Guide  to  Holiness, 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  31 

"YE  ARE  THE  SALT  OF  THE  EARTH." 

Ye  arc  the  salt  of  the  earth :  but  if  the  salt  have  lost  his  savor,  wherewith 
shall  it  be  salted?  it  is  thenceforth  good  for  nothing,  but  to  be  cast  out,  and 
to  be  trodden  under  foot  of  men.  —  Matthew  5  :  13. 

SALT  is  the  one  mineral  that  men  eat.  Its  use  is  nearly  as 
ancient  and  as  general  as  the  race.  The  Hebrews  had  it  in 
abundance  from  the  Salt  Sea,  and  if  they  chose,  from  the  Med- 
iterranean, as  well  as  from  fossil  salt  near  the  Dead  Sea.  It 
had  a  peculiar  meaning  to  them  from  its  place  in  the  sacri- 
fices. An  indescribable  longing  for  salt  comes  over  any  one 
who  has  long  been  without  it.  In  most  countries  the  cattle 
are  very  fond  of  it,  and  eagerly  lick  the  rock  salt.  In  Africa 
the  children  suck  a  piece  of  salt  rock  as  American  children 
do  sugar.  A  mixture  of  salt  and  water  will  sometimes  be 
sweet  enough  to  the  delicate  palate  of  the  bee  to  attract  it. 
Salt  is  good.  Nor  is  it  savory  only,  but  necessary.  It  is  a 
part  of  the  blood,  and  the  blood  is  the  life.  While  it  seasons 
the  food,  it  preserves  for  future  use  what  is  not  needed  for 
present  wants.  What  would  otherwise  rot  is  kept  sweet  by 
its  presence.  Hence  it  suggests  purity  and  perpetuity.  And 
the  Lord's  people,  according  to  our  Saviour,  are  the  "  salt  of 
the  earth."  They  are  necessary  to  its  continuance,  keep  it 
from  corruption,  and  are  finally  to  leaven  and  influence  the 
entire  human  race.  There  are  many  substances  in  the  world 
that  look  like  salt.  They  crystallize,  are  white,  more  or  less 
heavy,  and  can  be  measured  and  weighed.  But  there  is 
a  subtile  essence  in  the  salt  that  is  perceived  by  the  taste, 
and  which  cannot  be  weighed  and  measured,  but  only  tasted. 
This  makes  the  value  of  the  salt.  And  it  is  so  with  profess- 
ing disciples.  They  can  be  counted,  and  their  influence  or 
their  wealth  can  be  measured.  But  the  savor,  that  which  dis- 
tinguishes them  as  Christians,  is  too  fine  and  delicate  to  be 
declared  in  this  way.  It  reveals  itself  to  the  judgment  and 
conscience  of  men,  and  to  the  eye  of  God.  The  saltness  gives 
value  to'the  salt.  Eeal  living  godliness  gives  value  to  profess- 
ing Christians.  If  we  %had  salt  without  saltness,  according  to 
our  Lord,  it  would  be  "  good  for  nothing."  And  so  professors 
without  true  Christian  life  are  good  for  nothing. 


NEW   TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 


A  SHINING  CHURCH. 

Let  your  light  so  shine  before  men,  that  they  may  see  your  good  works, 
and  glorify  your  Father  which  is  in  heaven.  —  Matthew  5  :  1G. 

A  CHURCH  may  be  what  the  world  calls  a  strong  church, 
jLA_  in  point  of  number  and  influence.  A  church  may  be 
made  up  of  men  of  wealth,  men  of  in'.ellect,  fashion;  and 
being  so  composed,  may  .  be,  in  a  worldly  sense,  a  very 
strong  church.  There  are  many  things  that  such  a  church 
can  do.  It  can  launch  ships  and  endow  seminaries.  It  can 
diffuse  intelligence,  can  uphold  the  cause  of  benevolence,  can 
maintain  an  imposing  array  of  forms  and  religious  activities. 
It  can  build  splendid  temples,  can  rear  a  magnificent  pile  and 
adorn  its  front  with  sculptures,  and  lay  stone  upon  stone,  and 
heap  ornament  upon  ornament,  till  the  costliness  of  the  minis- 
trations at  the  altar  shall  keep  any  poor  man  from  ever  enter- 
ing the  portal.  But,  brethren,  I  will  tell  you  one  thing  it 
cannot  do  —  it  cannot  "  shine."  It  may  glitter  and  glare  like 
an  iceberg  in  the  sun,  but  without  inward  holiness  it  cannot 
shine.  Of  all  that  is  formal  and  material  in  Christianity,  it 
may  make  a  splendid  manifestation,  but  it  cannot  shine.  It 
may  turn  almost  everything  into  gold  at  its  touch,  but  it  can- 
not touch  the  heart.  It  may  lift  up  its  marble  front,  arid  pile 
tower  upon  tower,  and  mountain  upon  mountain ;  but  it  cannot 
touch  the  mountains  and  they  shall  smoke ;  it  cannot  conquer 
souls  for  Christ ;  cannot  awaken  the  sympathies  of  faith  and 
love ;  it  cannot  do  Christ's  work  in  man's  conversion.  It  is 
cold  at  heart,  and  has  no  overflowing  and  saving  influences  to 
pour  out  upon  the  lost.  And  with  all  its  strength  that  church 
is  weak,  and  for  Christ's  peculiar  work  worthless:  And  with 
all  its  glitter  and  gorgeous  array,  it  is  a  dark  church  —  it  can- 
not shine.  Ori  the  contrary,  show  me  a.  church,  poor,  illiter- 
ate, obscure,  unknown,  but  composed  of  praying  people.  They 
shah1  be  men  of  neither  power,  nor  wealth,  nor  influence ;  they 
shall  be  families  that  do  not  know  one  week  where  they  are 
to  get  bread  for  the  next.  But  with  them  is  the  hiding  of 
God's  power,  and  their  influence  is  felt  for  eternity,  and 
wherever  they  go  there  is  a  fountain  of  light,  and  Christ  in 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  83 

them  is  glorified,  and  his  kingdom  advanced.  They  are  his 
chosen  vessels  of  salvation,  and  his  luminaries  to  reflect  his 
light.  — Dr.  Olin. 


SWEARING  IN  HEBREW. 

But  I  say  unto  you,  Swear  not  at  all ;  neither  by  heaven,  for  it  is  God's 
throne  ;  nor  by  the  earth,  for  it  is  his  footstool ;  neither  by  Jerusalem,  for  it 
is  the  city  of  the  great  King.  —  Matthew  5  :  3-i,  35. 

A  LADY,  riding  in  a  car  on  the  New  York  Central  Railroad, 
was  disturbed  in  her  reading  by  the  conversation  of  two 
gentlemen  occupying  the  seat  just  before  her.  One  of  them 
seemed  to  be  a  student  of  some  college  on  his  way  home  for 
a  vacation.  He  used  much  profane  language,  greatly  to  her 
annoyance.  She  thought  she  would  rebuke  him,  and  on  beg- 
ging pardon  for  interrupting  them,  asked  the  young  student 
if  he  had  studied  the  languages.  "  Do  you  read  and  speak 
Hebrew?"  "Quite  fluently."  "Will  you  be  so  kind  as  do 
me  a  small  favor?"  "With  great  pleasure.  I  am  at  your 
service."  "  Will  you  be  so  kind  as  to  do  your  swearing  in 
Hebrew?"  The  lady  was  not  annoyed  any  more  by  the  un- 
gentlemanly  language  of  this  would-be  gentleman.  Probably 
ten  men  swear  in  this  country  where  one  prays,  and  the 
swearing  man  swears  out  loud  a  hundred  times  a  day,  while 
the  praying  man  prays  secretly  perhaps  twice  or  thrice.  If 
men  would  swear  in  unknown  tongues,  it  might  spare  the  feel- 
ings of  their  hearers ;  but  even  then  the  Lord  God  would  hear 
it  all.  But  there  will  be  an  end  of  this  torrent  of  blasphemy 
by  and  by.  Behold  the  Lord  cometh  with  ten  thousand  of 
his  saints  to  execute  judgment  upon  all,  and  to  convince  all 
that  are  ungodly  of  all  their  hard  speeches  which  ungodly 
sinners  have  spoken  against  him.  (Jude  14, 15.) 


34  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 


THE  CRUSE  THAT  FAILETH  NOT. 

Give  to  him  that  asketh  thee,  and  from  him  that  would  borrow  of  thec  turn 
not  thou  away.  —  Matthew  5  :  42. 

IS  thy  cruse  of  comfort  wasting? 
Rise  and  share  it  with  another, 
And  through  all  the  years  of  famine 
It  shall  serve  thee  and  thy  brother. 

Love  divine  will  fill  thy  storehouse, 

Or  thy  handful  still  renew ; 
Scanty  fare  for  one  will  often 

Make  a  royal  feast  for  two. 

For  the  heart  grows  rich  in  giving ; 

All  its  wealth  is  living  grain  j 
Seeds  which  mildew  in  the  garner, 

Scattered,  fill  with  gold  the  plain. 

Is  thy  burden  hard  and  heavy  ? 

Do  thy  steps  drag  wearily  ? 
Help  to  bear  thy  brother's  burden ; 

God  will  bear  both  it  and  thee. 

Numb  and  weary  on  the  mountains, 
Wouldst  thou  sleep  amid  the  snow  ? 

Chafe  that  frozen  form  beside  thee, 
And  together  both  shall  glow. 

Is  the  heart  a  well  left  empty  ? 

None  but  God  its  void  can  fill ; 
Nothing  but  a  ceaseless  fountain 

Can  its  ceaseless  longings  still. 

Is  the  heart  a  living  power  ? 

Self-entwined  its  strength  sinks  low ; 
It  can  only  live  in  loving, 

And  by  serving,  love  will  grow. 

Author  of  Schonberg-  Cotta  Family. 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  35 

THE  RECTOR'S  HAPPY  EXPERIENCE. 

Bo  ye  therefore  perfect,  even  as  your  Father  which  is  in  heaven  is  perfect.— 
Matthew  5  :  48. 

EEV.  W.  E.  BOARDMAN,  D.  D.,  in  The  Times  of  Refresh- 
ing, gives  an  account  of  an  English  rector,  who  was 
happily  led  to  a  higher  experience  in  the  divine  life,  through 
the  instrumentality  of  a  Wesleyan  minister.  The  following  is 
the  account :  — 

One  of  his  own  servants  was  prostrated  by  disease,  and 
about  to  die.  As  the  rector  came  to  his  bedside  to  receive 
the  last  words  of  his  dying  servant,  and  administer  to  him  the 
last  rites  —  saving,  as  he  believed  them  to  be  —  of  his  sacred 
office,  he  was  suddenly  confounded  by  the  words,  which,  in 
whispering  tones,  fell  on  his  ear.  "  Please,  sir,  won't  you  send 
for  the  Wesleyan  minister  to  come  and  see  me  ?  "  For  a  mo- 
ment the  rector  sat  in  silence,  and  then  said,  "  Am  I  not  your 
minister  ?  "  "  Yes,  sir  —  you  are,  sir  —  but,  sir  —  I  am  dying, 
and  I  want  to  know  the  way  to  heaven.  You,  sir,  do  not 
know  the  way  for  yourself,  and  I  am  sure  you  cannot  show  it 
to  me.""  The  rector  was  struck  as  dumb  before  his  own  ser- 
vant, by  these  words,  as  Zacharias  had  been  before  the  Lord 
by  the  words  of  Gabriel,  and,  like  Zacharias,  could  only  go 
out  and  await  the  result.  The  Wesleyan  was  sent  for. 
The  rector  was  careful  to  be  present  at  the  interview.  The 
servant  was  right.  Like  Philip,  the  Wesleyan  preached 
Christ,  and  the  dying  man  believed  and  passed  away,  in  the 
triumphant  assurance  that  he  should  be  this  day  with  Christ 
in  paradise.  This  was  the  voice  of  God,  who,  by  his  Son,  is 
speaking  to  us  in  these  last  days ;  it  utterly  shook,  and  caused 
to  pass  away,  the  foundation  upon  which  the  rector's  confi- 
dence had  been  placed,  and  suddenly  burned  up  the  hay, 
wood,  and  stubble  of  his  ritual  superstructure  built  upon  it. 
He  was  humbled  in  the  dust.  His  proud  heart  was  broken. 
Like  his  own  servant,  he  took  his  place  at  the  feet  of  the  be- 
fore despised  Wesleyan,  listened  to  the  preaching  of  Christ  by 
his  lips,  believed,  and.  was  saved. 

A  new  career  opened  before  him.     He  entered  upon  it  with 


36  NEW   TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

all  the  ardor  of  a  generous  nature,  stimulated  by  the  energies 
of  a  new  life.  Many  were  brought  to  believe  in  the  Lord  and 
be  saved.  But  it  was  not  long  before  he  became  sensible  of 
the  need  of  a  still  deeper  work  of  grace,  if  he  would  be  able 
to  overcome  his  own  sinful  propensities,  and  present  Christ, 
the  overcomer,  to  his  people.  This  necessity  was  still  further 
enforced  by  the  consciousness  of  lack  of  power  as  a  preacher 
of  the  gospel.  At  times,  indeed,  he  was  borne  up  as  on  eagles' 
wings,  in  his  work,  and  felt  himself  sustained  full}7,  and  rilled 
to  overflowing,  like  a  spring  welling  up  unto  everlasting  life, 
and  pouring  forth  streams  of  living  water ;  then,  again,  he  felt 
himself  to  be  like  the  dry  well,  with  a  dry  pump,  from  which 
no  living  water  would  come,  pump  he  never  so  hard.  Still 
further  this  matter  came  home  upon  him,  by  the  Wesleyan's 
testimony  that  all  his  needs  in  these  respects  and  every  other 
might  be  supplied  by  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ  experimentally 
received.  Therefore  once  again  he  humbled  himself  in  the 
lowly  seat  of  a  learner  at  the  feet  of  the  Lord  in  the  person 
of  his  humble  servant,  and  accepted  Christ  as  his  emancipator 
from  all  sin,  his  pride,  his  unbelief,  his  impatience,  his  preju- 
dice, himself,  and  as  he  by  whom  Satan  and  the  world  should 
be  overcome,  his  soul  filled  with  faith  and  the  Holy  Ghost. 
Nearly  similar  were  the  experiences  of  Dr.  Coke. 


REWARDED  NOW,  OR  THEN? 

And  when  thou  prayest,  thou  slialt  not  be  as  the  hypocrites  are  :  for  they 
love  to  pray  standing  in  the  synagogues  and  in  the  corners  of  the  streets,  that 
they  may  be  seen  of  men.  Verily  I  say  unto  you,  They  have  their  reward.  — 
Matthew  a :  5. 

A  MINISTER,  in  the  early  part  of  the  seventeenth  century, 
JjL  was  preaching,  before  an  assembly  of  his  brethren  ;  and, 
in  order  to  direct  their  attention  to  the  great  motive  from  which 
they  should  act,  he  represented  to  them  something  of  the  great 
day  of  judgment.  Having  spoken  of  Christ  as  seated  on  his 
throne,  he  described  him  as  speaking  to  his  ministers ;  examin- 
ing how  they  preached,  and  with  what  views  they  had  under- 


NEW   TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  37 

taken  and  discharged  the  duties  of  the  ministry.  "  What  did 
you  preach  for  ?  " 

"  I  preached,  Lord,  that  I  might  keep  a  good  living  that  was 
left  me  by  my  father ;  which,  if  I  had  not  entered  the  minis- 
try, would  have  been  wholly  lost  to  me  and  my  family." 

Christ  addresses  him,  "  Stand  by,  thou  hast  had  thy  re- 
ward/'' The  question  is  put  to  another,  "  And  what  do  you 
preach  for  ?  " 

"  Lord,  I  was  applauded  as  a  learned  man ;  and  I  preached 
to  keep  up  the  reputation  of  an  excellent  orator,  and  an  in- 
genious preacher." 

The  answer  of  Christ  to  him  also  is,  "  Stand  by,  thou  hast 
had  thy  reward.'!  The  judge  puts  the  question  to  the  third, 
"  And  what  did  you  preach  for  ?  " 

"  Lord,"  saith  he,  "  I  neither  aimed  at  the  great  things  of 
this  world,  though  I  was  thankful  for  the  conveniences  of  life 
which  thou  gavest  me ;  nor  did  I  preach  that  I  might  gain  the 
character  of  a  wit,  or  of  a  man  of  parts,  or  of  a  fine  scholar ; 
but  I  preached  in  compassion  to  souls,  and  to  please  and  honor 
thee  ;  my  design,  Lord,  in  preaching,  was,  that  I  might  win 
souls  to  thy  blessed  majesty." 

The  judge  was  now  described  as  calling  out,  "  Room,  men  I 
room,  angels  !  let  this  man  come  and  sit  with  me  on  my  throne  ; 
he  has  owned  and  honored  me  on  earth,  and  I  will  own  and 
honor  him  through  all  the  ages  of  eternity."  The  ministers 
went  home  much  affected,  resolving  that,  through  the  help  of 
God,  they  would  attend  more  diligently  to  the  motives  and 
work  of  the  ministry  than  they  had  before  done. 


SECRET  PRAYER. 

But  thou,  when  thou  prayest,  enter  into  thy  closet,  and  when  thou  hast 
shut  thy  door,  pray  to  thy  Father  which  is  in  secret ;  and  thy  Father  which 
seeth  in  secret  shall  reward  thcc  openly.  —  Matthew  G  :  6. 

PRESIDENT  EDWARDS,  in  one  of  his  discourses  on  prayer, 
JL  gives  the  following  solemn  advice  :  "  I  would  exhort  those 
wrho  have  entertained  a  hope  of  their  being  true  converts,  and 
yet  since  their  supposed  conversion  have  left  off  the  duty 


38  NEW   TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

of  secret  prayer,  and  do  ordinarily  allow  themselves  in  the 
omission  of  it,  to  throw  away  their  hope.  If  you  have  left 
off  calling  upon  God,  it  is  time  for  you  to  leave  off  hoping 
and  flattering  yourselves  with  an  imagination  that  you  are  the 
children  of  God.  Probably  it  will  be  a  very  difficult  thing 
for  you  to  do  this.  It  is  hard  for  a  man  to.  let  go  a  hop.e  of 
heaven,  on  which  he  hath  once  allowed  himself  to  lay  hold, 
and  which  he  hath  retained  for  a  considerable  time.  Those 
things  in  men  which,  if  known  to  others,  would  be  sufficient  to 
convince  others  that  they  are  hypocrites,  will  not  convince 
themselves." 


GOOD  THINGS  GIVEN  WITH  GRACE. 

But  seek  ye  first  the  kingdom  of  God,  and  his  righteousness ;  and  all  these 
things  shall  be  added  unto  you.  —  Matthew  6  :  33. 

WHEN  the  great  bargain  is  concluded  between  God  and 
the  soul  of  man;  when  the  kingdom  of  heaven  with 
righteousness  is  made  sure,  God  throws  into  the  bargain  the 
good  and  needful  things  of  this  life,  as  unworthy  of  mention 
in  so  great  a  transaction.  Like  the  farmer  who  sells  a  large 
and  valuable  farm,  he  throws  in  certain  second-hand  imple- 
ments of  husbandry,  or,  like  the  importing  merchant,  who,  in 
selling  one  of  his  ships,  throws  in  any  cordage  or  other  ship- 
stores  that  may  be  lying  about  the  vessel ;  while  he  who 
seeks  to  get  "  all  these  things  "  without  securing  the  kingdom 
of  God,  will  be  like  the  sailor,  who,  with  ship-stores,  finds, 
when  too  late,  he  has  not  the  ship.  In  securing  the  greater, 
we  get  the  less ;  but  if  we  look  only  for  the  less,  we  shall  fail 
to  possess  the  greater,  or  enjoy  the  less.  —  Hopkins. 


LIVING  BY  THE  DAY. 

Take,  therefore,  no  thought  for  the  morrow :  for  the  morrow  shall  take 
thought  for  the  things  of  itself.  Sufficient  unto  the  day  is  the  evil  thereof.  — 
Mattheio  C  :  34. 


I  COMPARE,'7  says  John  Newton,    «  the   troubles  which 
we  have  to  undergo  in  the  course  of  the  year  to  a  great 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  39 

bundle  of  fagots,  far  too  large  for  us  to  lift.  But  God  does 
not  require  us  to  carry  the  whole  at  once.  He  mercifully  un- 
ties the  bundle,  and  gives  us  first  orie  stick,  which  we  are 
to  carry  to-day,  and  then  another,  which  we  are  to  carry  to- 
morrow, and  so  on.  This  we  might  easily  manage,  if  we  would 
only  take  the  burden  appointed  for  us  each  day;  but  we 
choose  to  increase  our  troubles  by  carrying  yesterday's  over 
again  to-day,  and  adding  to-morrow's  burden  to  our  load  be- 
fore we  are  required  to  bear  it."  William  Jay  puts  the  same 
truth  another  way.  "  We  may  consider  the  year  before  us  a 
desk  containing  three  hundred  and  sixty-five  letters  addressed 
to  us  —  one  for  every  day,  announcing  its  trials,  and  pre- 
scribing its  employments,  with  an  order  to  open  daily  no  letter 
but  the  letter  for  the  day.  Now,  we  may  be  strongly  tempted 
to  unseal  beforehand  some  of  the  remainder.  This,  however, 
would  only  serve  to  embarrass. us,  while  we  should  violate  the 
rule  which  our  Owner  and  Master  has  laid  down  for  us  : 
1  Take,  therefore,  no  thought  for  the  morrow,  for  the  morrow 
shall  take  thought  for  the  things  of  itself.'  " 


WALKING  IN  THE  FATHERHOOD  OF  GOD. 

If  ye  then,  being  evil,  know  how  to  give  good  gifts  unto  your  children, 
how  much  more  shall  your  Father  which  is  in  heaven  give  good  things  to 
them  that  ask  him?  —  Matthew  7:11. 


,  brothers,  think,  sisters,  we  walk  in  the  air  of  an 
JL  eternal  fatherhood.  Every  uplifting  of  the  heart  is  a 
looking  up  to  the  Father.  Graciousness  and  truth  are  around, 
above,  beneath  us,  yea,  in  us.  When  we  are  least  worthy, 
then,  most  tempted,  hardest,  unkindest,  let  us  yet  commend 
our  spirits  into  his  hands.  Whither  else  dare  we  send  them  ? 
How  the  earthly  father  would  love  a  child  who  would  creep 
into  his  room  with  angry,  troubled  face,  and  sit  down  at  his 
feet,  saying,  when  asked  what  he  wanted,  "  I  feel  so  naughty, 
papa,  and  I  want  to  get  good."  Would  he  say  to  this  child, 
"  How  dare  you  !  Go  away,  and  be  good,  and  then  come  to 
me  "  ?  And  shall  we  dare  to  think  God  would  send  us  away 


40  NEW   TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

if  we  came  thus,  and  would  not  be  pleased  that  we  came,  even 
if  we  were  angry  as  Jonah  ?  Would  we  not  let  all  the  tender- 
ness of  our  nature  flow  forth  upon  such  a  child  ?  And  shall 
we  dare  to  think  that  if  we,  being  evil,  know  how  to  give  good 
gifts  to  our  children,  God  will  not  give  us  his  own  spirit  when 
we  come  to  ask  him  ? —  George  Macdonald. 


"TO  BRISTOL  EITHER  WAY." 

Enter  ye  in  at  the  strait  gate  :  for  wide  is  the  gate,  and  broad  is  the  way, 
that  leadeth  to  destruction,  and  many  there  he  which  go  in  thereat :  Because 
strait  is  the  gate,  and  narrow  is  the  way,  which  leadeth  unto  life,  and  few 
there  be  that  find  it.  —  Matthew  7  :  13,  14. 

FTIRAVELING,  some  years  ago,  in  the  interior  of  New 
JL  Hampshire,  I  reached  a  point  from  which  two  roads 
diverged,  passing  in  nearly  opposite  directions  for  some  dis- 
tance, but  taking  ere  long  a  semicircular  course,  and  meeting 
at  a  well-known  village.  Just  at  the  point  of  divergence, 
above  described,  stood  a  post  with  a  "  guide  board  "  attached 
*to  it,  reading  thus :  "  To  Bristol  either  way."  Very  often 
have  I  thought  that  this  queer  but  truth-telling  guide-board 
represents  a  large  class  of  preachers.  Now,  just  look  at  that 
Universalist  minister,  as  he  stands  up  before  his  people  from 
Sabbath  to  Sabbath,  pointing  with  one  hand  to  the  narrow 
way  of  life,  and  with  the  other  to  the  broad  way  of  death, 
while  he  blasphemously  exclaims,  "  To  heaven  either  way  1 " 
What  an  insult  to  the  God  of  truth  ! 

Has  not  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ  himself  told  us  that  the 
"  narrow  way  leadeth  unto  life/'  while  "  few  there  be  that  find 
it "  ?  Yes.  And  has  he  not  also  said,  in  the  same  breath, 
that  the  "  broad  way  leadeth  unto  destruction,"  and  that 
"  many  there  be  which  go  in  thereat  "  ?  Yes.  Well,  does  not 
the  "  narrow  way  "  mean  holiness,  and  does  not  the  "  broad 
wav"  mean  sin?  Most  obviously.  And  does  not  life  mean 
heaven,  while  destruction  signifies  hell  ?  Are  not  two  eter- 
nities here  brought  to  view  ?  What  sensible,  candid  man  will 
question  it? 

But  Christ  declares  that  these  two  roads  lead  to  two  very 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  41 

different  worlds,  while  the  Universalist  contradicts  the  Son  of 
God,  and  tells  you  that  both  roads  lead  to  heaven  !  Now, 
which  will  you  believe  ?  0,  reader,  be  not  deceived,  God  is 
not  mocked  ;  for  whatsoever  a  man  soweth,  that  shall  he  also 
reap.  If  we  sow  to  the  flesh,  we  shall  of  the  flesh  reap"  cor- 
ruption ;  but  if  we  sow  to  the  Spirit,  we  shall  of  the  Spirit 
reap  life  everlasting.  0,  sow  to  the  Spirit,  and  live  forever  ! 


CHARACTER  INDICATED  BY  WORKS. 

Wherefore,  by  their  fruits  ye  shall  know  them.  —  Matthew  1 :  20. 

IN  visiting  the  penitentiary  the  other  day,  we  saw  in  a  cell 
a  fierce,  savage-looking  man,  and,  on  inquiry,  we  were  told 
that  he-  was  sentenced  for  highway  robbery.  We  asked  the 
warden  if  he  claimed  to  be  a  Christian !  He  was  very  much 
astonished  at  our  question,  but  replied,  Such  men  never  claim 
to  be  Christians ;  they  invariably  declare  that  Christianity  is 
mere  priestcraft,  Christians  hypocrites,  and  the  so-called  doc- 
trines of  grace  fit  only  to  amuse  women  and  children,  and  they 
repudiate  any  sympathy  with  the  concern.  To  this  we  replied, 
That  is  precisely  our  experience.  Wicked  men  are  fully  qual- 
ified to  be  infidels  and  atheists,  but  not  to  be  Christians.  So 
much  is  this  felt  to  be  the  case,  that  they  dare  not  make  even 
a  pretense  to  being  Christians.  They  feel  that  even  the  most 
degraded  would  laugh  at  such  a  claim  !  "  Did  you  ever  hear," 
said  the  late  Dr.  Mason  to  an  infidel,  "  any  great  excitement 
over  a  professed  infidel  getting  drunk  or  breaking  the  seventh 
commandment  ?  "  And  we  would  further  ask,  Is  it  usual  to 
charge  against  atheists  and  infidels  that  the}r  are  hypocrites 
when  they  do  such  things,  or  that  they  violate  the  canon  of 
their  creed  by  such  conduct  ? 
6 


42  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

BUILDING  ON  THE  SAND. 

And  every  one  that  heareth  these  sayings  of  mine,  and  doeth  them  not, 
shall  be  likened  unto  a  foolish  man,  which  built  his  house  upon  the  sand.  — 
Matthew  7  :  26. 

IN  the  East  the  peasants'  huts  are  often  very  unsubstantial 
structures.  They  are  built  of  mud  or  sunburnt  brick.  A 
night's  hard  rain-storm  will  sometimes  nearly  demolish  an 
entire  village.  Their  mountain  streams  also  possess  a  very  pe- 
culiar character.  The  beds  of  these  brooks  are  called  wadies. 
In  the  hot  season  they  are  entirely  dry.  Yet  even  then  they 
afford  often  the  best  pasturage.  In  the  rainy  season  they  are 
swollen  streams.  The  shepherd  builds  his  hut  by  the  banks 
of  one  of  these  wadies.  If  it  is  built  high  upon  the  rock  it  is 
safe.  If  it  is  built  on  the  sandy  soil,  though  there  is  no  water 
at  the  time  of  building,  the  treacherous  foundation  gives  way 
with  the  first  freshet.  Appearances  are  often  deceitful  —  this 
is  one  lesson  of  the  image.  The.  man's  house  seems  safe  so 
long  as  the  wady  is  dry.  It  needs  a  torrent  to  test  it.  No 
man  knows  whether  he  is  safe  till  he  has  been  tried.  The 
storm  is  needed  to  show  whether  he  is  built  on  the  rock  or  on 
the  sand.  There  is  another  lesson  quite  as  important.  The 
hearers  of  Christ's  sermon  understood  it,  doubtless.  A  friend 
of  mine  was  traveling  through  Palestine.  The  party  pitched 
their  tents  in  one  of  these  wadies.  The  night  was  fair,  the  air 
clear,  the  grass  green  and  soft,  the  torrent  bed  dry.  Suddenly 
my  friend  was  awakened  by  hearing  the  gurgling  of  water. 
Before  he  was  dressed  it  was  a  foot  high  beneath  his  bed.  He 
escaped  with  difficulty.  His  clothing,  books,  manuscripts, 
were  carried  off  by  the  stream.  Rain  in  the  mountains  had 
in  a  few  hours  filled  the  dry  bed  with  a  roaring  torrent.  So, 
without,  stormy  experiences  of  temptation  come.  They  that 
are  not  built  on  a  rock  fall.  There  is  no  time  to  prepare  after 
temptation  assails.  Peter  in  the  palace  has  no  time  to  think. 
He  must  do  his  thinking  before. 


NEW   TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  43 


SOME  ONE  MUST  PRAY. 

And  I  say  unto  you,  That  many  shall  come  from  the  east  and  west,  and 
shall  sit  down  with  Abraham,  and  Isaac,  and  Jacob,  in  the  kingdom  of 
heaven :  but  the  children  of  the  kingdom  shall  be  cast  out  into  outer  dark- 
ness :  there  shall  be  weeping  and  gnashing  of  teeth.  —  Matthew  8:11,  12. 

THE  social  life  of  heathen  nations  is  penetrated  through  and 
through  by  their  religion,  arid  the  commonest  duties  in 
the  family,  in  business,  and  in  travel  are  identified  with  re- 
ligious observances.  It  were  well  if  Christian  nations  were 
equally  scrupulous.  We  give  an  illustration  from  the  Sunday 
School  Times :  "  A  man  of  learning  and  talent,  but  an  unbe- 
liever, was  traveling  in  Manilla  on  a  scientific  expedition.  He 
was  escorted  by  a  native  of  rank,  and,  as  they  were  about  to 
start,  the  native,  with  the  refined  politeness  which  character- 
izes the  Orientals,  requested  the  white  stranger  to  pray  to  his 
God.  This  was  probably  the  only  thing  he  could  have  been 
asked  to  do  without  being  able  to  comply ;  and  on  his  declin- 
ing, the  native  said,  '  Well,  some  God  must  be  prayed  to,  so 
you  will  excuse  me  if  I  pray  to  mine.' 

'  Full  many  a  shaft  at  random  sent, 
Finds  mark  the  archer  never  meant.' 

"  So  it  was  in  this  case.  The  unbeliever  was  rebuked  by  a 
heathen,  and  the  man  of  science,  who  had  gone  there  in  quest 
of  natural  curiosities,  returned,  having  found  the  '  pearl  of 
great  price.'  His  next  visit  is  to  be  as  a  missionary  to  preach 
Christ." 


LEFT  BEHIND. 

But  Jesus  said  unto  him,  Follow  me ;  and  let  the  dead  bury  their  dead.  — 

Matthew  8  :  22. 

THE  caravan  was  within  but  a  few  days'  journey  of  the 
Syrian  limit,  and  of  its  desert  journey  more  than  three- 
fourths  had  been  performed.     The  tents  had  been  lifted  in  the 
first  blush  of  the  morning,  and  the  company,  before  the  sun 
was  an  hour  in  the  heavens,  were  out  of  sight  from  the  spot 


44  NEW   TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

where  they  had  halted.  It  was  a  little  dell,  which  the  shelter 
of  a  high  rock  had  produced.  A  fountain  of  sweet  water 
welled  up  through  the  matted  soil,  which  the  waving  of  the 
long  tropical  ferns  produced  j  and  underneath  the  shade  of  the 
rock  was  the  double  shade  of  the  date  and  aloe  tree.  There 
still  rested  a  young  man  in  sleep.  No  wonder  that  the  cool- 
ness of  the  shade  and  the  softness  of  his  bed  should  have  de- 
ceived him,  but  still  he  was  left  behind.  There  were  leagues 
of  danger  between  himself  and  his  company.  Every  moment  the 
danger  increased.  In  a  little  while  the  danger  would  be  in- 
surmountable. If  he  had  taken  that  moment  for  thought,  he 
might  then  have  understood  how  time  neglected  becomes  eter- 
nity. Have  you,  my  reader,  been  left  behind  ?  Has  the  car- 
avan of  God's  church  passed  out  of  your  sight  ?  Hurry  on, 
for  soon  you  will  find  that  the  distance  is  insurmountable. 
Left  behind  !  And  by  what  ?  The  lovety  and  holy  of  all  ages 
—  the  general  assembly  and  church  of  the  first-born  —  the 
company  of  the  just  made  perfect !  Only  in  that  blessed  host 
—  which  thus  in  its  solemn  procession  has  passed  on  —  can 
salvation  be  found  ;  for  who  is  there  who  is  ashamed  to  ac- 
knowledge his  Master  on  earth,  and  to  follow  him  without  the 
camp,  who  will  be  acknowledged  by  him  in  heaven? 


HE  WAS  GOD  AND  MAN. 

But  the  men  marveled,  saying,  "What  manner  of  man  is  this,  that  even 
the  winds  and  the  sea  obey  him !  —  Matthew  8  :  27. 

A  WRITER  in  The  Christian  Advocate  thus  writes  of 
Christ :  "  What  manner  of  man  is  this  ?  "  He  is  truly 
man,  but  how  high  does  that  manhood  rise  ?  As  line  is  added 
to  line  in  our  faint  sketch,  we  are  compelled  to  higher  and 
higher  conceptions  of  him,  until  with  Thomas  we  adoringly 
cry,  "  My  Lord  and  my  God  !  "  We  cannot  stop  short  of  it. 
Wo  must  so  confess,  or  turn  away  from  his  earthly  life  as  an 
unsolved  and  unsolvable  enigma.  He  is  the  God-man,  our 
divine-human  Lord,  manifesting  God  to  men,  and  lifting  hu- 
manity up  to  God.  To  such  a  result  do  we  come,  tracing  the 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  45 

facts  upward  from  his  conceded  manhood.  Suppose,  however, 
we  begin  at  the  uppermost  fact,  with  God,  as  the  Scriptures 
reveal  his  character,  and  ask,  If  he  were  to  become  incarnate 
for  the  purpose  of  saving  a  lost  race,  how  different  might  we  rea- 
sonably expect  him  to  be  from  what  we  actually  find  in  Jesus 
of  Nazareth  ?  We  freely  concede  that  no  man  would  before- 
hand conceive  such  an  incarnate  life  as  his  was  ;  but  now  that 
it  has  been  set  before  us,  we  can  see  that  a  God  with  such  a 
purpose,  becoming  just  what  Jesus  was,  doing  just  as  he  did, 
speaking  just  as  he  spoke,  and  passing  through  just  his  career, 
would  take  the  course  best  adapted  to  secure  his  end.  A  God 
incarnate  to  save  men  would  be  likely  to  appear  as  Jesus  of 
Nazareth. 


CHRIST  IN  SYMPATHY  WITH  THE  SUFFERING. 

But  when  Jesus  heard  that,  he  said  unto  them,  They  that  be  whole  need 
not  a  physician,  but  they  that  are  sick.  —  Matthew  9  :  12. 


"  /^OME  unto  me,'7  says  the  blessed  Jesus,  "  all  ye  that  labor 
\J  and  are  heavy-laden,  and  I  will  give  you  rest."  And 
herein  he  exactly  fulfills  the  appointment  of  his  Father,  and 
acts  in  the  most  perfect  conformity  to  the  commission  he 
received  from  Him  ;  of  which  we  have  a  fair  copy  in  Isaiah 
Ixi.  1,  —  "  The  Spirit  of  the  Lord  God  is  upon  me,  because  the 
Lord  hath  anointed  me  to  preach  good  tidings  to  the  meek  ; 
he  hath  sent  me  to  bind  up  the  broken-hearted,  to  proclaim 
liberty  to  the  captives,  and  the  opening  of  the  prison  to  them 
that  are  bound."  From  this  passage  it  plainly  appears  that 
humbled,  convinced  souls  are  his  peculiar  charge  ;  he  is  the 
physician,  not  of  the  whole^  but  of  the  sick  ;  not  of  those  that 
justify  themselves,  but  of  those  who  are  perishing  in  their 
own  apprehension,  who  feel  their  need  of  him,  and  know 
something  of  the  worth  of  that  salvation  which  he  brings.  — 
Walker. 


46          .        NEW   TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

VIIAT  JESUS  IS  ABLE  TO  DO. 

And  when  he  was  come  into  the  house, -the  hlind  men  came  to  him:  and 
Jesus  saith  unto  them,  Believe  ye  that  I  am  able  to  do  this  ?  They  said  unto 
him,  Yea,  Lord.  —  Matthew  9  :  28. 

"  A  BLE  even  to  subdue  all  things  unto  himself."  —Phil.  3  :  21. 
jLl_  "  Able  to  make  all  grace  abound  toward  you  ;  that  ye, 
always  having  all-sufficiency  in  all  things,  may  abound  to  every 
good  work."  — 2  Cor.  9:18. 

"  Able  to  keep  you  from  falling,  and  to  present  you  faultless 
before  the  presence  of  his  glory  with  exceeding  joy."  — 
Jude  24. 

"  Able  to  succor  them  that  are  tempted." —  Neb.  2  :  18. 

"  Able  also  to  save  them  to  the  uttermost  that  come  unto 
God  by  him."  —  Heb.  7:25. 

"  What  he  had  promised,  he  was  able  also  to  perform."  — 
Rom.  4 :  21. 

"  Able  to  make  him  stand."  -  —  Rom.  14  :  4. 

"  Able  to  keep  that  which  I  have  committed  unto  him."  — 
2  Tim.  1 :  2. 

"  Able  to  build  you  up,  and  to  give  you  an  inheritance 
among  all  them  which  are  sanctified." — Acts  20  :  32. 

"  Able  to  do  exceeding  abundantly  above  all  that  we  ask  or 
think."  —  Eph.  3:20. 

"  Believe  ye  that  I  am  able  to  do  this  ?  "  —  Matt.  9  :  28. 


A  TRUE  HARVEST  LABORER. 

Pray  ye,  therefore,  the  Lord  of  the  harvest,  that  he  will  send  forth  labor- 
ers into  his  harvest.  —  Matthew  9  :  38.        • 

A  BIBLE  class  in  Troy,  N.  Y.,  was  commenced  twenty-two 
years  ago  by  a  lady,  who  is  still  its  teacher.  The  original 
class  numbered  sixteen,  fifteen  of  whom  have  died.  Five 
hundred  persons  have  belonged  to-  this  class.  Three  hundred 
of  them  have  united  with  the  church.  This  excellent  teacher 
has  kept  an  accurate  history  of  each  scholar,  and  has  always 
corresponded  with  the  absent.  She  visits  the  regular  mem- 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  47 

bers  twice  a  year.  They  visit  her  socially,  and  as  a  class,  by 
invitation.  Although  from  the  poorer  classes  of  the  commu- 
nity, arid  all  working  for  a  livelihood,  they  support  a  native 
preacher  in  Burmah,  are  educating  a  negro  in  Texas  for  the 
ministry,  and  are  helping  to  carry  on  a  church  in  Iowa,  besides 
paying  all  their  own  class  expenses.  The  daughter  of  one  of 
her  former  pupils  is  now  a  regular  member  of  her  class.  Many 
of  the  pupils  have  gone  West,  but  she  continues  to  respond  to 
their  frequent  requests  for  counsel.  She  has  been  at  the  fu- 
nerals of  all  her  class  who  have  died.  The  secrets  of  her  success 
are  these  four :  1.  Self-consecration.  2.  The  consecration 
of  her  pupils  to  the  Lord.  3.  Visitation  at  their  own  homes, 
with  conversation  and  prayer.  4.  Social  influence  at  her 
own  home. 


CHRISTIAN  FAITHFULNESS. 

And   as  ye  go,  preach,   saying,   The  kingdom  of  heaven  is  at  hand.  — 
Matthew  10 :  7. 

"VTOT  long  since,  while  visiting  the  sick,  in  company  with  a 
±\  Christian  brother,  I  received  from  him,  in  substance,  the 
following  account :  Many  years  ago,  while  in  an  unconverted 
state,  he  was  returning  from  a  journey  to  the  West,  and  tarried 
at  a  public  house,  where  many  intemperate  and  profane  peo- 
ple were  assembled.  One  old  man,  however,  was  there,  who 
neither  swore  nor  drank  with  them.  When  they  retired  to 
rest,  it  was  his  lot  to  sleep  in  the  same  room  with  this  serious 
aged  man,  who  soon  commenced  a  conversation  on  religion. 
The  veteran  of  the  cross  ascertained  that  his  young  friend 
knew  nothing,  by  experience,  concerning  the  love  of  God  shed 
abroad  in  the  heart.  His  pious  observations  made  no  sensible 
impression  on  the  mind  of  the  youth,  who  soon  fell  into  a  slum- 
ber. The  morning  came ;  they  arose ;  and  perhaps  most 
Christians  would  have  thought  any  more  religious  conversation 
with  the  careless  sinner  would  have  been  useless.  Not  so 
with  this  old  gentleman.  Before  his  friend  left  the  place,  he 
took  him  by  the  hand  and  advised  him  to  seek  the  salvation  of 
his  soul.  He  received  his  thanks  for  his  advice,  but  still  the 


48  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

youth  was  as  careless  as  ever.  However,  lie  had  not  traveled 
far,  before  the  recollection  of  the  admonitions  he  had  received 
was  made  the  means  of  his  awakening.  He  thought  of  the  af- 
fectionate solicitude  of  one  who  was  a  perfect  stranger  to  him, 
and  began  to  be  anxious  concerning  his  own  state.  While  on 
his  way,  he  tarried  a  night  at  a  tavern  w^here  frolicsome  mirth 
was  abundant ;  but  it  was  a  miserable  place  to  him.  At  length 
he  reached  home,  but  with  feelings  far  different  from  those  he 
formerly  had.  Two  months  elapsed  before  he  found  him  who 
was  born  at  Bethlehem,  and  when  he  did  find  him  it  was  in  a 
manger.  While  on  his  knees  in  prayer,  the  Saviour  appeared 
in  his  behalf,  and  he  was  happy  in  God.  What  encourage- 
ment is  here  to  strive,  at  all  times,  to  do  good.  "  Go  thou  and 
do  likewise.77 


¥ISE  IN  WINNING  SOULS. 

Behold,  I  send  you  forth  as  sheep  in  the  midst  of  wolves  :  be  ye  therefore 
wise  as  serpents,  and  harmless  as  doves.  —  Matthew  10  :  16. 

IN  March,  1854,  Bishop  Simpson  and  myself  were  passing 
up  the  Columbia  River  from  Portland,  Oregon,  to  the 
Dalles.  It  was  before  the  keels  of  .noble  steamers  had  vexed 
the  waters  of  the  Upper  Columbia.  At  the  Cascades,  seventy 
miles  from  Portland,  we  took  passage  in  an  Indian  canoe  for 
the  Dalles,  fifty  miles  distant.  The  whole  country  was  a 
wilderness,  unoccupied  save  by  a  small  company  of  United 
States  military  at  the  Dalles  and  a  few  daring  whites,  adven- 
turers, and  some  of  them  men  of  dissolute  habits  and  depraved 
morals.  Besides  these  the  Indians  were  numerous.  Our  crew 
in  the  canoe  were  two  Indians  and  three  or  four  squaws.  The 
passengers,  besides  the  bishop  and  myself,  were  two  or  three 
Indian  dogs,  and  two  white  men  more  depraved  than  the  dogs. 
Their  hides  —  the  men's  -r—  were  full  of  mean  whiskey,  and 
each  luul  a  quart  bottle  full  to  replenish  from  as  evaporation 
diminished  the  supply  they  had  imbibed.  Their  mouths  were 
full  of  cursing,  bitterness,  and  obscenity.  Their  foul  dialect, 
employed  for  the  purpose  of  irritating  their  clerical  fellow- 


NEW   TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  49 

passengers,  was  very  annoying.  Once  or  twice  a  stern  rep- 
rimand rose  to  the  lips  of  the  writer,  and  it  was  almost  half 
uttered,  but  at  a  signal  from  the  bishop  it  was  repressed. 
After  a  while  one  of  the  drunkards  fell  off  into  a  condition  of 
insensibility.  The  other  became  silent.  At  length  the  bishop 
very  kindly  inquired  of  him  whether  his  mother  were  still  liv- 
ing. He  very  eagerly  answered  that  she  was.  Another  ques- 
tion, "Is  your  mother  a  praying  woman?"  "  0,  yes."  "  Do 
you  think  she  is  praying  for  you  every  day?"  With  deep 
feeling  the  answer  came,  "  I  have  no  doubt  of  it."  Finding 
that  he  had  struck  a  chord  that  vibrated,  the  bishop  con- 
tinued, "  Do  you  suppose  your  mother  knows  the  kind  of  life 
you  are  leading?"  The  sensibilities  of  the  dissipated  youth 
were  stirred,  the  fountains  of  tears  were  unsealed,  and,  with 
sobs  and  flowing  tears,  the  young  man  replied  that  "  he  would 
not  have  her  know  it  for  the  world." 

The  subject  was  followed  up  by  the  bishop  with  an  earnest, 
feeling  exhortation,  which  was  apparently  well  received.  The 
day  passed  away.  We  lodged  at  an  Indian  camp,  and  the 
next  morning  parted  with  our  whiskey-bloated  fellow-passen- 
gers. The  bishop  has  probably  never  seen  those  men  since  ; 
but  the  seed  he  sowed  there  by  the  wayside  brought  forth 
its  harvest  in  God's  own  good  time,  as  the  writer  learned 
more  than  ten  years  afterwards.  In  October,  1864,  as  I  was 
coming  down  the  Upper  Columbia  in  a  splendid  steamer,  one 
of  perhaps  a  hundred  passengers,  a  well-dressed,  respectable- 
looking  gentleman  introduced  himself  to  me,  informing  me 
that  he  was  the  young  man  to  whom  the  bishop  put  those 
searching  but  kindly  questions  in  the  canoe,  in  March,  1854, 
and  that  that  interview  had  been  made  a  life-long  blessing  to 
him,  "  for,"  said  he,  "  I  have  drank  no  more  whiskey  ;  I  have 
led  a  sober,  industrious  life ;  I  have  a  respectable  family ;  I 
have  amassed  a  competence,  and  I  am  trying  to  live  a  reli- 
gious life."  He  ascribed  it  all,  under  God's  blessing,  to  the 
faithfulness  of  the  good  bishop.  —  Rev.  T.  H.  Pearne. 
7 


50  NEW   TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

"HOW  DO  YOU  TREAT  MY  MASTER?" 

The  disciple  is  not  above  his  master,  nor  the  servant  above  his  lord.  — 
Matthew  10  :  24. 

DR.  PAYSON  was  once  going  to  one  of  the  towns  in  Maine 
for  the  purpose  of  attending  a  ministers'  meeting,  accom- 
panied by  a  friend,  when  they  had  occasion  to  call  at  a  house 
on  the  journey,  where  Dr.  Payson  was  unknown.  The  family 
had  just  sat  down  to  tea,  and  the  lady  of  the  house,  in  the 
spirit  of  genuine  hospitality,  invited  the  strangers  to  partake 
of  the  social  repast.  Dr.  Payson  at  first  declined,  but  being 
strenuously  urged,  he  consented.  As  he  took  his  seat,  he  in- 
quired if  a  blessing  had  been  asked ;  and  being  answered  in 
the  negative,  requested  the  privilege,  which  was  readily 
granted,  of  invoking  the  benediction  of  Heaven.  This  was 
done  with  so  much  fervor,  solemnity,  and  simplicity,  that  it 
had  the  happiest  effect.  The  old  lady  treated  the  company 
with  the  utmost  attention,  and  as  Dr.  Payson  was  about  to 
leave,  he  said  to  her,  "  Madam,  you  have  treated  me  with 
much  hospitality  and  kindness,  for  which  I  thank  you  sin- 
cerely ;  but  allow  me  to  ask,  how  do  you  treat  my  Master  ? 
That  is  of  infinitely  greater  consequence  than  how  you  treat 
me."  He  continued  in  a  strain  of  appropriate- exhortation, 
and  having  done  his  duty  in  the  circumstances,  proceeded  on 
his  journey.  This  visit  was  sanctified  to  the  conversion  of 
the  lady  and  her  household.  The  revival  continued  in  the 
neighborhood,  and  in  a  short  time  a  church  was  built,  and  the 
regular  ordinances  of  religion  established. 


.  A  RELIGION  THAT  CAN  BE  DESPISED. 

But  whosoever  shall  deny  me  before  men,  him  will  I  also  deny  before  my 
Father  which  is  in  heaven.  —  Matthew  10  :  38. 

FTUIE  late  Dr.  Harris,  of  Dumbarton,  walking  out  one  day  in 
J_  one  of  the  large  villages  of  a  neighboring  state,  met  one 
of  the  champions  of  Universalism.  It  was  General  P-  — , 
the  leader  and  main  supporter  of  the  large  Universalist 


NEW   TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  51 

society  which  had  for  years  existed  in  that  place.  He  was  a 
high-minded  man,  quite  wealthy,  and  very  influential,  hav- 
ing a  good  deal  of  general  information  and  considerable  skill 
in  argument,  which  last  he  did  not  hesitate  to  use  whenever 
and  wherever  opportunities  were  presented.  He  and  Dr. 
Harris  were  personally  strangers  j  but  knowing  something  of 
each  other  by  reputation,  they  readily  introduced  themselves. 
The  general  very  soon  lifted  up  his  standard,  and  began  his 
war  of  words,  not  doubting  but  that,  though  he  might  fail  to 
convince  his  opponent,  he  should  at  least  show  him  that  he 
was  no  ordinary  combatant,  but  knew  well  on  what  ground  he 
stood,  and  how  to  wield  the  sword  of  sectarian  warfare  to  good 
advantage.  The  doctor  heard  him  through ;  then  calmly 

turned  to  him,  and  said,  "  General  P ,  it  is  of  no  use  for 

us  to  contend.  We  shall  not  probably  convince  each  other 
by  arguments  ever  so  protracted.  But  there  is  one  thing  in 
relation  to  this  matter  which  deserves  consideration.  It  is 
this  :  I  can  treat  your  religion  just  as  I  please  ;  I  can  turn  from 
it,  as  an  utter  abomination ;  I  can  despise  it ;  I  can  spit  on  it, 
and  trample  it  under  my  feet ;  and  yet,  after  all,  I  SHALL  BE 

SAVED — shan't  I,  General  P ?"     The  general,  of  course, 

was  obliged  to  assent,  or  give  up  the  doctrine.  There  was 
no  room  for  evasion.  "  But/7  added  the  doctor,  while  the 
general  was  writhing  at  the  contempt  thus  thrown  upon  his 
gods,  "  it  will  not  do  for  you  to- treat  my  religion  so.  If  you 
do,  YOU  ARE  A  LOST  MAN  !  "  This  was  enough ;  nothing  more 
was  said.  A  religious  system  that  can  thus  be  despised  with 
impunity,  is  evidently  not  from  God,  and  therefore  unworthy 
the  faith  or  confidence  of  men. 


A  MARTYR  OF  THE  ROMAN  COLISEUM. 

He  that  findeth  his  life  shall  lose  it :  and  he  that  loseth  his  life  for  my 
sake  shall  find  it.  —  Matthew  10  :  39. 

ONE  of  the  martyrs  of  the  Coliseum  was  Ignatius,  Bishop  of 
Antioch.     While  the  Emperor  Trajan  was  visiting  that 
city,  he  heard  of  the  faith  and  zeal  of  this  minister  of  Christ, 
and  offered  him  a  reward  if  he  would  sacrifice  to  the  Roman 


52  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

gods.  He  replied,  "  Should  you  offer  me  all  the  treasures 
of  your  empire,  I  would  not  cease  to  adore  the  only  true  and 
living  God.'7  Ignatius  was  threatened,  and  when  this  had 
no  effect,  he  was  summoned  to  Rome.  On  his  way  to  the 
imperial  city,  he  was  met  everywhere  by  Christian  friends 
whom  he  encouraged  to  persevere,  and  who  in  turn  strength- 
ened his  heart  in  his  purpose  not  to  shrink  from  any  suffering 
for  the  sake  of  Christ.  He  besought  the  disciples  at  Rome 
not  to  intercede  for  his  life,  expressing  his  perfect  willingness 
to  meet  the  wild  beasts,  and  thus  to  prove  his  love  to  his 
divine  Master.  When  brought  into  the  amphitheater,  he  thus 
addressed  the  assembled  multitude  who  were  eager  to  witness 
his  death:  "Men  and  Romans,  know  that  I  am  not  brought 
here  for  any  crime,  but  for  the  glory  of  the  God  I  worship ; " 
and  the  words  were  scarcely  fallen  from  his  lips,  when  the 
lions  were  let  loose  upon  him,  and  tore  him  in  pieces.  An 
ancient  tradition  relates  that  Ignatius,  when  a  child,  was  one 
of  those  whom  the  Saviour  took  in  his  arms  and  blessed,  say- 
ing, "  Suffer  little  children  to  come  unto  me/'  &c. 


LEAST  IN  THE-  KINGDOM  OF  HEAVEN.  . 

Verily  I  say  unto  you,  Among  them  that  are  born  of  iromen  there  hath 
not  risen  a  greater  than  John  the  Baptist :  notwithstanding,  he  that  is  least 
in  the  kingdom  of  heaven  is  greater  than  he.  —  Matthew  11 :  11. 

HE  who  is  least  in  the  kingdom  of  heaven,  is  not  the  one 
who  has  least  piety,  or  the  least  faith,  but  the  one  who 
is  least,  or  humblest  in  rank  or  in  gifts,  while  the  whole 
analogy  of  the  comparison  supposes  him  to  have  maturely 
attained  the  light  and  privilege  of  Christ's  kingdom.  John 
was  more  honored  in  official  rank,  and  knew  more  of  Christ, 
than  any  of  the  prophets ;  but  here  is  one,  in  the  kingdom  of 
heaven,  of  humblest  capacity  and  rank,  not  called  to  be  a 
prophet,  who  has  entered  into  the  fullness  of  Christ's  doc- 
trine and  dispensation.  Few  there  are,  and  have  been,  in  the 
world's  history,  as  compared  with  the  multitude  of  nominal 
believers,  who  have  received  by  faith  and  assimilated  into 
their  character  by  experience,  the  fullness  of  their  dispensa- 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  53 

tions.  Enoch  did  it  when  ho  "  walked  with  God."  Abraham 
did  it  when  "  faith  wrought  with  his  works,  and  by  works  his 
faith  was  made  perfect/'  It  was  then  he  saw  "  Christ's  day 
and  was  glad."  Moses  did  it  when  he  received  the  law,  and 
when  he  beheld  the  glory  of  Jehovah.  John  entered  into  the 
spiritual  depths  of  redemption,  as  his  gospel  and  epistles  show. 
Such  like  characters  represented  the  light,  knowledge,  and 
glory  of  their  times,  not  by  their  extraordinary  gifts,  but  by 
their  faith,  and  were  more  precious  in  the  sight  of  God  than 
all  the  gifts  of  miracles  that  ever  were  delegated  to  man.  — 
Rev.  F.  G.  HMard,  D.  D. 


PREACH  POINTEDLY,  AND  TO  SAVE. 

But  I  say  unto  you,  That  it  shall  be  more  tolerable  for  the  land  of  Sodom 
in  the  day  of  judgment  than  for  thee.  —  Matthew  11 :  24. 

IN  one  of  the  battles  of  Philip,  king  of  Macedon,  an  arrow 
struck  his  eye  and  put  it  out.  He  picked  it  up,  and  found 
it  inscribed  with  the  words,  "  To  Philip's  eye"  An  archer, 
whose  arm  was  so  sure  that  he  could  mark  his  arrows  with 
their  destination  with  a  certainty  that  they  would  reach  it, 
had  aimed  at  the  eye  of  the  king,  and  his  arrow  had  reached 
its  point.  Such  should  be  the  certain  aim  of  the  ministers  of 
Christ.  There  are  arrows  in  the  quiver  of  the  Almighty  for 
every  class  of  our  race.  The  minister  of  the  gospel  should 
select  and  send  them  to  their  destination  with  the  precision 
of  the  archer  to  the  king's  eye.  When  the  bold  blasphemer 
enters  the  house  of  God,  a  pointed  arrow  should  reach  him, 
dipped  in  the  spirit  of  rebuke  from  the  Almighty.  So  when 
the  humble  penitent  enters  the  sanctuary  seeking  peace,  an 
arrow  should  be  ready  prepared  by  God's  mercy,  and  dipped 
in  the  blood  of  Christ. 


54  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 


MORAL  INSTINCTS,  OR  SOUL  POWERS. 

At  that  time  Jesus  answered  and  said,  I  thank  thee,  O  Father,  Lord  of 
heaven  and  earth,  because  thou  hast  hid  these  tilings  from  the  wise  and  pru- 
dent, and  hast  revealed  them  unto  babes.  —  Matthew  11 :  25. 

IT  is  not  to  be  supposed  that  God  should  give  to  man  power 
through  the  senses  to  know  material  things,  and  not  give 
to  him  moral  instincts,  or  soul-powers,  by  which  he  may  know 
his  Creator,  and  enjoy  his  favor.  Knowledge  through  the 
senses  is  the  lowest  form  of  sentient  life.  It  belongs  to 
brutes,  as  well  as  to  men  ;  and  is"  often  found  in  greater  perfec- 
tion in  the  lower  order  of  animals  than  in  man.  Sight,  hear- 
ing, and  smelling  are  senses  enjoyed  by  beasts  and  birds,  far 
beyond  human  powers  in  those  departments.  But  man  is  en- 
dowed with  another  class  of  powers  not  found  in  the  brute 
creation,  such  as  soul-poWers,  or  moral  instincts,  which  an- 
swer in  man,,  but  in  a  higher  degree,  what  is  instinct  in 
brutes.  These  moral  instincts  are  to  be  exercised  by  the 
soul  in  finding  its  way  back  to  God,  through  those  channels 
of  instruction  and  enlightenment  which  God  has  mercifully 
given  to  us.  As  the  physical  man  does  not  hear  with  his 
eyes,  nor  see  with  his  ears,  nor  feel  by  smell  or  taste,  so,  in 
threading  back  the  path  of  departure,  till  he  shall  find  God, 
and  repose  in  the  light  of  his  favor,  man  does  not  rest  upon 
his  intellect,  judgment,  or  understanding;  but  the  moral  in- 
stincts cry  for  peace,  and  rest  in  the  living  God.  In  the  lower 
order  of  animals,  instinct  leads  them  to  carry  out  the  design 
of  their  Creator  for  their  greatest  good.  Moral  instincts  in 
man  turn  their  soul-powers  towards  God,  as  the  soul's  only 
satisfying  portion. 

This  spiritual  sense  is  sometimes  called  "  conviction,"  which 
means  that  these  soul-powers  are  stirred  to  unusual  activity. 
If  a  man  should  put  out  his  own  eyes,  and  then  hope  to  see 
with  his  ears,  he  would  seek  a  result  God  will  not  allow 
through  such  a  channel.  When  man  ignores  his  moral  sense, 
and  throws  himself  upon  the  intellections  and  understanding 
of  his  mind-nature,  he  will  be  as  far  from  finding  peace  to  his 
soul  as  he  who  should  substitute  his  ears  for  seeing,  after  hav- 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  55 

ing  voluntarily  destroyed  his  eyes.  The  Holy  Ghost  comes 
into  the  sepulchre  of  the  soul  through  this  door  of  moral  sense, 
and  calls  these  powers  to  "  come  forth."  Till  such  moral  resur- 
rection, the  soul  is  said  to  be  "  dead  in  trespasses  and  in 
sins ;  "  but  when  revived,  and  exercised  in  humbly  trusting  in 
God,  a  knowledge  of  spiritual  and  divine  things  is  possessed 
which  is  never  reached  by  purely  intellectual  efforts.  This 
explains  a  fact  widely  known,  why  so  many,  though  ignorant 
in  the  learning  of  the  schools,  do  possess  a  knowledge  of  God, 
and  spiritual  things,  that  mere  intellectual  scholars  never 
loam.  This  fact  helps  us  to  understand  those  words  of  our 
Lord,  when  he  said,  "  I  thank"  thee,  0  Father,  Lord  of  heaven 
and  earth,  because  thou  hast  hid  these  things  from  the  wise 
and  prudent,  and  hast  revealed  them  unto  babes."  (Matt. 
11  :  25.)  Not  hidden  by  any  arbitrary  decree  on  the  part  of 
God,  but  only  hidden,  as  hearing  is  hidden  from  the  eye,  or 
•light  from  the  ear ;  God's  method  of  reaching  the  soul  being 
through  the  moral  sense,  and  not  through  the  intellect.  The 
worldly  wise  not  using  moral  senses  for  moral  results. 


DR.  HALL'S  TRACT,  "COME  TO  JESUS." 

Come  unto  me,  all  ye  that  labor,  and  are  heavy  laden,  and  I  will  give  you 
rest.  —  Matthew  11 :  28. 

DR.  NEWMAN  HALL'S  account  of  the  origin  of  this  tract, 
as  narrated  by  a  correspondent  of  the  "Sunday  School 
Times,  is  as  follows :  "  While  in  Hull,  attending  a  missionary 
meeting,  I  accepted  an  invitation  to  dine  at  the  house  of  a 
wealthy  merchant,  a  friend  of  missions  and  reform.  When 
the  feast  was  ended  and  the  cloth  removed,  as  I  do  not  drink 
wine  or  smoke,  I  withdrew,  and,  in  company  with  a  friend, 
went  on  the  street  to  see  something  of  the  masses,  and  if 
opportunity  offered,  to  speak  to  them  of  Jesus.  We  turned 
down  an  alley,  and  soon  found  a  crowd,  whose  attention  we 
attracted  by  singing  the  familiar  hymn,  '  Come  to  Jesus,'  in 
which  they  joined  heartily.  Taking  these  words,  l  Come  to 
Jesus/  for  a  text,  I  asked,  'Who  is  Jesus?7  'He  is  God. 


56  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

He  is  man.'  i  Where  is  Jesus  ? '  '  He  is  in  heaven.  He  is 
here.'  Thus  familiarly  I  talked  to  them  of  the  Saviour,  and 
they  listened  attentively.  Returning  to  my  room,  I  jotted 
down  the  eight  or  nine  points  of  my  simple  talk ;  and,  reflect- 
ing upon  the  deep  impression  it  seemed  to  have  made  upon 
my  street  audience,  I  embodied  my  rough  notes  in  a  sermon, 
during  the  week,  which  I  preached  to  my  people  the  follow- 
ing Sabbath.  Soon  after  I  was  prostrated  by  a  severe  illness, 
from  which  for  a  time  it  was  thought  I  could  not  recover. 
What  shall  I  leave  behind  me  if  I  die?  I  asked  myself,  de- 
spondingly.  Only  a  tract  on  Temperance.  I  wish  I  could 
leave  more  than  that  one  tract,  and  I  will,  if  God  should  spare 
my  life.  It  was  his  good  pleasure  that  I  should  recover,  and 
during  my  convalescence  the  tract  was  written,  and  it  proved 
a  pleasant  work  for  leisure  hours.  When  ready  for  the  press, 
I  ordered  an  edition  of  two  thousand  copies,  which  was  soon 
exhausted  ;  then  ten  thousand  were  issued  ;  then  fifty  thousand 
followed,  and  soon  one  hundred  thousand.  Missionaries  all 
over  the  world  translated  it  into  other  languages,  and  now  it 
is  read  in  as  many  languages  as  the  Bible.  In  England  alone 
one  million  arid  a  quarter  copies  have  been  circulated,  and, 
including  America,  two  million  in  all.  There  is  not,"  he  con- 
tinued, "  much  of  man  in  it,  for  it  did  not  cost  great  intellect- 
ual effort ;  but  it  contains  only  the  simple  truths  of  the  gospel, 
and  it  is  such  means  that  God  often  blesses  in  a  wonderful 


FOR,  OR  AGAINST,  CHRIST. 

He  that  is  not  with  me  is  against  me ;  and  he  that  gathereth  not  with  me 
scattereth  abroad.  —  Matthew  12  :  30. 

DURING  the  remarks  of  Mr.  Farwell,  at  a  meeting  in  the 
Howard  Street  Methodist  Church,  he  related  the  follow- 
ing incident  of  himself:  About  a  dozen  years  ago,  a  Christian 
young  man  of  his  acquaintance  came  into  his  store,  and  said 
that  he  and  a  number  of  fellow-Christians  had  appointed  a 
prayer-meeting  for  the  evening,  and  each  one  had  promised 
to"  bring  with  him  one  of  his  inipi'iiiu-nt  friends.  He  then 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  57 

said  that,  in  fulfillment  of  his  part  of  the  obligation,  he  had 
come  to  ask  Mr.  Farwell  to  accompany  him  to  the  meeting. 
As  he,  Mr.  Farwell,  was  himself  at  that  time  a  professor  of 
religion,  the  invitation  did  not  afford  him  a  great  deal  of 
pleasure.  It  set  him  to  reflecting,  however,  and,  in  thinking, 
he  came  to  the  conclusion  that  if  his  life  so  far  had  been  such 
us  to  give,  to  those  who  knew  him,  the  impression  that  he  was 
still  among  the  u  impenitent,"  it  was  time  for  him  to  be  wak- 
ing up,  and  to  be  more  active  in  the  cause  of  his  Saviour.  The 
result,  to  those  acquainted  with  him,  is  well  known.  He  now, 
though  having  the  management  of  a  large  mercantile  business, 
finds  time  to  do  a  great  deal,  by  personal  effort,  for  the  spirit- 
ual interest  of  his  fellow-men.  He  told  the  writer  that  he 
visited  the  Bridewell  at  Chicago  —  which  answers  to  the  sta- 
tion-house or  city  prison  here  —  as  often  as  once  a  week,  to 
distribute  tracts  to  the  prisoners,  and  to  talk  to  them  about 
eternal  things ;  and  when  he  is  abroad,  he  does  not  hesitate 
to  show  his  colors,  and  make  himself  known  as  a  soldier  of 
the  cross.  This  is  what  every  Christian  ought  to  do ;  but  we 
very  much  fear  that  there  are  many  in  the  church  who  give 
but  little  evidence,  by  their  lives,  that  they  are  not  yet  among 
the  "  impenitent,"  and  who  need  something  like  this  to  bring 
them  to  a  sense  of  their  condition. 


SIN  AGAINST  THE  HOLY  GHOST. 

Wherefore  I  say  unto  you,  All  manner  of  sin  and  blasphemy  shall  be  for- 
given unto  men :  but  the  blasphemy  against  the  Hol^  Ghost  shall  not  be 
forgiven^unto  men.  —  Matthew  12  :  31. 

THE  late  Rev.  Herman  Norton  records  the  following  affect- 
ing  instance.     Often  have  I  listened  to  its  recital  from 
his  own  lips. 

"  An  aged  procrastinator,  taking  the  servant  of  God  by  the 
hand,  said,  <  Sir,  do  you  think  there  is  any  mercy  in  heaven 
for  a  man  who  has  sinned  more  than  eighty  years  ? ' 

"  <  There  is  mercy/  I  replied,  <  for  those  who  repent  of  sin, 
and  believe  on  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ.' 


58  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

"  Stjll  pressing  my  hand,  while  tears  were  flowing  down  his 
wrinkled  cheeks,  and  his  frame  trembling,  he  more  earnestly 
renewed  his  inquiry :  {  My  dear  sir,  do  you  believe  that  God 
will  forgive  a  man  who  has  rebelled  against  him  eighty-one 
years  in  this  world  ? '  Before  a  word  was  uttered  in  reply,  he 
cried  out,  in  agony,  1 1  know  I  shall  not  be  forgiven  !  I  shall 
die  in  my  sins  ! ' 

"  This  caused  me  to  ask  how  he  knew,  or  what  induced  him 
to  believe,  that  God  would  never  have  mercy  on  him. 

"  He  replied,  '  I  will  tell  you,  and  disclose  what  I  have  never 
uttered  to  any  human  being.  When  I  was  twenty-one,  I  was 
awakened  to  feel  that  I  was  a  sinner.  I  was  then  intimate  with 
a  number  of  young  men,  and  was  ashamed  to  have  them  know 
that  I  was  anxious  for  my  soul:  For  five  or  six  weeks  I  read 
my  Bible,  and  prayed  every  day  in  secret.  Then  I  said  in 
my  heart  one  day,  I  will  put  this  subject  off  until  I  am  married 
and  settled  in  life,  and  then  I  will  attend  to  my  soul's  salva- 
tion. But  I  knew  that  I  was  doing  wrong. 

"  '  After  I  was  settled  in  the  world,  I  thought  of  the  resolu- 
tion I  had  made,  and  of  my  solemn  promise  to  God  then  to 
make  my  peace  with  him ;  but,  as  I  had  no  disposition  to  do 
so,  I  again  said  in  my  heart,  I  will  put  off  this  subject  ten 
years,  and  then  prepare  to  die. 

"  t  The  time  came,  and  I  remembered  my  promise ;  but  I 
had  no  special  anxiety  about  my  salvation.  Then  did  I  again 
postpone  and  resolve  that  if  God  would  spare  me  through 
another  term  of  years,  I  would  certainly  attend  to  the  con- 
cerns of  my  soul.  God  spared  me,  but  I  lived  on  in  my  sins ; 
and  now  I  see  my  awful  situation.  I  am  lost. 

"  1 1  believe  that  I  sinned  against  the  Holy  Ghost  when  I 
was  twenty-one,  and  that  I  have  lived  sixty  years  since'my  day 
of  grace  was  past.  I  know  that  I  shall  not  be  forgiven.' 

"  When  asked  if  I  should  pray  for  him,  he  replied,  <  Yes  ; 
but  it  will  do  no  good.'  So  fearfully  certain  was  he  of  de- 
struction i  He  continued  in  this  state  for  weeks  and  months. 
All  attempts  to  urge  him  to  accept  of  salvation  were  in  vain ; 
this  blighting  sentiment  was  ever  first  in  his  thoughts  :  '  It 
will  do  no  good.'  His  feelings  were  not  contrition  or  repent- 
ance for  sin,  but  the  anticipation  of  wrath  to  come.  And  in 
this  state  he  died." 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  59 

LIFE  PRINTING  ITSELF. 

But  I  say  unto  you,  That  every  idle  word  that  men  shall  speak,  they  shall 
give  account  thereof  in  the  day  of  judgment.  —  Matthew  12  :  36. 

OUR  lives,  whether  good  or  bad,  aro  printed  thoughts, 
words,  and  deeds,  for  eternity. 

By  the  discoveries  of  modern  science,  the  rays  of  the  sun 
are  made  to  form  the  exact  portrait'  of  him  on  whom  they 
shine.  We  are  all  living  in  the  sunlight  of  eternity,  which  is 
transferring  to  plates  more  enduring  than  brass,  the  exact 
portrait  of  the  soul  in  every  successive  act  with  all  its  attend- 
ant circumstances. 

Interesting  to  the  antiquary  is  the  moment  when  he  drags 
out  from  the  sands  of  Egypt  some  obelisk  on  which  the  "  pen 
of  iron,  and  the  point  of  a  diamond,"  have  graven  the  portraits, 
the  attitudes,  the  dresses,  and  the  pursuits  of  men  who  lived 
and  died  three  thousand  years  ago.  But  none  can  utter  the  in- 
terest of  that  moment,  when  from  the  silence  of  eternity  shall 
be  brought  out  tablets  thick  set  with  the  sculptured  history 
of  a  sinful  soul,  and  men  and  angels,  with  the  sinner  himself, 
shall  gaze  appalled  on  the  faithful  portraiture  of  a  life  of  sin. 
Remember,  then,  0  transgressor,  you  must  meet  the  record 
of  your  sin  in  eternity  ! 

Reader,  a  stain  on  thy  character,  though  not  of  flagrant 
complexion,  though  it  may  have  been  made  under  many  palli- 
ating circumstances  —  a  stain,  trivial  though  it  may  appear  in 
the  view  of  the  world,  must  stand  on  the  page  of  thy  history 
for  ever.  A  stain  on  thy  character  will  not  only  have  a  bear- 
ing on  thy  whole  future  welfare,  but  it  may  help  to  form  the 
grand  result  that  shall  be  made  out  at  the  judgment. 


THE  PEN  OF  HEAVEN. 

For  by  thy  words  thou  shalt  be  justified,  and  by  thy  words  thou  shalt  be 
condemned.  —  Matthew  12  :  37. 

THE  most  common  action  of  life  —  its  every  day,  its  every 
hour  —  is  invested  with  solemn  grandeur,  when  we  think 
it  extends  its  issues  into  eternity.     Our  hands  are  now  sowing 


60  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

seed  for  that  great  harvest.  We  shall  meet  again  all  we  are 
doing,  or  have  done.  The  graves  shall  give  up  their  dead, 
and  from  the  tombs  of  oblivion  the  past  shall  give  up  all  that 
it  holds  in  keeping  to  be  witness  for  or  against  us.  0,  think 
of  that  !  In  yonder  hall  of  the  Inquisition  see  what  its  effect 
on  us  should  be.  Within  those  blood-stained  walls  one  is 
under  examination.  He  has  been  assured  that  nothing  he  re- 
veals shall  be  written  for  the  purpose  of  being  used  against 
him.  While  making  frank  and  ingenuous  confession,  he  sud- 
denly stops.  .  He  is  dumb  —  a  mute.  They  ply  him  with 
questions,  flatter  him,  threaten  him ;  he  answers  not  a  word. 
Danger  makes  the  senses  quick.  His  ear  has  caught  the 
sound  :  he  listens  ;  he  ties  his  tongue  ;  a  curtain  hangs  beside 
him,  and  behind  it  he  hears  a  pen  running  along  the  pages. 
The  truth  flashes.  Behind  that  screen  a  scribe  sits,  com- 
mitting to  the  fatal  page  every  word  he  says,  and  he  shall 
meet  it  again  on  the  day  of  trial. 

Ah  !  how  solemn  to  think  that  there  is  such  a  pen  going  in 
heaven,  and  entering  on  the  books  of  judgment  all  we  say  or 
wish,  all  we  think  or  do.  Would  to  God  we  heard  it !  What 
a  check  !  and  what  a  stimulus  !  Are  we  about  to  sin  ?  how 
strong  a  curb ;  if  slow  to  duty,  how  sharp  a  spur.  What  a 
motive  to  pray  for  the  blood  that  blots  out  a  guilty  past,  and 
for  such  grace,  as,  in  time  to  come,  shall  enable  us  to  walk 
in  God's  statutes,  to  keep  his  commandments,  to  do  them. 
"  Knowing,  therefore,  the  terror  of  the  Lord,  we  persuade 
men."  —  Dr.  Guthrie. 


A  CHRISTIAN  QUEEN. 

The  queen  of  the  south  shall  rise  up  in  the  judgment  with  this  genera- 
tion, and  shall  condemn  it:  for  she  came  from  the  uttermost  parts  of  the 
earth  to  hear  the  wisdom  of  Solomon ;  and,  behold,  a  greater  than  Solomon 
is  here.  —  Matthew  12  :  42. 

WILLIAM  IV.  expired,  about  midnight,  at  Windsor  Palace. 
The  Archbishop  of  Canterbury,  with  other  peers  and 
hiii-li  functionaries  of  the  kingdom,  were  in  attendance.     As 
soon  as  the  "  scepter  had  departed  "  with  the  last  breath  of 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  61 

the  king,  the  archbishop  quitted  Windsor  Castle,  and  made 
his  way  with  all  possible  speed  to  Kensington  Palace,  the  res- 
idence, at  that  time,  of  the  princess  —  already  by  the  law  of 
succession  queen  —  Victoria.  He  arrived  long  before  daylight, 
announced  himself,  and  requested  an  immediate  interview 
with  the  princess.  She  hastily  attired  herself,  and  met  the 
venerable  prelate  in  her  ante-room.  He  informed  her  of  the 
death  of  William,  and  formally  announced  to  her  that  she  was, 
in  law  and  right,  successor  to  the  deceased  monarch.  The 
sovereign  of  the  most  powerful  nation  at  the  feet  of  a  girl 
of  eighteen  !  She  was,  de  jure,  queen  of  the  only  realm,  in 
fact  or  history,  on  which  the  "  sun  never  sets."  She  was 
deeply  agitated  at  the  formidable  words,  so  fraught  with 
blessing  or  calamity,  and  the  first  words  she  was  able  to  utter 
were  these,  "  I  ask  your  prayers  in  my  behalf." 


CARES  OF  THIS  WORLD. 

He  also  that  received  seed  among  the  thorns  is  he  that  heareth  the  word; 
and  the  care  of  this  world,  and  the  deceitfulncss  of  riches,  choke  the  word, 
and  he  becometh  unfruitful.  —  Matthew  13  :  22. 

THE  good  seed  of  God's  word  often  falls  on  the  ground 
already  pre-occupied  with  thorns  ;  the  cares  of  this  world 
.and  the  deceitfulness  of  riches  choke  the  word,  and  it  is 
unfruitful.  God  intended  business  to  be  a  thing  which  we 
should  LIVE  BY,  not  a  thing  we  should  LIVE  FOR.  If  men  would 
but  use  it  as  God  intended  it,  there  would  be  less  of  that 
care  which  quenches  or  hinders  the  religious  life.  But  when 
thought,  interest,  energy-  are  concentrated  with  all  their  force 
on  this  one  thing,  it  takes  possession  of  the  whole  of  our  na- 
ture ;  it  rules  us,  enslaves  us,  and  resolutely  shuts  out  every 
competing  subject,  very  especially  shuts  out  that  which  de- 
mands to  be  chief  and  controller  of  all.  "  My  son,  give  me 
thine  heart,''  says  the  great  Father ;  but  the  heart  is  already 
given  to  the  world,  and  cannot  get  free ;  yea,  is  so  thoroughly 
absorbed  in  worldly  care  that  it  hardly  hears  the  loving  re- 
quest so  graciously  made.  "  Seek  first  the  kingdom  of  God 


62  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

and  his  righteousness,"  says  the  Saviour,  but  the  command  is 
received  too  late  ;  they  are  already  seeking  the  things  of  the 
world,  and  all  the  strength  and  richness  of  their  nature  are 
drawn  to  that  which  soon,  very  soon,  must  perish.  They  do 
not  always  gain  what  they  thus  earnestly  seek  after,  and  then 
they  lose  both  worlds.  But,  0,  if  they  succeed  in  their  quest, 
what  shall  it  profit  if  they  gain  the  whole  world  and  lose  their 
own  soul  ! 


NOT  SAVED. 

Let  both  grow  together  until  the  harvest  :  and  in  the  time  of  harvest  I 
will  say  to  the  reapers,  Gather  ye  together  first  the  tares,  and  bind  them  in 
bundles  to  burn  them  :  but  gather  the  wheat  into  my  barn.  —  Matthew  13  :  30. 


harvest  is  past,  the  summer  is  ended,  and  we  are 
not  saved  !  "  Such  are  the  words  which  the  weeping 
prophet  Jeremiah  put  in  the  mouth  of  a  "  disobedient  and 
gainsaying  people."  To  us  it  seems  strange  that  summer 
should  be  mentioned  after  the  harvest,  but  this  may  be  easily 
explained.  In  Palestine  the  autumnal  rains  begin  to  fall  the 
last  of  October.  This  is  the  seed-time.  Grain  usually  matures 
in  May,  which  is  therefore  the  time  of  harvest.  Later,  and 
during  the  summer,  occurs  the  fig  harvest. 

This,  then,  is  the  passage  plainly  expressed  :  "  The  grain 
harvest  is  past,  the  fig  harvest  is  also  ended,  and  we  are  not- 
saved."  The  picture  in  all  its  sad  beauty  is  this  :  The  grain  has 
been  sown,  the  early  rain  has  fallen,  winter  is  over,  the  latter 
rain  has  also  fallen,  and  the  grain  has  matured.  The  reapers 
have  entered  the  field,  and  gathered  much  into  the  garner  — 
but  not  all  !  The  fig  harvest  too  ha.s  come  and  is  ended,  but 
many  remain  ungathered.  Here  and  there  stalks  of  grain  in 
the  open  field,  and  figs  upon  the  leafless  trees,  remain,  un- 
sheltered and  alone,  when  the  harvesters  have  completed  their 
work  !  These,  when  they  find  themselves  left  behind  un- 
saved, lift  up  their  voices  with  the  mournful  cry,  "  The  harvest 
is  past,  the  summer  is  ended,  and  we  are  not  saved  !  " 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  63 


REMARKABLE  FACTS. 

Another  parable  spake  lie  unto  them :  The  kingdom  of  heaven  is  like  unto 
leaven,  which  a  woman  took,  and  hid  in  three  measures  of  meal,  till  the  whole 
was  leavened.  —  Matthew  13  :  33. 

CHRISTIANITY  began  its  progress  at  Jerusalem.  At  the 
VJ  expiration  of  forty  days  after  the  death  of  Christ,  it  num- 
bered about  one  hundred  and  twenty  followers ;  immediately 
after,  three  thousand  ;  and  soon  after,  five  thousand  more  ;  and, 
in  little  less  than  two  years,  great  multitudes  at  Jerusalem 
only,  as  well  as  throughout  Judea.  Mohammed  was  three 
years  occupied  in  making  fourteen  converts,  and  those  too  of 
his  own  family ;  and  proceeded  so  slowly  at  Mecca,  where  he 
had  no  established  religion  to  contend  with,  that  in  the  sev- 
enth year,  when  he  was  compelled  to  flee  to  Medina,  only 
eighty-three  men  and  eighteen  women  retired  to  Ethiopia. 
Within  a  century  from  the  time  of  the  ascension,  Christianity, 
without  any  aid  but  that  of  preaching,  pervaded  not  merely 
Syria  and  Libya,  Egypt  and  Arabia,  Persia,  and  Mesopotamia ; 
not  merely  Asia  Minor,  Armenia,  and  Parthia,  but  a  large  por- 
tion of  Europe.  Islam,  on  the  contrary,  had  no  considerable 
success,  until  -it  achieved  it  by  the  sword  ;  and  when  it  ceased 
to  use  the  sword  in  making  proselytes,  its  progress  was  at 
once  arrested.  We  then  ask  the  infidel,  To  what  was  this 
remarkable  progress  of  Christianity  owing  ?  Not,  certainly, 
to  the  rank  or  power  of  its  author  ;  he  passed  the  greater  part 
of  his  life  in  obscurity,  working  as  an  artisan,  and  the  residue 
as  a  wandering  teacher ;  and  at  last  was  publicly  executed  as 
a  malefactor.  Not  to  the  learning  or  influence  of  his  follow- 
ers ;  they  were  fishermen  and  publicans.  Not  to  the  sword  ; 
he  employed  none, 'except  "the  sword  of  the  spirit."  Not 
to  the  aid  of  government ;  for  both  Jews  and  Romans  were 
banded  together  to  destroy  it.  Not  to  the  hopes  of  wealth, 
honor,  or  power ;  for  its  author  very  frankly  told  those  who 
became  his  followers,  "  My  kingdom  is  not  of  this  world  ;  "  and 
taught  them  to  expect  not  merely  contempt  and  persecution, 
but  the  loss  of  all  things,  even  of  life.  Not  to  its  flattery  of 
the  human  character ;  for  it  expressly  declares,  "  Except  a 


64  A'EW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

man  be  born  again,  he  cannot  see  the  kingdom  of  God."  Not 
to  any  license  given  to  sensual  indulgence  ;  for  the  language 
of  its  author  was,  "  If  any  man  will  come  after  me,  let  him 
deny  himself,  and  take  up  his  cross  daily,  and  follow  me."  Not 
to  the  hopes  of  a  sensual  heaven  ;  "  Into  that  city  nothing  shall 
enter  that  defileth."  Not  to  a  blind  credulity  ;  for  many,  who 
embraced  Christianity  during  the  first  two  centuries,  were 
men  of  distinguished  talents,  and  enlightened  minds  ;  and  all, 
who  cordially  embraced  it,  became  men  of  a  virtuous  charac- 
ter. We  then  repeat  the  question  to  the  infidel,  "  Why  did 
the  religion  of  one  who  was  publicly  executed  between  two 
thieves ;  of  one  who  was  without  friends,  without  influence, 
and  without  power ;  a  religion  which  flattered  no  one,  which 
exposed  its  followers  to  the  loss  of  all  things  in  this  world, 
which  required  self-denial  and  self-renunciation,  and  offered 
no  reward  in  the  future  world  but  holiness,  —  why  did  it  im- 
mediately pervade  the  city  and  region  where  he  wg,s  thus  ex- 
ecuted, and  in  a  little  period,  all  the  surrounding  world  ?  If 
the  infidel  attributes  it  to  miracles  merely,  he  renounces  his 
infidelity.  If  he  admits  that  it  was  owing  to  the  inherent  evi- 
dence of  its  truth  and  its  divine  origin,  he  does  the  same  ;  and 
if  he  denies  both,  he  asserts  a  far  greater  miracle,  in  the 
progress  of  Christianity  under  these  circumstances,  than  any, 
or  than  all  those  which  he  disowns. 


A  SON  THAT  PREACHED  HIS  FATHER'S  FUNERAL 

SERMON. 

But  the  tares  are  the  children  of  the  wicked  one ;  the  enemy  that  sowed 
them  is  the  devil;  the  harvest  is  the  end  of  the  world;  and  the  reapers. are 
the  angels.  —  Mattheiv  13  :  38,  39. 

T  ATE  in  the  winter  of  1872,  a  Mr.  P.,  who  had  been  in 
Jj  other  years  a  Christian  and  a  minister  of  the  gospel,  but 
who  had  been  deposed  from  the  ministry,  and  expelled  from 
the  church  of  which  he  was  a  member,  for  acts  of  immorality, 
and  having  taken  up  Universalism  as  better  suited  to  his  char- 
acter, advertised  to  preach  on  a  Sabbath  evening  at  South 
Shaftsbury,  Vt,  on  "  The  Death  of  the  Devil."  In  the  afternoon 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  65 

of  the  same  day,  Rev.  S.  W.  Clemans,  of  the  Troy  Confer- 
ence, preached  in  the  same  church,  it  being  one  of  his  reg- 
ular appointments.  After  the  preaching,  Mr.  Clemans  said  to 
the  congregation,  with  great  solemnity,  "  I  understand  there 
is  to  be  a  funeral  in  this  church  this  evening,  the  peculiar 
feature  of  which  is,  a  son  is  to  preach  his  father's  funeral  ser- 
mon. The  relatives  are  requested  to  take  seats  in  the  body 
pews  of  the  church."  In  the  evening  the  sermon  came  off, 
aocording  to  appointment ;  only  a  few,  however,  of  "  the  rela- 
tives "  occupied  the  designated  pews.  The  notice,  as  given  by 
Mr.  Clemans,  was  a  pointed  but  just  rebuke  to  one  who  had  left 
the  service -of  God,  and  had  accepted  service  in  the  work  of 
the  devil ;  "  strengthening  the  hands  of  the  wicked,  that  he 
should  not  return  from  his  wicked  way,  by  promising  him  life." 
(Ezek.  13  :  22.)  In  the  Scriptures,  the  term  children  describe 
natural  relations,  and  moral  resemblances.  Hence  our  Lord 
said  of  certain  wicked  persons,  "  Ye  are  of  your  father  the 
devil,  and  the  lusts  of  your  father  ye  will  do."  (John  8  :  44.) 
Good  persons  are  said  to  be  "  children  ofGod"  (1  John  3  : 10), 
while  bad  persons  .are  called  "  the  children  of  the  wicked -one." 
When  a  person  does  the  work  of  "  the  wicked  one,"  .in  oppos- 
ing the  truth  and  work  of  God,  —  when  he  uses  his  might 
against  the  cause  of  the  Lord  Jesus,  and  seeks  to  turn  away 
souls  from  Christ,  we  have  the  example  of  our  Lord  for  caUing 
such  "  children  of  the  devil."  Great  will  be  the  condemnation 
of  such,  who,  in  this  age  of  gospel  light  and  truth,  accept  the 
old  falsehood  of  Satan  to  Eve,  "  Ye  shall  not  surely  die,"  and 
teach  others  so. 


PEARL  OF  GREAT  PRICE. 

Who,  when,  he  had  found  one  pearl  of  great  price,  went  and  sold  all  that 
lie  had,  and  bought  it.  —  Matthew  13  :  4G. 

A  WEALTHY  lady  of  Java,  having  married  an  English  mer- 
-LJL  chant,  went  to  England  to  reside.  She  was  unacquainted 
with  the  language,  the  customs  and  manners  of  the  country. 
She  amused  herself  playing  with  her  children,  and  decking  her- 
self with  her  jewels  and  pearls,  of  which  she  had  a  large  and 
9 


66  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

costly  collection.  Her  Scotch  nurse  being  one  day  in  her 
room,  she  said  to  her  in  broken  English  :  "  Nurse,  this  poor 
place  —  poor  place."  "  Why,  madam  ?  "  said  the  nurse.  "  We 
look  out  of  the  window,"  replied  the  lady,  "  and  see  no  woman 
in  the  street  all  covered  with  diamonds  and  pearls,  as  in  my 
country."  The  nurse  replied,  "  We  have  a  pearl  in  this  coun- 
try, a  i  Pearl  of  great  price.' ;  The  Javanese  lady  caught  her 
words  with  great  eagerness  and  surprise.  "  Have  you,  in- 
deed ?  0  that  my  husband  was  come  home  !  He  buy  me  this 
pearl;  me  part  with  all  my  pearls  when  he  come  home,  to  get 
this  pearl  of  so  great  price."  "  0,"  said  the  nurse,  "  this 
pearl  is  not  to  wear.  It  is  not  to  be  had  in  the  way  you  think. 
They  who  have  it  are  at  peace  with  God,  and  are  truly  happy." 
"  Indeed,"  said  the  lady,  "  what  can  this  pearl  be  ?  "  "  The 
pearl,"  said  the  nurse,  "  is  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  who  came 
into  the  world  to  save  sinners.  All  who  truly  believe  in  him, 
have  Christ  in  their  hearts,  and  are  truly  happy.  So  precious 
is  Jesus  to  them,  that  they  count  all  things  loss  for  the  excel- 
lence of  the  knowledge  of  Jesus  Christ  their  Lord."  It  pleased 
God -to  bless  these  words  of  the  nurse  to  her  mistress's  spir- 
itual good.  By  these  few  words,  applied  by  the  spirit  of  God, 
she  got  a  believing  view  of  Christ,  in  whom  are  hid  all  the 
treasures  of  wisdom  and  knowledge,  and  with  this  view  of 
Christ,  this  world's  gems  ceased  to  shine  and  attract,  just  as 
the  stars  lose  their  brightness  in  the  rising  sunlight  of  day. 
Some  time  after  the  lady  died,  and  on  her  death-bed  she  de- 
sired that  her  jewels  might  be  sold,  and  the  value  realized  go 
towards  sending  the  knowledge  of  the  Pearl  of  Great  Price  to 
those  in  far  off  countries  who  have  it  not. 


SCRIPTURE  TRANSCRIBERS. 

Then  said  ho  unto  them,  Therefore  every  scribe  which  is  instructed  unto 
the  kingdom  of  heaven,  is  like  unto  a  man  that  is  an  householder,  which  bring- 
eth  forth  out  of  his  treasure  tilings  new  and  old.  —  Matthew  13  :  52. 


I 


N  transcribing  the   sacred  writings,  it  has  been  a  constant 
rule  with  the  Jews,  that  whatever  is  considered  as  corrupt 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  67 

shall  not  be  used,  but  shall  be  burnt,  or  otherwise  destroyed. 
A  book  of  the  law,  wanting  but  one  letter,  with  one  letter  too 
much,  or  with  an  error  in  one  single  letter,  written  with  any- 
thing but  ink,  or  written  on  parchment  made  of  the  hide  of  an 
unclean  animal,  or  on  parchment  not  properly  prepared  for 
that  use,  or  prepared  by  any  but  Israelites,  or  on  skins  of 
parchment  tied  together  by  unclean  strings,  shall  be  holden  to 
be  corrupt ;  that  no  word  shall  be  written  without  a  line  first 
drawn  on  the  parchment,  no  word  written  by  heart,  or  without 
having  been  pronounced  orally  by  the  writer  ;  that  before  he 
writes  the  name  of  God  he  shall  wash  his  pen ;  that  no  letter 
shall  be  joined  to  another ;  and  that  if  the  blank  parchment 
cannot  be  seen  all  around  each  letter,  the  roll  shall  be  corrupt. 
There  are  certain  rules  for  the  length  and  breadth  of  each 
sheet,  and  for  the  space  to  be  left  between  each  letter,  each 
word,  and  each  section.  Even  to  this  day,  it  is  an  obligation 
on  the  persons  who  copy  the  sacred  writing  of  the  syna- 
gogues, to  observe  them.  —  Selected. 


CHRYSOSTOM'S  ELOQUENCE. 

For  Herod  had  laid  hold  on  John,  and  bound  him,  and  put  him  in  prison 
for  lierodias'  sake,  his  brother  Philip's  wife.  —  Matthew  14  :  3. 

fT)HE  following  bursts  of  eloquence  from  Chrysostom,  when  he 
JL  was  sentenced  to  banishment,  are  a  good  specimen  of  the 
style  of  this  "  silver-tongued  "  preacher  :  "  What  can  I  fear  ? 
Will  it  be  death  ?  But  you  know  that  Christ  is  my  life,  and 
that  I  shall  gain  by  death.  Will  it  be  exile  ?  But  the  earth  and 
all  its  fullness  is  the  Lord's.  Will  it  be  the  loss  of  wealth  ?  But 
we  brought  nothing  into  the  world,  and  can  carry  nothing  out. 
Thus  all  the  terrors  of  the  world  are  contemptible  in  my  eyes, 
and  I  smile  at  all  its  good  things.  Poverty  I  do  not  fear.  Riches 
I  do  not  sigh  for.  Death  I  do  not  shrink  from,  and  life  I  do 
not  desire,  save  only  for  the  progress  of  your  souls.  But  you 
know,  my  friends,  the  true  cause  of  my  fall.  It  is  that  I  have 
not  lined  my  house  with  rich  tapestry.  It  is  that  I  have  not 
clothed  me  in  robes  of  silk.  It  is  that  I  have  not  flattered  the 


68  HEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

effeminacy  and  sensuality  of  certain  men,  nor  laid  gold  and 
silver  at  their  feet.  But  why  need  I  say  more  ?  Jezebel  is 
raising  her  persecution,  and  Elias  must  fly.  Herodias  is  taking 
her  pleasure,  and  John  must  be  bound  in  chains.  The  Egyptian 
wife  tells  her  lie,  and  Joseph  must  Jbe  thrust  into  prison.  And 
so  if  they  banish  me,  I  shall  be  like  Elias  ;  if  they  throw  me 
into  the  mire,  like  Jeremiah  ;  if  they  plunge  me  into  the  sea, 
like  the  prophet  Jonah ;  if  into  the  pit,  like  Daniel ;  if  they 
stone  me,  it  is  Stephen  that  I  shall  resemble  ;  John  the  fore- 
runner, if  they  cut  off  my  head  ;  Paul,  if  they  beat  me  with 
stripes  ;  Isaiah,  if  they  saw  me  asunder." 


ACKNOWLEDGING  GOD  IN  EATING. 

And  he  commanded  the  multitude  to  sit  down  on  the  grass,  and  took  the 
five  loaves  and  the  two  fishes,  and  looking  up  to  heaven,  he  blessed,  and 
brake,  and  gave  the  loaves  to  his  disciples,  and  the  disciples  to  the  multitude. 
—  Matthew  14  :  19. 

AN  English  ship-of-war  once  touched  at  one  of  the  ports  of 
the  Sandwich  Islands,  when  the  captain  gave  a  dinner  to 
the  royal  family  and  several  of  the  chiefs.  The  table  was 
spread  upon  the  quarter-deck,  and  loaded  with  viands  and  del- 
icacies of  all  kinds.  After  the  company  were  seated,  and 
everything  was  ready,  the  islanders  seemed  unwilling  to  be- 
gin. The  captain  could  not  understand  them,  and  thought  the 
hesitation  arose  from  a  fear  to  partake  of  such  entertainment. 
He  assured  them  it  was  such  as  they  might  enjoy,  but  still  they 
refused  to  begin.  A  pious  steward,  guessing  the  cause  of  the 
delay,  whispered,  "  They  are  waiting  for  the  blessing,  sir." 
"  Ask  it,  then,"  said  the  captain.  The  steward  did  so,  in  a  very 
earnest  and  simple  manner.  No  sooner  was  this  done  than 
the  royal  party  and  the  chiefs  did  ample  justice  to  the  feast, 
and  thus  taught  the  English  Christians  a  lesson  how  to  eat  to 
the  glory  of  God.  Some  time  ago  a  landed  proprietor  in  the 
north  of  Scotland  was  visiting  his  tenantry,  and  happened  to 
call  on  one  of  them  at  the  dinner  hour.  The  farmer,  a  pious 
man,  was  seated  with  his  wife  and  family  at  the  dinner  table, 
and  was  just  about  to  begin  their  frugal  meal.  Apologizing 


NEW   TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  69 

for  his  intrusion  at  such  an  unseasonable  hour,  the  landlord 
very  familiarly  urged  his  tenant  to  go  on  with  his  dinner,  and 
he  would  wait.  The  tenant,  with  much  earnestness,  asked  a 
blessing.  After  dinner,  and  when  the  landlord  left,  he  said  to 
himself,  "  I  stand  reproved.  Here  is  a  poor  man,  with  his 
simple  fare,  thanking  God  for  it,  and  praying  for  the  bread  of 
life,  while  I,  with  every  necessary  and  luxury  that  can  be 
desired,  have  never  once  acknowledged  God's  goodness  in  his 
gifts."  His  conscience  smote  him.  He  could  visit  no  more 
that  day.  His  mind  was  led  to  think  over  his  state,  and  be- 
coming alarmed  as  to  his  condition  before  God,  was  led  to  seek 
for  mercy  and  grace.  He  found  the  blessing,  and  now  lives  to 
advance  the  interests  of  the  Redeemer's  kingdom. 


"IT  IS  I." 

But  straightway  Jesus  spake  unto  them,  saying,  Be  of  good  cheer ;  it  is  I ; 
be  not  afraid.  —  Matthew  14  :  27. 

LORD,  it  is  thou  !  and  I  can  walk 
Upon  the  heaving  sea 
Firm  in  a  vexed,  unquiet  way, 

Because  I  come  to  thee. 
If  thou  art  all  I  hope  to  gain, 

And  all  I  fear  to  miss, 
There  is  a  highway  for  my  heart 
Through  rougher  seas  than  this. 

These  waters  would  not  hold  me  up 

If  thou  wert  not  my  end  ; 
But  whom  thou  callest  to  thyself 

Even  winds  and  waves  defend. 
Our  very  peril  shuts  us  in 

To  thy  supporting  care  ; 
We  venture  on  the  awful  deep, 

And  find  our  courage  there. 

It  shall  be  strength  howe'er  it  tend  — 
The  bidding  sweet  and  still 


TO  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

Which  draws  to  one  ennobling  love 

And  one  benignant  will. 
Most  precious  when  it  most  demands, 

It  brings  that  cheering  cry 
Across  the  rolling  tide  of  life  — 

"  Take  heart !  for  it  is  I." 

Forth  from  some  narrow,  frail  defense, 

Some  rest  thyself  below, 
Some  poor  content  with  less  than  all, 

My  soul  is  called  to  go. 
Yes,  I  will  come  !  I  will  not  wait 

An  outward  calm  to  see  ; 
And,  0  my  glory,  be  thou  great 

Even  in  the  midst  of  me. 


"LORD,  SAVE  ME." 

But  when  he  saw  the  wind  boisterous,  he  was  afraid ;  and  beginning  to 
sink,  he  cried,  saying,  Lord,  save  me.  —  Matthew  14  :  30. 

A  MINISTER  asked  the  maid  of  an  inn  in  the  Netherlands 
if  she  prayed  to  God.  She  replied,  she  had  scarce  time 
to  eat,  how  should  she  have  time  to  pray  ?  'He  promised  to 
give  her  a  little  money,  if,  on  his  return,  she  could  assure  him 
she. had  meanwhile  said  three  words  of  prayer,  night  and 
morning.  Only  three  words  and  a  reward,  led  her  to  make 
him  the  promise.  He  then  solemnly  ga-ve  her  the  following 
words  to  repeat :  "  Lord,  save  me  !  "  For  a  fortnight  she  said 
the  words  unmeaningly ;  but  one  night  she  wondered  what 
they  meant,  and  why  he  bade  her  repeat  them.  God  put  it 
into  her  heart  to  look  at  the  Bible,  and  see  if  it  would  tell  her. 
She  liked  some  verses  where  she  opened  so  well,  that  the  next 
morning  she  looked  again,  and  so  on.  When  the  good  man 
went  back,  he  asked  the  landlord  for  her,  as  a  stranger  served 
him.  "  0,  sir  !  she  got  too  good  for  my  place,  and  lives  with 
the  minister  1 "  He  went  to  see  her  ;  and  so  soon  as  she  saw 
him  at  the  door,  she  cried,  "  Is  it  you,  you  blessed  man  ?  I 


jJ^IBS^ 

f?S 


NEW   TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  71 

shall  thank  God  through  all  eternity  that  I  ever  saw  you.  I 
want  not  the  money  :  I  have  reward  enough  for  saying  those 
words  ! "  She  then  described  how  salvation  by  Jesus  Christ 
was  taught  her  by  the  Bible,  in  answer  to  this  prayer. 


JESUS  SWIFT  TO  SAVE. 

And  immediately  Jesus  stretched  forth  his  hand,  and  caught  him,  and  said 
unto  him,  O  thou  of  little  faith,  wherefore  didst  thou  doubt  ?  —  Matthew  14  :  31. 


rPHE  Arabian  gazelle  is  swift  as  the  wind.  If  it  get  but  one 
J_  glimpse  of  the  hunter,  it  puts  many  crags  between.  Solo- 
mon, four  or  five  times,  compares  Christ  to  an  Arabian  gazelle 
(calling  it  by  another  name)  when  he  says,  "My  Moved  is 
like  a  roe."  The  difference  is,  that  the  roe  speeds  the  other 
way  ;  Jesus  speeds  this.  Who  but  Christ  could  have  been 
quick  enough  to  help  Peter,  when  the  water-pavement  broke  ? 
Who  but  Christ  could  have  been  quick  enough  to  help  the 
Duke  of  Argyle,  when,  in  his  dying  moment,  he  cried,  "  Good 
cheer  !  I  could  die  like  a  Roman,  but  I  mean  to  die  like  a 
Christian.  Come  away,  gentlemen.  He  who  goes  first,  goes 
cleanest"?  I  had  a  friend  who  stood  by  the  rail-track  at 
Carlisle,  Penn./when  the  ammunition  had  given  out  at  Antie- 
tam  ;  and  he  saw  the  train  from  Harrisburg,  freighted  with  shot 
and  shell,  as  it  went  thundering  down  toward  the  battle-field. 
He  said  that  it  stopped  not  for  any  crossing.  They  put  down 
the  brakes  for  no  grade.  They  held  up  for  no  peril.  The 
wheels  were  on  fire  with  the  speed  as  they  dashed  past.  If 
the  train  did  not  come  up  in  time  with  the  ammunition,  it 
might  as  well  not  come  at  all.  So,  my  friends,  there  are  times 
in  our  lives  when  we  must  have  help  immediately  or  perish. 
The  grace  that  comes  too  late  is  no  grace  at  all.  What  you 
and  I  want  is  a  God  —  now.  0  !  is  it  not  blessed  to  think 
that  God  is  always  in  such  quick  pursuit  of  his  dear  children  ? 
—  T.  De  Witt  Talmage. 


72  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 


CHRIST  THE  SON  OF  GOD. 

Then  they  that  were  in  the  ship  came  and  worshipped  him,  saying,  Of  a 
truth  thou  art  the  Son  of  God.  —  Matthew  14  :  33. 

THEN  they  that  were  in  the  ship  came  and  worshiped  him, 
saying,  Of  a  truth,  thou  art  the  Son  of  God.  (Matt.  14 :  33.) 
And  Simon  Peter  answered  and  said,  Thou  art  the  Christ,  the 
Son  of  the  living  God.  (Matt.  16 :  16.)  Thou  art  my  beloved 
Son,  in  whom  I  am  well  pleased.  (Mark  1  :  11.)  And  the  angel 
answered  and  said  unto  her,  The  Holy  Ghost  shall  come  upon 
thee,  and  the  power  of  the  Highest  shall  overshadow  thee : 
therefore  also  that  holy  thing  which  shall  be  born  of  thee,  shall 
be  called  the  Son  of  God.  (Luke  1  :  35.)  For  God  so  loved 
the  world,  that  he  gave  his  only -begotten  Son,  that  whosoever 
believeth  in  him,  should  not  perish,  but  have  everlasting  life. 
(John  3:16.)  He  that  believeth  not  is  condemned  already,  be- 
cause he  hath  not  believed  in  the  name  of  the  only-begotten 
Son  of  God.  (18.)  And  we  believe,  and  are  sure  that  thou 
art  that  Christ,  the  Son  of  the  living  God.  (John  6  :  69.)  The 
God  of  our  fathers  hath  glorified  his  Son  Jesus ;  whom  ye  de- 
livered up,  and  denied  him  in  the  presence  of  Pilate,  when  he 
was  determined  to  let  him  go.  (Acts  3  :  13.)  Unto  you  first, 
God  having  raised  up  his  Son  Jesus,  sent  hkn  to  bless  you. 
(26.)  Concerning  his  Son  Jesus  Christ  our  Lord,  which  was 
made  of  the  seed  of  David  according  to  the  flesh ;  and  de- 
clared to  be  the  Son  of  (Grod  with  power,  according  to  the 
spirit  of  holiness,  by  the  resurrection  from  the  dead.  (Rom. 
1  :  3.)  For  if  when  we  were  enemies,  we  were  reconciled  to 
God  by  the  death  of  his  Son  ;  much  more  being  reconciled,  we 
shall  be  saved  by  his  life.  (Rom.  5:  10.)  God  sending  his 
own  Son  in  the  likeness  of  sinful  flesh,  and  for  sin,  condemned 
sin  in  the  flesh.  (Rom.  8 : 3.)  He  that  spared  not  his  own 
Son,  but  delivered  him  up  for  us  all,  how  shall  he  not  with  him 
also  freely  give  us  all  things?  (32.)  But  when  the  fullness 
of  the  time  was  come,  God  sent  forth  his  Son,  made  of  a  woman, 
made  under  the  law,  to  redeem  them  that  were  under  the  law, 
that  we  might  receive  the  adoption  of  sons.  And  because  ye 
are  sons,  God  hath  sent  forth  the  Spirit  of  his  Son  into  your 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  73 

hearts,  crying,  Abba,  Father.  (Gal.  4:4-6.)  And  to  wait 
for  his  Son  from  heaven,  whom  he  raised  from  the  dead,  even 
Jesus,  which  delivered  us  from  the  wrath  to  come.  (1  Thess. 
'1:10.) 


PLANTS  THAT  SHALL  BE  ROOTED  UP. 

But  he  answered  and  said,  Every  plant  which  my  heavenly  Father  hath 
not  planted  shall  be  rooted  up.  —  Matthew  15  :  13. 

HAYING  occasion  to  go  into  the  cellar,  Gotthold  found  a 
turnip,  which  had  been  left  by  accident,  and  had  vege- 
tated and  sent  forth  long  and  slender  shoots.  These,  however, 
were  unnaturally  of  a  pale  yellow  color,  and  therefore  unfit 
for  use.  Here,  thought  he,  I  have  the 'type  of  a  human  under- 
taking from  which  God  withholds  his  blessing,  and  which  must, 
therefore,  necessarily  miscarry.  This  plant  wants  sunshine 
and  open  air,  without  which  it  cannot  thrive,  and  so  it  grows 
in  weakness  for  a  little,  and  then  withers  and  dies.  It  is  the 
same  with  all  our  acts  and  enterprises,  which  are  not  irradiated 
by  the  grace  of  God,  nor  fostered  by  his  blessing.  According 
to  the  words  of  the  Saviour,  "  Every  plant,  which  my  Father 
hath  not  planted,  shall  be  rooted  up."  We  imagine  our  faith, 
our  charity,  our  patience,  to  be  of  the  most  luxuriant  growth, 
although,  perhaps,  they  are  of  the  sickliest  kind.  "  Experience 
makes  able  men ;  the  cross,  good  Christians."  This  plant  was 
never  shone  on  by  the  sun,  nor  moistened  by  the  dew,  nor 
watered  with  the  rain,  nor  shaken  by  the  wind,  nor  hardened 
by  the  cold,  and,  therefore,  it  is  good  for  nothing.  In  like 
manner  the  Christian,  as  yet  not  tried  by  prosperity  and 
adversity,  favor  and  affliction,  must  be  considered  unripe. 
Beautifully  does  the  great  and  much-afflicted  apostle  say, 
"  Tribulation  worketh  patience,  and  patience  experience,  and 
experience  hope,  and  hope  maketh  not  ashamed." 
10 


74  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 


POWER  OF  A  MOTHER'S  PRAYER. 

And,  behold,  a  woman  of  Canaan  came  out  of  the  same  coasts,  and  cried 
unto  him,  saying,  Have  mercy  on  me,  O  Lord,  thou  Son  of  David;  my 
daughter  is  grievously  vexed  with  a  devil.  But  he  answered  her  not  a  word. 
And  his  disciples  came  and  besought  liim,  saying,  Send  her  away ;  for  she 
crieth  after  us.  —  Matthew  15  :  22,  23. 

AN  aged,  pious  woman  had  one  son.  She  used  every  means 
in  her  power  to  lead  him  to  the  Saviour,  but  he  grew  up 
gay  and  dissipated.  She  still  followed  him  with  prayers  and 
entreaties,  faithfully  warned  him  of  his  awful  state  as  a  sinner 
before  God,  and  told  him  what  his  end  would  be,  dying  in  that 
condition.  But  all  seemed  alike  unavailing.  He  one  day  said, 
"  Mother,  let  me  have  'my  best  clothes  ;  I  am  going  to  a  ball 
to-night."  She  expostulated  with  him,  and  urged  him  not 
to  go ;  but  all  in  vain.  "  Mother,"  said  he,  "  let  me  have  my 
clothes  ;  I  will  go :  it's  useless  to  say  anything  about  it."  He 
put  on  his  clothes,  and  was  going  out.  She  stopped  him,  and 
said,  "  My  child,  do  not  go."  He.  still  persisted ;  when  she 
added,  "  My  son,  remember,  when  you  are  dancing  with  your 
companions  in  the  ball-room,  I  shall  be  out  in  that  wilderness, 
praying  to  the  Lord  to  convert  your  soul."  The  youth  went 
to  the  ball,  and  the  dancing  commenced ;  but  instead  of  the 
usual  gayety,  an  unaccountable  gloom  pervaded  the  whole 
assembly.  One  said,  "  We  never  had  so  dull  a  meeting  in 
our  lives."  Another  observed,  "  I  wish  we  had  not  come  :  we 
have  no  life ;  we  cannot  get  along."  A  third  continued,  "  I 
cannot  think  what  is  the  matter."  The  young  man  in  ques- 
tion felt  his  conscience  smitten,  and,  bursting  into  tears,  said, 
"  I  know  what  is  the  matter :  my  poor  old  mother  is  now  pray- 
ing in  yonder  wilderness  for  her  ungodly  son."  He  took  his 
hat,  and  said,  "  I  will  never  be  found  in  such  a  place  as  this 
again."  From  that  night  he  began  to  pray  for  mercy ;  his 
mother's  prayer  was  heard  for  his  conversion,  and  he  gave 
evidence  that  he  was  become  a  new  creature  in  Christ  Jesus. 
—  Rev.  J.  Young. 


NEW   TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  75 


A  MOTHER'S  FAITH  REWARDED. 

Then  Jesus  answered  and  said  unto  her,  O  woman,  great  is  thy  faith :  be 
it  xinto  thee  even  as  thou  wilt.  And  her  daughter  was  made  whole  from  that 
very  hour.  —  Matthew  J5  :  28. 

A  VENERABLE  old  lady,  who  looked  serenely  happy,  was 
JjL  asked  if  her  children  were  converted.  "  Yes,"  she  re- 
plied, "  all  my  children  are  members  of  the  church  of  Jesus. 
Two  of  my  sons,  who  were  converted  when  they  were  only 
fourteen  years  old,  are  just  where  they  ought  to  be,  ministers 
of  Christ."  "It  must  be  very  cheering  to  you,  madam,  to 
know  that  all  your  children  are  converted,"  remarked  her 
friend.  "  Yes/'  she  replied,  while  a  beautiful  and  heavenly 
smile  played  round  her  lips.  "  Yes  ;  but  I  always  had  faith 
in  the  promises."  Parents,  have  you  such  faith?  Children, 
have  you  gladdened  the  hearts  of  your  parents  by  giving  your- 
selves to  Christ  ? 


EXPOSITION  OF  MATTHEW  16  :  18. 

And  I  say  also  unto  thee,  That  thou  art  Peter,  and  upon  this  rock  I  will 
build  my  church  ;  and  the  gates  of  hell  shall  not  prevail  against  it.  —  Mat- 
thew 1G  :  18. 


lias  been  much  dispute  for  centuries,  respecting 
JL  the  meaning  of  our  Lord,  when  he  uttered  those  words, 
"  Thou  art  Peter,"  &c.  The  following  exposition  is  from  the 
Commentary  of  Dr.  P.  D.  Whedon,  which  is  evidently  a  faith- 
ful and  just  explanation  of  the  passage  :  "  As  Peter  signifies 
stone,  and  as  thou  and  thy  fellow-disciples  are  to  be  the  foun- 
dation stones  of  my  new  church,  I  name  thee  forever  by  that 
symbolical  title  of  Peter,  that  is,  stone.  In  the  Syriac  language, 
in  which  our  Lord  spoke,  the  word-  Peter  and  this  word  rock 
were  doubtless  the  same  word.  But  they  were  all  as  truly 
stones,  and  made  of  rock,,  as  he.  But  as  he  alone  spoke  the 
verbal  confession,  so  to  him  alone  was  addressed  and  belonged 
the  verbal  title  which  commemorated  it.  Indeed  they  are 
expressly  called  stones  (Eph.  2  :  20  :  Rev.  21  :  14),  though  the 


76  NEW   TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

word,  in  the  original,  lithos,  is  a  different,  without  being  a  less 
expressive,  word  than  Petros.  The  expression,  this  rock  upon 
which  I  build  my  church,  has  received  very  different  interpre- 
tations from  the  doctors  of  the  church  in  various  ages.  The 
first  is  the  construction  given  by  the  Church  of  Rome,  and 
made  the  basis  of  the  enormous  imposture  of  the  papacy.  It 
affirms  that  the  rock  is  Peter  individually,  that  the  commission 
constituted  him  supreme  apostle,  with  authority  inherited  from 
him  by  the  bishops  of  Rome.  But  first,  As  may  be  shown, 
not  Peter  alone,  but  each  apostle,  was  a  rock  and  a  recipient 
of  the  keys,  and  all  were  co-equal  in  powers.  Second,  Were 
the  authority  .conveyed  to  Peter  alone  and  personally,  it  must 
still  be  shown  that  this  personal  prerogative  was  among  the 
successional  attributes  conferred  upon  him.  Tnat  Peter  was 
ever  bishop  of  Rome,  is  without  historical  foundation ;  and  the 
pretense  of  a  succession  from  him  by  the  Romish  bishop  is  a  fa- 
ble. Some  have  made  the  word  rode  designate  Christ  himself. 
They  hold  it  to  be  derogatory  to  Christ's  dignity  for  there  to 
be  any  other  foundation  stone  of  his  church  than  Christ  him- 
self. They  hold  that  our  Lord  said,  Thou  art  Peter,  a  stone, 
and  upon  this  rock  (pointing  to  himself)  I  will  build  my 
church.  But  this  is  inconsistent  with  the  laws  of  a  natural 
interpretation.  Others  understand  that  the  confession  which 
Peter  made  was  a  rock.  Thou  art  a  stone,  and  upon  this  rock 
of  truth  which  thou  hast  confessed,  and  upon  this  faith  which 
thou  hast  professed,  will  I  build  my  church.  But  Biblical 
language  always  holds  men,  not  truths,  to  the  foundation 
stones.  The  rock  is  not  the  doctrine,  nor  the  confession,  but 
the  confessor. 

"  I  understand  that  it  is  the  apostle  himself  who  is  the- 
rock ;  yet  not  as  a  man,  nor  as  a  private  confessor  of  the 
Saviour's  Messiahship,  nor  as  Lord  of  the  apostolic  Twelve,  but 
as  a  specimen  and  representative  of  what  all  the  twelve  were. 
For  the  church  is  said  by  this  same  Peter  (no  doubt  in  allu- 
sion to  this  celebrated  passage)  to  be  built  on  the  foundation 
of  the  prophets  and  apostles,  Jesus  Christ  himself  being  the 
chief  corner  stone.  It  is  plain  that  the  question  which  Peter 
answered  was  put  to  the  whole  twelve,  and  that  he  confessed 
for  the  whole  twelve,  and  that  the  key^  which  are  given  in 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  77 

the  nineteenth  verse,  were  given  to  the  whole.  (18 :  18.) 
They  were  all  Peters,  or  stones  of  the  foundation,  as  well  as 
he ;  only  he,  being  the  first  stone  of  the  pile,  bore  the  inscrip- 
tion of  the  name  of  Peter,  which  essentially  belongs  to  all. 
This  image  of  a  rock,  as  Stanley  remarks,  may  have  been 
suggested  by  the  rock  above  the  town,  upon  which  stood  the 
temple  of  Caesar  Augustus." 

In  regard  to  the  promise  of  our  Lord,  that  the  "  gates 
of  hell  shall  not  prevail  against  it,"  Dr*.  Whedon  adds :  "  As 
the  gates  would  be  special  points  of  attack,  they  were  forti- 
fied so  as  to  be  specially  impregnable.  And  as  through  the 
gates  the  whole  city  went  in  and  out,  there  were  always  the 
concourse  and  the  crowd.  There  men  resorted  for  news,  for 
marketing,  and  for  proclamations.  The  gates  became  struct- 
ures with  chambers,  in  which  courts  were  held,  legislation 
was  performed,  and  negotiations  with  foreign  nations  trans- 
acted. Hence  the  word  gate  became  a  symbol  of  power  and 
of  empire.  The  gates  of  death,  the  gates  of  hell,  were  the 
powers  of  death  or  hell.  Hell  here  is,  in  the  original,  Hades. 
The  word  properly  signifies  the  invisible  state  or  place  of  de- 
parted spirits,  both  of  the  righteous  and  the  wicked.  In  this 
sense  it  is  opposed  or  antithetical  to  the  state  of  the  living. 
But  in  a  stricter  or  more  usual  sense  it  stands  opposed  to 
paradise,  and  signifies  the  abode  of  the  departed  wicked,  for 
which  we  have  no  other  English  word  than  hell.  The  gates 
of  hell  are,  therefore,  the  infernal  powers,  who  from  their  in- 
visible stronghold  manifest  their  visible  hostility.  The  rock- 
built  church,  and  the  gates  of  hades,  are  thence  two  opposing 
potencies.7' 


WHERE  IS  OUR  SELF-DENIAL? 

Then  said  Jesus  unto  his  disciples,  If  any  man  will  come  after  me,  let  him 
deny  himself,  and  take  up  his  cross,  and  follow  me.  —  Matthew  16  :  24. 

A  FEW  years  since,  a  pious  lady  was  preparing  for  a  journey. 
As  she  was  making  some  necessary  additions  to  her  ward- 
robe, a  friend  suggested,  "  You  will  need  a  new  silk,  my  dear. 
Your  means  are  sufficient,  and  you  can  well  afford  this  indul- 


78  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

gence.  Come,  let  us  select  one."  The  lady  hesitated.  A 
dress  of  less  expensive  material  would  answer  her  purpose 
quite  as  well,  and  with  the  surplus  she  might  do  much  good. 
After  some  thought,  the  cheap  material  was  procured,  and  the 
money  which  otherwise  must  have  been  expended,  carefully 
laid  aside,  until,  in  the  providence  of  God,  it  could  be  used  for 
some  purpose.  While  journeying,  she  met  with  a  young  man 
who,  having  the  ministry  in  view,  had  entered  college  under 
circumstances  somewhat  embarrassing,  and  even  now  was  in 
need  of  money  to  liquidate  present  liabilities.  With  a  thank- 
ful heart  she  turned  to  her  companion :  "  Now  I  know  why  I 
was  not  permitted  to  purchase  that  expensive  silk/'  said  she ; 
"  I  can  spare  enough  to  relieve  our  young  friend,  and  still  go 
on  my  journey  comfortably,  and  with  a  lighter  heart  than  I 
could  had  I  worn  an  expensive  dress,  and  found  myself  un- 
able to  respond  to  this  call  of  my  blessed  Master."  This 
college  student  is  now  a  preacher  of  the  gospel,  and  often 
refers  to  the  time  when  he  was  strengthened  and  encouraged 
to  go  forward  in  the  path  of  duty. 


SELLING  A  SOUL. 

For  what  is  a  man  profited,  if  he  shall  gain  the  whole  world,  and  lose  his 
own  soul?  or  what  shall  a  man  give  in  exchange  for  his  soul  ?  —  Matthew  16  :  26. 

A  GAY  young  lady  was  deeply  impressed  with  the  sense 
of  her  sinfulness,  and  found  no  peace  day  or  night.  A 
brother  who  had  always  shared  with  her  in  her  worldly 
amusements,  was  much  troubled  and  annoyed  at  her  present 
state  of  mind.  He  tried  all  the  shafts  of  ridicule  and  sarcasm 
to  turn  her  mind  away  from  the  solemn  interests  of  eternity. 
But  still  the  conflict  went  on.  She  would  not  yield  to  his 
persuasions,  and  she  felt  that  she  could  not  just  yet  decide 
wholly  for  the  Lord.  At  last  her  brother  said,  "  Eliza,  if  you 
will  give  this  nonsense  all  up,  and  be  yourself  again,  I  will 
give  you  five  dollars."  It  seemed  a  paltry  price  indeed  at 
which  to  sell  a  soul;  but  the  sister  hesitated,  and  even  to 
parley  with  such  a  temptation  was  to  give  the  enemy  infinite 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  79 

advantage.  No  doubt  she  considered  that  she  could  take  the 
money  and  dismiss  the  subject  just  for  this  time,  resuming  it 
again  whenever  she  chose.  She  took  the  five  dollars,  and  her 
destiny  was  sealed.  Outwardly  she  was  little  changed.  She 
did  not  scoff  at  religion,  nor  oppose  it  in  others ;  but  her  heart 
was  as  insensible  to  its  influence  as  the  hardest  rock.  Nor 
did  anything  ever  make  an  impression  upon  it  afterward. 
She  saw  that  beloved  brother  lie  upon  his  dying-bed,  and 
heard  his  agonizing  entreaties  that  she  would  turn  from  that 
fearful  way  into  which  he  had  led  her  footsteps ;  but  she  heard 
him  perfectly  unmoved.  A  short  time  afterward  she  also  was 
called  away,  and  she  died  as  she  had  lived.  The  awakening 
from  the  frightful  lethargy  of  soul  was  upon  the  other  shore. 


GOB'S  TESTIMONY  OF  APPROBATION. 

While  he  yet  spake,  behold,  a  bright  cloud  overshadowed  them :  and 
behold  a  voice  out  of  the  cloud,  which  said,  This  is  my  beloved  Son,  in  whom 
I  am  well  pleased ;  hear  ye  him.  —  Matthew  17  :  5. 

GOD  adds  his  testimony  of  approbation  to  what  was  spoken 
of  the  sufferings  of  Christ  by  Moses  and  Elijah;  thus 
showing  that  the  sacrificial  economy  of  the  Old  Covenant  was 
in  itself  of  no  worth,  but  as  it  referred  to  the  grand  atonement 
which  Jesus  was  about  to  make ;  therefore  he  says,  "  In  him 
am  I  well  pleased ;  "  intimating  that  it  was  in  him  alone,  as 
typified  by  those  sacrifices,  that  he  had  delighted  through 
the  whole  course  of  the  legal  administration.  That  it  was 
only  in  reference  to  the  death  of  his  Son,  that  he  accepted 
the  offerings  and  oblations  made  to  him  under  the  Old  Cove- 
nant. "  Hear  him."  The  disciples  wished  to  detain  Moses. 
and  Elijah  that  they  might  hear  them ;  but  God  shows  that 
the  laio  which  had  been  in  force,  and  the  prophets  which  had 
prophesied  until  now,  must  all  give  place  to  Jesus,  and  he 
alone  must  now  be  attended  to  as  to  the  Way,  the  Truth,  and 
the  Life ;  for  no  man  could  now  come  unto  the'  Father  but 
through  him.  This  Transfiguration  must  have  greatly  con- 
firmed the  disciples  in  the  belief  of  a  future  state,  and  in  the 


80  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

doctrine  of  the  Resurrection ;  they  saw  Moses  and  Elijah  still 
existing,  though  the  former  had  been  gathered  to  his  fathers 
upwards  of  fourteen  hundred  years,  and  the  latter  had .  been 
translated  nearly  nine  hundred  years.  —  Dr.  A.  Clarice. 


PREVAILING  PRAYER  IN  THE  OLD  SOUTH  CHURCH. 

Howbcit  this  kind  goeth  not  out  but  by  prayer  and  fasting.  —  Matthew  17:21. 

THE  great  fire  in  Boston  having  spared  the  Old  South 
Church,  it  becomes  more  dear  than  ever  to  Bostonians, 
and  all  New  England.  The  following  incident,  showing  the 
power  of  prevailing  prayer,  is  connected  with  the  history  of 
that  church,  though  more  than  a  century  ago.  The  French 
Armament  under  the  command  of.  Duke  d'Anville,  in  the 
year  1746,  consisting  of  forty  ships  of  war,  was  destined  for 
the  destruction  of  New  England ;  had  sailed  from  Chebucto  in 
Nova  Scotia  for  that  purpose  ;  but  was  itself  destroyed  in  the 
following  manner :  The  godly  men  in  Boston  being  apprised 
of  their  danger,  and  feeling  that  their  only  safety  was  in  God, 
had  appointed  a  day  of  fasting  and  prayer  to  be  observed 
in  all  their  churches.  While  Rev.  Mr.  Prince  was  officiat- 
ing in  this  Old  South  Church,  on  this  fast  day,  and  praying 
most  earnestly  to  God  to  avert  the  dreaded  calamity,  a  sud- 
den gust  of  wind  arose  (till  now  the  day  had  been  perfectly 
clear  and  calm),  so  violent  as  to  cause  a  loud  clattering  of  the 
windows.  The  pastor  paused  in  his  prayer,  and  looked  round 
upon  the  congregation  with  a  countenance  of  hope,  then  re- 
commenced his  prayer  with  great  devotional  ardor,  supplicat- 
ing Almighty  God  to  cause  that  wind  to  frustrate  the  object 
of  the  enemy,  and  save  the  country  from  conquest  and  popery. 
A  tempest  ensued  in  which  the  greater  part  of  the  French 
fleet  was  wrecked  on  the  coast  of  Nova  Scotia.  Duke  d'An- 
ville, the  principal  general,  and  the  second  in  command, 
both  committed  suicide.  Many  died  with  disease,  and  thou- 
sands were  consigned  to  a  watery  grave.  The  small  number 
that  survived  returned  to  France,  without  health  and  without 
spirits.  The  enterprise  was  abandoned,  and  never  again  re- 
sumed. —  Arvine's  Cyclopedia. 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 


81 


TABLE  OF  BIBLE  MONEY. 

Notwithstanding,  lest  we  should  offend  them,  go  thou  to  the  sea,  and  cast 
a  hook,  and  take  up  the  fish  that  first  cometh  up ;  and  when  thou  hast  opened 
his  mouth,  thou  slialt  find  a  piece  of  money :  that  take,  and  give  unto  them 
for  me  and  thee.  —  Matthew  17  :  27. 

THE   following   Table    of  Bible    Money    is   from   Professor 
Hitchcock's  Complete  Analysis  of  the  Holy  Bible.     The 
money  enumerated  is  reduced  to  United  States  currency,  and 
may  be  relied  upon  as  being  as  accurate  as  it  is  possible  to 
determine  at  this  distance  of  time. 


Value,  nearly. 
$5.69 

569.00 
56,900.00 


Denominations.  Grains. 

Gold  Shekel,         ...  132 

Gold  Maneh,         .         .         .  13,200 

Gold  Talent,         .        .        .  1,320,000 

Silver  Gerah,       ...  11 

Silver  Beka,         ..        .         .  110 

Silver  Shekel,      .         .         .  220 

Silver  Maneh,       ...  •  13,200 

Silver  Talent,    .  .         .         .  660,000 

Copper  Shekel,    ...  528 

Copper  Talent,     .         .         .  792,000 

Persian  Daric,  or  Dram  (gold),  128 

Maccabasan  Shekel  (silver),  220 
"  Piece  of  Money  "  (Stater,  silver),         220 

Penny  (Denarius,  silver),     .  58^- 

Farthing  (Quadrans,  copper),  42 

Farthing  (Assarium,  copper),  84 

Mite  (copper),      ...  21 


SPEAKING  OF  CHRIST. 


And  said,  Verily  I  say  unto  you,  Except  ye  be  converted,  and  hecomc  as 
little  children,  ye  shall  not  enter  into  the  kingdom  of  heaven.  —  Matthew  18  :  3.» 

WHEN  the  famous  Bishop  Usher  and  Dr.   Preston,  who 
were  very  intimate  friends,  were  talking  together,  after 
much  discourse  of  learning  and  other  things,  the  bishop  would 
say,  "  Come,  doctor,  one  word  of  Christ  now  before  we  part." 
11 


82  NEW   TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

Christians,  who  owe  their  all  to  Christ,  should  be  often  talking 
of  him.  And  surely  those  who  know  the  worth  of  souls  cannot 
but  be  concerned  for  their  ignorant,  careless  neighbors  ;  which 
concernedness  should  put  us  upon  doing  all  we  can  to  keep 
out  of  that  condition.  And  if  there  be  any  that  are  asking  the 
way  to  Zion  with  their  faces  thitherward,  pray  tell  them  the 
way.  Tell  them,  1.  There  is  but  one  gate  into  this  way,  and 
that  is  the  strait  gate  of  sound  conversion.  2.  Tell  them  that 
the  way  is  narrow ;  that  there  is  not  elbow-room  for  their 
lusts.  Let  them  know  the  worst  of  it ;  and  that  those  who  would 
be  good  soldiers  of  Christ  must  endure  hardness.  3.  Tell 
them,  notwithstanding  this,  it  is  a  way  of  pleasantness  ;  it 
gives  spiritual,  though  it  prohibits  s,ensual,  pleasure.  4.  Tell 
them  there  is  life  eternal  at  the  end,  and.  let  them  be  assured 
that  one  hour  of  joy  in  heaven  will  make  them  amends  for  an 
age  of  trouble  upon  earth  ;  one  sheaf  of  that  harvest  reward 
enough  for  a  seed-time  of  tears,  —  Ifenry, 


THE  EARLY  CONVERSION  OF  CHILDREN. 

But  whoso  shall  offend  one  of  these  little  ones  which  believe  in  me,  it 
were  better  for  him  that  a  millstone  were  hanged  about  his  neck,  and  that  he 
were  drowned  in  the  depth  of  the  sea.  —  Matthew  18  :  6. 

I  HAVE  one  incident  which  has  written  its  lesson  indelibly 
upon  my  heart :  At  the  age  of  a  little  over  four  years,  one 
of  my  little  girls  was  converted  to  God,  and  from  that  time  she 
loved  the  Saviour,  and  endeavored,  with  child-like  simplicity,  to 
follow  his  commands.  A  little  after  six  years  she  was  taken 
sick  ;  she  thought  she  was  going  to  die ;  her  experience  was 
as  bright  and  clear  as  the  experience  of  a  half  century.  We 
could  not  give  her  up;  we  could  not  realize  that  death  was 
among  us ;  that  so  fair  a  flower  could  fade  so  early.  Yet  she  felt 
a n<!  realized  it.  Whilst  watching  by  her  bedside,  suddenly 
we  heard  a  voice  breaking  forth  clear  and  distinct,  — 

"  Thcro  is  a  happy  land 
Far,  far  away ;  " 

and  she  sang  through  the  verse ;  then,  turning  to  her  mother, 
she  said  she  wanted  to  say  the  Lord's  Prayer,  clasped  her 


NEW   TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  83 

little  hands,  looked  to  heaven,  and  died.  O,  what  true  Chris- 
tian ever  died  more  gloriously,  or  loved  the  Saviour  more  ? 
Brethren,  let  us  not  be  afraid  of  the  conversion  of  the  children ; 
bring  your  influence  to  bear  upon  them  everywhere  ;  do  not 
be  satisfied,  and  do  not  let  their  teachers  have  any  quiet,  until 
you  see  the  children  in  your  Sunday  schools  brought  to  Christ, 
and  infolded  in  the  Church.  —  Bishop  Clark. 


A  LOST  MAN. 

For  the  Son  of  man  is  come  to  save  that  which  was  lost.  —  Matthew  18  :  11. 

MR.  WHITEFIELD,  a  brother  of  the  Rev.  George  White- 
field,  after  living  some  time  in  a  backsliding  and  careless 
state,  was  roused  to  a  perception  of  his  danger,  but  shortly 
after  sunk  into  melancholy  and  despondency.  He  was  drink- 
ing tea  with  the  Countess  of  Huntington  one  afternoon,  while 
her  ladyship  was  endeavoring  to  raise  his  hopes  by  conversing 
on  the  infinite  mercy  of  God  through  Jesus  Christ.  For  a 
while  it  was  all  in  vain. 

"  My  lady,"  he  replied,  "  I  know  what  you  say  is  true.  The 
mercy  of  God  is  infinite.  I  see  it  clearly.  But,  ah  !  my  lady, 
there  is  no  mercy  for  me.  I  am  a  wretch,  entirely  lost." 

"  I  am  glad  to  hear  it,  Mr.  Whitefield,"  said  Lady  Hunting- 
ton.  "  I  am  glad  at  my  heart  that  you  are  a  lost  man." 

He  looked  with  great  surprise. 

"  What !  my  lady,  glad  !  glad  at  your  heart  that  I  am  a 
lost  man  ?  " 

"  Yes,  Mr.  Whitefield,  truly  glad  ;  for  Jesus  Christ  came  into 
the  world  to  save  the  lost." 

He  set  down  his  cup  of  tea  on  the  table. 

"  Blessed  be  God  for  that,"  he  said.  "  Glory  to  God  for 
that  word  !  "  he  exclaimed.  "  0,  what  unusual  power  is  this 
which  I  feel  attending  it !  Jesus  Christ  came  to  save  the  lost  I 
then  I  have  a  ray  of  hope  ; "  and  so  he  proceeded. 

As  he  finished  his  last  cup  of  tea,  his  hand  trembled,  and  he 
complained  of  illness.  He  went  out  of  the  house  for  air,  stag- 
gered, was  brought  in,  and  shortly  after  expired. 


84  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 


DEALING  WITH  A  YOUNG  INFIDEL. 

Even  so  it  is  not  the  will  of  your  Father  which  is  in  heaven,  that  one  of 
these  little  ones  should  perish.  —  Matthew  18  :  14. 

A  YOUNG  man  once  came  to  me  to  join  my  Bible  class. 
Said  he,  "Mr.  Wells,  I  am  no  hypocrite."  "I  am  glad 
of  that,"  I  replied.  "  Give  me  your  hand ;  you  are  no  hypo- 
crite, I  believe ;  and  I  think  you  are  very  honest."  Said  he, 
"  Sir,  I  do  not  believe  a  word  that  is  in  the  Bible." 

"  Well,  you  are  going  to  take  the  very  course  to  become  a 
believer ;  you  are  coming  under  its  influence."  I  did  not  sit 
down  and  talk  with  him  about  his  soul ;  the  time  was  not  ripe 
for  it.  I  did  not  give  him  a  regular  lesson  about  the  inspira- 
tion of  the  Scriptures.  I  had  much  rather  he  would  learn  for 
himself,  and  ask  what  a  Christ  was  this,  as  we  shall  see,  in  a 
few  moments,  he  did.  After  a  few  months,  he  came  to  me  one 
morning,  and  I  said,  "  Here  is  God's  spirit  working.  Look 
out,  soul,  how  you  interfere  !  "  He  asked  me  about  something 
I  had  said  in  the  Bible  class  in  the  afternoon.  I  replied, 
"  What  difference  does  that  make  to  you  ?  You  are  not  a  be- 
liever. You  cannot  believe."  "  No,"  said  he,  "  and  I  never 
closed  my  eyes  last  night  at  all  ! " 

"  Well,  I  am  sorry  on  some  accounts  that  you  have  lost  your 
night's  sleep,  but  really  I  do  not  remember  any  remedy,  unless 
you  find  what  was  said  is  true.  If  there  is  any  other  remedy, 
I  do  not  know  it."  And  I  took  out  a  little  Testament,  and 
turned  down  the  leaves  at  two  or  three  texts,  such  as,  "  Able 
to  save  to  the  uttermost  all  that  come,"  <fcc.  "  It  is  not 
the  will  of  your  Father  that  one  of  these  little  ones  should 
perish,"  &c. 

Said  I,  "  If  this  Bible  is  true,  there  is  an  able  and  willing 
Saviour  to  save  you  now.  I  will  pray  for  you.  Go  home,  and 
ask  God  if  this  be  true."  Said  he,  "  I  will."  The  next  morn- 
ing he  came  into  the  parlor,  and  threw  his  arms  around  me, 
and  said,  "  It  is  true  ! "  The  sword  of  the  truih  had  pierced 
that  heart.  —  Ralph  Wells. 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  85 

INTENDED  FOR  A  JOKE,  BUT  OVERRULED  FOR  GOOD. 

Again  I  say  unto  you,  That  if  two  of  you  shall  agree  on  earth  as  touching 
any  thing  that  they  shall  ask,  it  shall  be  done  for  them  of  my  Father  which  is 
in  heaven.  —  Matthew  18  :  19. 

SOME  time  ago  there  was  living  in  New  York  an  eminent  law- 
yer. He  was  a  very  clever  man,  but  fond  of  worldly  show 
and  gayety.  Three  ladies  of  that  city,  who  were  anxious  to  do 
good,  thought  his  conversion  very  desirable,  and  agreed  that 
they  would  meet  and  pray  for  him.  They  did  so.  A  gen- 
tleman who  knew  of  this,  met  the  lawyer,  and  said  to  him, 
"  Mr.  F.,  some  ladies  have  agreed  to  meet  and  pray  for  you." 
"Indeed!"  said  he;  "that's  a  capital  joke.  I  should  like  to 
hear  them." 

The  gentleman  told  him  he  could  put  him  in  a  place  where 
he  could  hear  them  pray,  without  its  being  known  that  he  was 
there.  Mr.  F.  agreed  to  go,  and  went  accordingly.  He  heard 
the  first  lady  pray,  and  was  struck  with  her  knowledge  of  his 
character.  He  listened  to  the  second  ;  and  when  he  heard  her 
earnestness,  knowing,  as  he  did,  that  she  could  have  no  inter- 
est in  his  conversion,  he  thought  to  himself,  "  What  a  wretch 
I  must  be,  to  care  nothing  about  my  soul ! " 

The  words  of  these  praying  females  sunk  deep  into  his  soul ; 
he  reflected,  and  turned  to  God ;  and  in  a  few  weeks  began 
to  preach  the  everlasting  gospel  of  our  Lord  and  Saviour  Jesus 
Christ ;  and  has  since  been  blessed  of  God  in  turning  many 
souls  from  darkness  to  light. 


ETERNAL  DURATION. 

And,  behold,  one  came  and  said  unto  him,  Good  Master,  what  good  thing 
shall  I  do,  that  I  may  have  eternal  life?  —  Matthew  19  :  16. 

0  ETERNITY  !  Eternity  !   How  are  our  boldest,  our  strong- 
est thoughts  lost  and  overwhelmed  in  thee  !     Who  can 
set  landmarks  to  limit  thy  dimensions  ;  or  find  plummets  to 
fathom  thy  depths  !     Arithmeticians  have  figures  to  compute 
all  the  progressions  of  time  ;  astronomers  have  instruments  to 


86  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

calculate  the  distance  of  the  planets ;  but  what  number  can 
state,  what  lines  can  gauge,  the  lengths  and  breadths  of 
eternity  ?  It  is  higher  than  heaven,  what  canst  thou  do  ? 
deeper  than  hell,  what  canst  thou  know  ?  The  measure  there- 
of is  longer  than  the  earth,  broader  than  the  sea.  Mysterious, 
mighty  existence  !  A  sum  not  to  be  lessened  by  the  largest 
deductions.  An  extent  not  to  be  contracted  by  all  possible 
diminutions.  None  can  truly  say,  after  the  most  prodigious 
waste  of  ages,  "  that  so  much  of  eternity  is  gone."  For,  when 
millions  of  centuries  are  elapsed,  it  is  but  just  commencing ; 
and  when  millions  more  have  run  their  ample  round,  it  will  be 
no  nearer  ending.  Yea,  when  ages  numerous  as  the  bloom  of 
spring,  increased  by  the  herbage  of  summer,  both  augmented 
by  the  leaves  of  autumn,  and  all  multiplied  by  the  drops  of 
rain  which  drown  the  winter, — when  these,  and  ten  thousand 
times  ten  thousand  more  —  more  than  can  be  represented  by 
any  similitude,  or  imagined  by  any  conception,  are  all  re- 
volted. Eternity,  vast,  boundless,  amazing  eternity,  will  only 
be  beginning,  or  rather,  only  beginning  to  begin.  What  a 
pleasant  yet  awful  thought  is  this  !  Full  of  delight  and  full 
of  dread.  0,  may  it  alarm  our  fears,  quicken  our  hopes,  and 
animate  all  our  endeavors  !  Since  we  are  soon  to  launch  into 
this  endless  and  inconceivable  state,  let  us  give  -all  diligence 
to  secure  our  entrance  into  bliss.  Now,  let  us  give  all  dili- 
gence, because  there  is  no  alteration  in  the  scenes  of  futurity. 
The  wheel  never  turns.  All  is  steadfast  and  immovable  be- 
yond the  grave.  The  saints  always  rejoice  amid  the  smiles 
of  heaven ;  their  harps  are  perpetually  tuned,  their  triumphs 
admit  of  no  interruption.  The  ruin  also  of  the  wicked  is 
irremediable*  The  fatal  sentence,  once  passed,  is  never  to  be 
repealed,  but  all  things  bear  the  same  dismal  aspect  for  ever 
and  ever.  —  Hervey. 


KEEP  THE  COMMANDMENTS. 

But  if  thou  wilt  enter  into  life,  keep  the  commandments.  —  Matthew  19  :  17. 


late  worthy  Dr.  Lockhart,  of  the  College  Church,  Glas- 
_L   gow,  when  traveling  in  England,  was  sojourning  in  an  inn 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  87 

when  the  Sabbath  came  round.  On  entering  the  public  room, 
and  about  to  set  out  to  church,  he  found  two  gentlemen  pre- 
paring for  a  game  of  chess.  He  addressed  them  in  words  to 
this  effect :  "  Gentlemen,  have  you  locked  up  your  portmanteaus 
carefully  ?  "  "  No.  What !  are  there  thieves  in  this  house  ?  " 
"  I  do  not  say  that;  only  I  was  thinking  that  if  the  waiter  comes 
in  and  finds  you  making  free  with  the  fourth  commandment, 
he  may  think  of  making  free  with  the  eighth  commandment/' 
Upon  which  the  gentlemen  said,  "  There  was  something  in 
that,"  and  so  laid  aside  their  game.  There  is  something  in 
all  of  God's  commands  ;  not  one  is  given  without  intention,  or 
without  authority.  In  the  sight  of  the  Law  Giver,  no  com- 
mand he  has  given  is  of  trifling  importance.  Fear  God  and 
keep  his  commandments,  which  is  the  whole  duty  of  man. 


MORAL  AND  CHRISTIAN  MEN  CONTRASTED. 

The  young  man  saith  unto  him,  All  these  things  have  I  kept  from  my 
youth  up  :  what  lack  I  yet?  —  Matthew  19  :  20. 

A  CHRISTIAN  is  one  who  is  positive.  A  Christian  is  a 
1JL  fruit-bearer.  A  moral  man  is  a  vine  that  does  not  bear 
fruit.  But  then  it  bears  everything  else  —  good  leaves,  a  good 
strong  stem,  a  healthy  root,  everything  that  is  good  and  nice 
in  it,  except  the  fruit.  A  Christian  man  is  one  that  develops 
graces  into  positivity.  He  acts  out  of  himself  and  upon  others. 
A  moral  man  is  one  that  simply  defends  himself  from  the  ac- 
tion of  evil.  A  moral  man  is  like  an  empty  bottle,  well  corked, 
so  that  no  defilement  can  get  into  it  —  so  that  it  may  be  kept 
pure  within.  Pure  ?  And  what  is  the  use  of  a  bottle  that  is 
pure,  if  it  is  empty  and  corked  up  ?  A  moral  man,  I  repeat,  is 
a  negative.  He  does  not  swear,  he  does  not  steal,  and  he  does 
not  murder,  and  he  does  not  get  drunk,  and  his  whole  life  is 
not.  His  language  is,  "  Thou  shalt  not"  and  "  Thou  shalt 
not,"  and  "  Thou  shalt  not."  He  is  not  all  over,  and  nothing 
more  !  He  is  not  positive.  There  is  no  aversehess  to  him,  — 
Rev.  H.  W.  Beecher. 


88  JVEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRA  TIONS. 


IDLERS  IN  THE  CHURCH. 

And  he  went  out  about  the  third  hour,  and  saw  others  standing  idle  in  the 
market-place.  —  Matthew  20  :  3. 


are  a  great  many  idlers  in  the  church.  They  come 
JL  into  the  church  very  much  as  they  would  go  into  a  ferry 
boat  to  be  transported  to  a  given  locality.  They  pay  their  sti- 
pend and  fold  the  garments  of  self-righteousness  about  them, 
and  say  in  effect,  if  not  in  words,  "  Now  I  lay  me  down  to  sleep." 
They  are  doing  nothing  for  Christ  ;  have  no  idea  of  aggressive 
Christian  work  ;  they  are  "  as  idle  as  a  painted  ship  upon  a 
painted  ocean."  Ask  them  what  they  are  doing  for  Jesus, 
they  will  tell  you  that  they  attend  church.  Satan  has  been 
attending  church  for  nearly  six  thousand  years,  and  has  been 
going  on  from  bad  to  worse  all  the  while.  Indeed,  he  is  quite 
a  regular  attendant,  and,  in  the  language  of  a  quaint  old  writer, 
"  If  the  fiend  can  but  get  the  church  turned  into  a  weekly 
show-room  of  fashion,  he  would  ring  the  bell  himself  rather 
than  it  should  lack  a  congregation."  Ah,  there  are  many  in 
the  church  who  are  saying,  Lord,  Lord,  who  are  strangers  to 
the  meek  and  lowly  Jesus.  They  have  not  brought  forth  fruits 
meet  for  repentance,  and  their  faith  being  without  works,  is 
dead.  They  dream  of  a  heaven  of  purity  and  love,  but  the 
trump  of  doom  will  arouse  them  from  their  dreams,  and  the 
light  of  eternity  shine  away  all  empty  professions,  and  reveal 
their  real  characters.  "  Woe  to  them  that  are  at  ease  in  Zion." 


"NOTHING  TO  DO." 

And  about  the  eleventh  hour  he  went  out,  and  found  others  standing  idle, 
and  saith  unto  them,  Why  stand  ye  here  all  the  day  idle?  —  Matthew  20  :  6. 

"  "VTOTHING  to  do,"  and  Christian!  —  one  who  has  seen  the 
-L  i  "  exceeding  sinfulness  of  sin,"  felt  himself  condemned  by 
the  holy  law  of  God,  and  fleeing  to  Jesus  for  help,  has  found 
in  him  the  "  One  able  to  save."  "  Nothing  to  do  !  "  and  this 
from  the  lips  of  a  professed  follower  of  Him  who  through  all 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  89 

his  earthly  life  "  went  about  doing  good/''  and  at  last  -gave 
himself  a  ransom  for  the  sins  of  the  world ;  from  one  who  hopes 
at  last  to  join  the  ransomed  in  the  glad  cry,  "  Worthy  the 
Lamb  that  was  slain."  Saved  by  the  suffering  and  death 
of  Jesus,  and  yet  "  nothing  to  do  "  for  him?  "  Nothing  to 
do  ! "  while  millions  of  precious  souls,  for  whom  Christ  died, 
have  never  even  heard  of  his  love.  "  Nothing  to  do  ! "  arid 
the  world,  which  God  so  loved  that  he  "  gave  his  only  begot- 
ten Son  "  to  save  it,  still  lies  in  wickedness  ;  and  the  cries  of  the 
oppressed  and  down-trodden,  and  the  sighing  of  earth's  needy 
and  sorrowing  ones,  go  up  from  all  its  wide  extent  to  heaven. 
"  Nothing  to  do  "  for  the  Master,  whose  command  to  all  his  dis- 
ciples is,  "  Go,  work  to  day  in  my  vineyard."  No  cross  of  bitter 
trial  to  be  meekly  borne  ;  no  suffering  to  be  patiently  endured 
because  sent  by  a  Father's  hand ;  no  tear  to  wipe  from  the 
eye  of  suffering ;  no  wandering  soul  to  lead  gently  to  the  fold 
of  the  "  Good  Shepherd  ;  "  not  '•'  a  cup  of  cold  water  "  even  to 
give  to  a  weary  disciple  in  his  name,  for  his  sake,  and  from 
love  to  him.  "  Nothing  to  do "  in  the  great  work  of  the 
world's  evangelization ;  no  part  in  fulfilling  the  Saviour's  last 
command  to  "  preach  the  gospel  to  every  creature  j  "  no  influ- 
ence to  use  for  the  conversion  of  individual  souls ;  no  earnest, 
agonizing  prayers,  no  effort  to  bring  this  lost  and  ruined  world 
to  Jesus  ;  no  ignorant  soul  to  instruct  in  the  truths  of  God's 
word  ;  not  even  one  of  Christ's  lambs  to  feed  ;  no  loving  words 
to  speak  for  Jesus  —  "nothing  to  do"  for  him!  We  cannot 
conceive  that  Christ  should  rescue  a  soul  from  the  thraldom  of 
sin,  wash  and  sanctify  it  in  his  own  precious  blood,  and  yet 
give  it  "  nothing  to  do  "  for  him  in  return  for  his  unspeakable 
love  !  The  Christian  may  have  but  "  one  talent "  intrusted  to 
him,  but  it  is  given  to  him  to  be  used  in  his  Master's  service, 
not  to  be  "  hidden  in  the  earth." 


WORKING  FOR  A  PENNY  A  DAY. 

But  he  answered  one  of  them,  and  said,  Friend,  I  do  thee  no  wrong :  didst 
not  thou  agree  with  me  for  a  penny?  —  Matthew  20  :  13. 

TTTHEN  in  our  boyhood  we  read  in  the  Bible  about  the  men 
V  V     working  in  a  vineyard  for  a  penny  a  day,  we  remember 
12 


90  XE1V   TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

that  it  seemed  like  very  small  wages  indeed.  But  let  us  see 
about  this.  In  those  days  a  penny  was  about  as  large  as  fif- 
teen of  our  cents ;  and  as  money  was  some  ten  times  as  valua- 
ble as  now,  the  penny  a  day  was  as  good  as  one  hundred  and 
fifty  of  our  cents,  so  that  those  men  really  got  as  good  wages 
as  the  best  men  now  generally  have  in  harvest- time,  that  is,  a 
dollar  and  a  half  a  day.  So  also  when  that  good  Samaritan 
gave  two  pence  to  the  landlord  to  take  care  of  the  man  who 
fell  among  thieves,  you  see  it  was  equivalent  to  about  three 
dollars,  which  would  probably  pay  for  his  board  two  weeks 
in  a  country  tavern,  where  board  was  very  cheap.  This  gift 
of  the  Samaritan  was  in  addition  to  the  raiment,  the  oil  and 
wine,  and  to  the  promise  to  pay  anything  more  that  the  land- 
lord might  expend.  By  the  same  reckoning,  how  much  was 
that  box  of  "  very  costly"  ointment  worth,  which  Mary  used 
upon  the  Saviour  ?  When  the  disciples  asked  if  they  should 
buy  two  hundred  pennyworth  of  bread,  how  many  loaves  were 
they  calculating  for  at  about  six  cents  a  loaf —  a  large  price  in 
those  days  ?  Remember  to  reckon  money  worth  ten  times  as 
much  as  now,  and  to  call  a  penny  worth  fifteen  cents. 


"  NOW,  GOD,  TAKE  BABY." 

And  said  unto  him,  Hearest  them  what  these  say?  And  Jesus  saith  unto 
them,  Yea;  have  ye  never  read,  Out  of  the  mouth  of  babes  and  sucklings 
thou  hast  perfected  praise?—  Matthew  21 :  1G. 

EEV.  DR.  CHEEVER  relates  this  incident :  "  At  the  time 
when  President  Olin  was  seized  with  that  illness  which 
was  the  precursor  of  his  death,  his  youngest  child,  a  babe  of 
about  two  years  old,  was  ill  and  restless,  though  the  parents 
did  not  then  apprehend  a  fatal  result.  The  day  of  discovered 
danger  the  father  was  walking  in  the  room  where  his  child  lay, 
when- the  babe  suddenly  called,  'Papa!1  desiring  to  be  lifted 
in  its  father's  arms.  'Pa,  take  baby!'  Dr.  Olin  took  the 
child,  and  walked  up  and  down  the  room.  The  child  said, 
1  Pa,  kiss  baby  !  Mamma,  kiss  baby  ! '  and,  when  this  was  done, 
looked  up  and  exclaimed,  <  Now,  God,  take  baby  ! '  and  immo- 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  91 

diately  breathed  its  last  in  the  father's  arms.  Was  not  this  a 
ministration  from  the  invisible  world  ?  The  believing  father 
received  it  as  such,  and  was  comforted.  Children  and  death 
are  divine  teachers.  '  Out  of  the  mouth  of  babes  and  sucklings 
thou  hast  perfected  praise.' ': 


BELIEVE,  AND  NOT  DOUBT. 

Jesus  answered  and  said  unto  them,  Verily  I  say  unto  you,  If  ye  have 
faith,  and  doubt  not,  ye  shall  not  only  do  this  which  is  dons  to  the  fig  tree, 
but  also  if  ye  shall  say  unto  this  mountain,  Be  thou"  removed,  and  be  thou 
cast  into  the  sea ;  it  shall  be  done.  —  Matthew  21 :  21. 

TVfOT  long  ago,  a  great  drought  prevailed  in  some  of  the  mid- 
Jj|  land  counties  of  England.  Several  pious  farmers,  who 
dreaded  lest  their  expected  crops  should  perish  for  lack  of 
moisture,  agreed  with  their  pastor,  and  others,  to  hold  a 
special  prayer-meeting  to  petition  God  to  send  the  needed 
rain.  They  met  accordingly  ;  and  the  minister  coming  early, 
had  time  to  exchange  friendly  greetings  with  several  of  his 
flock.  He  was  surprised  to  see  one  of  his  little  Sabbath 
scholars  bending  under  the  weight  of  a  huge  old  family  um- 
brella. "  Why,  Mary,"  said  he,  "  what  made  you  bring  that 
umbrella  on  such  a  lovely  morning  as  this  ?  "  The  child,  gaz- 
ing on  his  face  with  evident  surprise  at  the  inquiry,  replied, 
"  Why,  sir,  I  thought,  as  we  were  a-going  to  pray  to  God  for 
rain,  I'd  be  sure  to  want  the  umbrella."  The  minister  smiled 
on  her,  and  the  service  shortly  after  commenced.  Whilst  they 
were  praying,  the  wind  rose  ;  the  sky,  before  so  clear  and 
bright,  became  overcast  with  clouds,  and  soon,  amid  vivid 
flashes  of  lightning  and  heavy  peals  of  thunder,  a  storm  of 
rain  deluged  the  country.  Those  who  attended  the  meeting 
unprepared  to  receive  the  blessing  they  sought,  reached  their 
homes  drenched  and  soaked,  while  Mary  and  the  minister  re- 
turned together  under  the  family  umbrella. 


92  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

GOD  ANSWERS  PRAYER. 

And  all  things  whatsoever  ye  shall   ask  in  prayer,  believing,  ye  shall 
receive.  —  Matthew  21 :  22. 

WHILE  I  was  living  in  South  America,  a  young  man  came 
from  England  to  Buenos  Ayres,  and  there  entered  a  mer- 
cantile house.  After  continuing  in  this  position  six  months, 
his  nineteenth  birthday  arrived.  It  was  the  seventeenth  of 
August,  1867.  When  the  duties  of  the  day  were  over,  he  sat 
down  in  his  room,  and  his  thoughts  naturally  reverted  to  his 
friends  at  home.  "  What  is  my  mother  doing  at  this  moment  ?  " 
The  reply  which  rose  to  his  mind  was,  "  My  mother  is  praying 
for  me."  "  If,"  said  he,  "  my  mother  is  praying  for  me,  I 
ought  to  pray  for  myself."  The  thought  became  so  overpow- 
ering, the  image  of  his  mother  pleading  for  his  salvation  be- 
came so  vivid,  that  he  knelt  on  the  floor  at  once  to  pray.  He 
tarried  long  with  God.  He  pleaded  earnestly  for  pardon  and 
peace.  He  did  not  rise  until  he  had  promised  to  give  his 
heart  and  life  to  the  Saviour.  From  that  hour  the  object,  the 
purposes  of  his  whole  life,  were  changed.  A  divine,  a  joyous 
love  to  Christ  sprang  up  in  his  soul.  By  the  next  mail  he 
wrote  to  his  mother  a  full  account  of  his  new  and  happy  expe- 
rience. She,  too,  wrote  to  her  son  immediately  after  his 
birthday.  Their  letters  crossed  on  the  Atlantic.  She  told 
him  that  she  set  apart  this  day  as  a  day  of  prayer  for  the 
conversion  of  her  boy ;  and  added.  "  That  night  I  felt  confi- 
dent that  God  had  heard  my  petition.  I  believe  my  child  will 
become  a  child  of  God,  and  yet  preach  the  gospel."  That 
young  man  is  now  in  the  United  States  studying  for  the  min- 
istry. 


WORKING  IN  GOD'S  VINEYARD. 

But  what  think  ye?     A  certain  man  had  two  sons;  and  he  came  to  the 
first,  and  said,  Son,  go  work  to-day  in  my  vineyard.  —Matthew  21 :  28. 

SOME  are  God's  sons  only  by  creation ;  the  Jews  were  so  by 
national  adoption  ;  believers  are  so  by  regeneration.    They 


NEW   TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  93 

are  born  of  God,  and  adopted  by  God.  Our  God  never  in- 
tended that  his  children  should  be  idle  ;  he  says  to  every 
child,  "  SON,  GO  WORK."  This  is  the  command  of  a  Father  :  it 
contains  affection,  it  flows  from  authority.  We  are  to  work 
for  his  glory,  for  the  good  of  others,  and  to  lay  up  for  our- 
selves treasures  in  heaven.  Working  for  God  is  creditable  — 
profitable  —  pleasant.  Our  work  is  in  his  vineyard ;  the 
church  finds  work  for  all.  Some  are  employed  to  plant,  some 
to  weed,  some  to  water,  and  some  to  watch.  The  command 
is,  "  WORK  TO-DAY."  The  present  is  the  period.  To-day,  while 
you  have  light,  strength,  and  opportunity.  Remember,  it  is 
but  a  day,  a  short  period  at  longest,  but  it  often  proves  to  be 
but  a  short  day.  Are  you  standing  all  the  day  idle  ?  Go  into 
the  vineyard.  Are  you  discouraged  ?  Imitate  her  who  did 
what  she  could.  Look  to  the  Lord;  He  will  give  ability  — 
opportunity  —  and  crown  with  success. 


"SEND  FOR  THE  GAS-MAN." 

But  they  made  light  of  it,  and  went  their  ways,  one  to  his  farm,  another  to 
his  merchandise.  —  Matthew  22  :  5. 

"VTEWMAN  HALL  states  that,  at  a  religious  temperance 
-Ll  meeting,  a  free-thinker  arose,  and  declared  that  the  man 
who  invented  gas  did  more  good  than  all  the  parsons.  A 
gentleman  replied  as  follows :  "  Mr.  Chairman,  I'm  for  free 
thought  and  free  speech ;  and  yonder  gentleman  has  a  right 
to  speak  and  think  for  himself  as  much  as  I  have.  That 
gentleman  says  he  considers  the  man  who  invented  gas  did 
more  to  enlighten  the  world  than  all  the  parsons.  Well,  if 
that  is  his  opinion,  he  has  a  right  to  hold  it  and  to  mention  it. 
But,  whatever  our  different  opinions,  there  is  a  time  coming 
to  us  all,  which  we  call  death ;  when  most  men  are  somewhat 
serious,  and  like  to  get  advice  and  comfort  respecting  the 
world  they  are  go-ing  to.  Now,  when  this  season  comes  to 
our  friend,  I  would  recommend  him  to  send  for  the  gas-man." 
Roars  of  laughter  and  a  tumult  of  clapping  followed  this  sally, 
which  was  better  than  a  sermon,  demonstrative  without  formal 


94  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

logic,  and  was  not  likely  to  be  forgotten.  In  that  solemn  hour 
it  will  not  be  "  gas  "  we  shall  need,  but  grace  —  the  grace  of 
the  Lord  Jesus  Christ. 


WHAT  WILL  YOU  SAY,  SIR? 

And  he  saith  unto  him,  Friend,  how  earnest  thou  in  hither,  not  having  a 
wedding  garment?     And  he  was  speechless. —  Matthew  22  :  12. 

THE  following  incident,  though  related  from  memory,  is  sub- 
stantially correct.  "  Thomas  Hoopoo,  it  will  be  recollected, 
was  a  member  of  the  Foreign  Mission  School  at  Cornwall,  Ct. 
After  some  two  years'  residence  at  Cornwall,  at  the  request 
of  the  clergyman  of  Brunswick,  who  had  formed  an  acquaint- 
ance with  Thomas,  he  accompanied  Deacon  H.,  with  whom 
he  was  boarding,  and  who  was  on  his  way  from  Philadelphia, 
to  Brunswick.  On  the  evening  of  their  arrival,  a  select  com- 
pany, including  the  clergyman,  were  invited  to  spend  the 
evening  with  a  celebrated  attorney-at-law  of  the  place. 
Thomas,  then  about  sixteen  years  of  age,  accompanied  them. 
The  lawyer  entertained  the  company  for  a  long  time  by  in- 
terrogating Thomas  in  reference  to  his  native  country,  their 
customs,  religion,  employment,  &c.,  and  especially  upon  their 
religion.  Thomas  very  patiently  answered  his  questions,  often 
to  the  great  merriment  of  the  company.  At  length  the  law- 
yer, who  was  not  a  religious  man,  ceased,  and  Thomas  com- 
menced in  substance  as  follows :  *  I  am  a  poor  heathen  boy. 
It  is  not  strange  that  my  blunders  in  English  should  amuse 
you.  But  soon  there  will  be  a  larger  meeting  than  this.  We 
shall  be  there.  They  will  ask  us  all  one  question,  viz., 
"  Do  you  love  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ  ?  "  Now,  sir,  I  think  I 
can  say  yes  :  what  will  you  say,  sir  ? ' 

"  He  ceased :  a  death-like  stillness  pervaded  the  hall.  At 
length  it  was  broken  by  a  proposition  of  the  lawyer,  that,  as 
the  evening  was  far  spent,  they  should  have  a  season  of  devo- 
tion, in  which  Thomas  should  lead.  It  was  acceded  to,  and 
Thomas,  in  his  accustomed  meek  and  affectionate  manner,  ad- 
dressed the  throne  of  grace.  Soon  he  prayed  for  the  lawyer 
in  person,  alluding  to  his  learning  and  talent,  and  besought 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  95 

that  lie  might  not  be  ignorant  of  the  way  of  salvation  through 
Christ.  As  he  proceeded  thus,  the  emotion  of  the  lawyer's 
breast  rose  above  all  restraint,  the  flowing  tears  could  not 
alleviate  it.  He  sobbed  aloud.  The  whole  company  were 
affected,  and  the  sobs  drowned  the  speaker's  voice.  Soon 
they  separated,  and  retired  to  their  respective  rooms.  But 
there  was  no  rest  for  the  lawyer.  The  question  of  Thomas 
rung  in  his  ear,  l  What  will  you  say,  sir  ? '  He  paced  his 
room  in  anguish.  The  Spirit  of  God  had  touched  his  con- 
science. He  found  no  rest  until  he  could  answer  the  thrill- 
ing question  proposed  by  that  i  heathen  boy '  in  the  affirma- 
tive. A  few  days  afterward,  on  the  return  of  Deacon  H., 
several  of  the  party  were  rejoicing  in  hope,  who  were  careless 
sinners  previous  to  the  question  of  Thomas.  A  powerful  re- 
vival of  religion  followed,  all  apparently  resulting  from  the 
faithful  dealing  of  that  illiterate  heathen  boy,  Christian  friend, 
go  thou  and  do  likewise." 


BOUND  WITH  HIS  OWN  CHAIN. 

Then  said  the  king  to  the  servants,  Bind  him  hand  and  foot,  and  take  him 
away,  and  cast  him  into  outer  darkness ;  there  shall  be  weeping  and  gnashing 
of  teeth.  —  Matthew  22  :  13. 

A  CERTAIN  tyrant  sent  for  one  of  his  subjects,  and  said  to 
him,  "What  is  your  employment?"  He  said,  "  I  am  a 
blacksmith."  "  Go  home,"  said  he,  "  and  make  me  a  chain 
of  such  a  length."  He  went  home ;  it  occupied  him  several 
months,  and  he  had  no  wages  all  the  time  he  was  making  it. 
Then  he  brought  it  to  the  monarch,  and  he  said,  "  Go  and 
make  it  twice  as  long."  He  gave  him  nothing  to  do  it  with, 
but  sent  him  away.  Again  he  worked  on,  and  made  it  twice 
as  long.  He  brought  it  up  again,  and  the  monarch  said,  "  Go 
and  make  it  longer  still."  Each  time  he  brought  it,  there  was 
nothing  but  the  command  to  make  it  longer  still.  And  when 
he  brought  it  up  at  last,  the  monarch  said,  "  Take  it,  bind  him 
hand  and  foot  with  it,  and  cast  him  into  a  furnace  of  fire." 
These  were. his  wages  for  making  the  chain.  Here  is  a  medi- 


06  NEW  TESTA  ME  NT  ILL  USTRA  TIONS. 

tation  for  you,  ye  servants  of  the  devil !  Your  master,  the 
devil,  is  telling  you  to. make  a  chain.  Some  of  you  have  been 
fifty  years  welding  the  links  of  the  chain ;  and  he  says,  "  Go 
and  make  it  longer  still."  Next  Sabbath  morning  you  will 
open  that  shop  of  yours,  and  put  another  link  on ;  next  Sab- 
bath you  will  be  drunk,  and  put  another  link  on ;  next  Monday 
you  will  do  a  dishonest  action ;  and  so  you  will  keep  on  mak- 
ing fresh  links  to  this  chain ;  and  when  you  have  lived  twenty 
more  years,  the  devil  will  say,  "  More  links  on  still."  And 
then,  at  last,  it  will  be,  "  Take  him,  and  bind  him  hand  and 
foot,  and  cast  him  into  a  furnace  of  fire."  "  For  the  wages 
of  sin  is  death."  There  is  a  subject  for  your  meditation.  I 
do  not  think  it  will  be  sweet ;  but  if  God  makes  it  profitable, 
it  will  do  you  good.  You  must  have  strong  medicine  some- 
times when  the  disease  is  bad.  God  apply  it  to  your  hearts. 
—  C.  H.  Spurgeon. 


WORKS  ACCEPTABLE  TO  GOD. 

And  he   saith  unto  them,  Whose  is  this  image   and   superscription?  — 
Matthew  22  :  20. 

NOTHING  passes  current  in  heaven  but  what  is  coined 
there,  and  comes  out  of  it.  The  thing  that  you  do  your- 
self, man,  woman,  it  wants  the  King's  stamp  upon  it.  Whose 
superscription  hath  it?  It  is  but  the  product  of  your  own 
heart.  But  that  only  which  is  the  fruit  of  the  Spirit  of  God 
is  good  and  pure  in  his  sight.  If  you  bring  false  coin  to  a 
king,  that  you  have  coined  yourself,  or  if  it  be  discovered 
that  you  have  done  it,  you  put  yourself  in  hazard  of  death 
thereby ;  even  so,  your  duties  that  have  not  the  right  stamp, 
and  wherein  you  have  not  been  influenced  by  the  Spirit  and 
grace  of  God,  instead  of  saving  you,  they  put  you  in  hazard 
of  death  and  damnation. 


NEW   TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  97 


WHAT  THINK  YE  OF  CHRIST? 

Saying,  What  think  ye  of  Christ  ?  whose  son  is  he  ?     They  say  unto  him, 
The  son  of  Dav.id.  —  Matthew  22  :  42. 

"  TI7HAT  think  you  of  Christ  ?  "  —  is  the  test, 
V  V     To  try  both  your  state  and  your  scheme  ; 
You  cannot  be  right  in  the  rest, 

Unless  you  think  rightly  of  HIM  : 
As  JESUS  appears  in  your  view, 

As  he  is  beloved  or  not, 
So  God  is  disposed  to  you, 

And  mercy  or  wrath  is  your  lot. 

Some  take  him  a  creature  to  be  — 

A  man,  or  an  angel  at  most ; 
But  they  have  not  feelings  like  me, 

Nor  know  themselves  wretched  and  lost : 
So  guilty,  so  helpless  am  I, 

I  durst  not  confide  in  his  blood, 
Nor  on  his  protection  rely, 

Unless  I  were  sure  he  is  God. 

Some  call  him  a  Saviour,  in  word, 

But  mix  their  own  works  with  his  plan ; 
And  hope  he  his  help  will  afford 

When  they  have  done  all  that  they  can : 
If  doings  prove  rather  too  light 

(A  little  they  own  they  may  fail), 
They  purpose  to  make  up  full  weight 

By  casting  his  name  in  the  scale. 

Some  style  him  "  the  Pearl  of  great  price," 

And  say  he's  the  fountain  of  joy ; 
Yet  feed  upon  folly  and  vice, 

And  cleave  to  the  world  and  its  toys : 
Like  Judas,  the  Saviour  they  kiss, 

And,  while  they  salute  him,  betray : 
0  !  what  will  profession  like  this 

Avail  in  his  terrible  day  ? 
13 


98  NEW   TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

If  asked  what  of  Jesus  /think, 

Though  still  my  berst  thoughts  are  but  poor, 
I  say,  he's  my  meat  and  my  drink, 

My  life,  and  my  strength,  and  my  store  j 
My  Shepherd,  my  trust,  and  my  Friend, 

My  Saviour  from  sin  and  from  thrall ; 
My  Hope  from  beginning  to  end, 

My  Portion,  my  Lord,  and  MY  ALL. 


JEWISH  PHYLACTERIES. 

But  all  their  works  they  do  for  to  be  seen  of  men  :  they  make  broad  their 
phylacteries,  and  enlarge  the  borders  of  their  garments.  —  Matthew  23  :  5. 

PROFESSOR  HITCHCOCK  brought  back  from  the  Holy 
X  Land,  among  other  curiosities,  preserved  phylacteries, 
which  are  described  as  follows  in  the  New  York  Evening 
Post :  "  Phylacteries  —  the  common  Greek  word  for  amulets 
—  were  worn  very  generally  by  the  Jews  at  the  commence- 
ment of  the  Christian  era.  They  consist  of  a  narrow  strip  of 
parchment,  about  eighteen  inches  long,  on  which  are  care- 
fully written  in  voweled  Hebrew  four  passages  from  the  Old 
Testament.  (Exod.  13  :  2-17  ;  Deut.  6  :  4-9, 13-22.)  The  strip  is 
rolled  up,  and  placed  in  a  little  leathern  box,  one  inch  and  a  half 
square,  which  is  then  bound  to  the  left  elbow  by  cowhide  straps 
half  an  inch  wide,  and  long  enough  to  be  wound  spirally  about 
the  arm  down  to  the  base  of  the  middle  finger.  There  is  a  small- 
er phylactery  for  the  forehead,  the  box  for  which  is  scarcely 
an  inch  square.  It  has  also  a  leathern  fillet,  which  is  tied  at 
the  back  of  the  head,  and  then  brought  around  to  the  breast. 
When  Christ  reproved  the  Pharisees  for  making  broad  their 
phylacteries  (Matt.  23  :  5),  he  doubtless  alluded  to  their  cus- 
tom of  increasing  this  smaller  box,  so  as  to  make  its  diameter 
three  or  four  inches,  and  conspicuously  wearing  it  over  their 
eyes  to  attract  the  attention  of  the  multitude.  Except  by  the 
Pharisees,  who  paraded  them  on  all  occasions,  they  were  worn 
only  at  times  of  prayer.  Subsequently  they  were  put  on  for 
charms,  like  the  Koran  among  the  modern  Mohammedans,  and 
were  supposed  to  drive  away  the  devil,  ward  off  temptation, 


NEW   TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  99 

and  insure  long  life.  There  is  no  historical  reason  for  believ- 
ing that  they  were  in  use  in  pre-exile  times.  Indeed,  from 
the  similar  customs  of  the  Babylonians  and  other  Oriental 
nations  at  the  time  of  the  captivity,  it  is  probable  that  the 
Jews  learned  the  practice  from  their  captors." 


PROFANE  LANGUAGE. 

And  he  that  shall  swear  by  heaven,  sweareth  by  the  throne  of  God,  and  by 
him  that  sitteth  thereon.  —  Matthew  23  :  22. 

IT  is  very  vulgar,  and  very  sinful  in  the  sight  of  God,  to  use 
profane  language  j  and  yet  there  are  many  men  and  many 
boys  who,  when  they  get  angry,  not  caring  for  what  people 
think  of  them,  or  what  God  has  said,  curse  and  swear,  and 
blaspheme  the  name  of  God.  They  do  not  think  at  the  time 
that  "  for  all  these  things  God  will  bring  them  into  judgment." 
Sometimes  the  Lord  sends  judgments  on  people  in  this  life  for 
profane  swearing,  as  well  as  for  other  sins.  He  does  this,  no 
doubt,  as  a  warning  to  people.  Some  have  been  struck  dead 
while  blaspheming  the  name  of  God.  A  few  years  since  a 
very  wicked,  thoughtless  man  went  into  the  field  to  make 
hay,  while  his  family  attended  a  religious  meeting.  Present- 
ly a  shower  came  up,  at  which  he  became  angry.  Soon  it 
lightened  and  thundered,  at  which  he  swore.  Again  it  light- 
ened in  a  most  terrific  manner,  and  again  he  cursed  the  Lord. 
Then  a  third  flash  of  lightning  broke  from  the  dark  thunder 
cloud,  knocked  him  senseless  to  the  ground,  and  burned  his 
mouth  in  a  terrible  manner,  so  that  it  was  skinned  to  his  throat, 
yet  the  -Lord  permitted  him  to  live.  This  was  about  eleven 
o'clock  in  the  morning,  and  about  four  in  the  afternoon  he  was 
enabled  to  crawl  down  to  his  house,  and  tell  about  his  narrow 
escape  from  an  awful  death.  From  that  time  he  concluded 
he  had  sinned  quite  long  enough,  and  that  it  was  time  for  him 
to  repent,  and  seek  the  pardoning  favor  of  his  offended  God. 
This  he  did,  and  he  is  now  living,  and  is  a  member  of  a  Chris- 
tian church.  The  circumstance  he  related  to  me  about  six 
months  ago.  He  now  bears  a  good  Christian  character.  It 
was;  indeed,  a  great  mercy  that  he  was  spared. 


100  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 


FALSE  CONSCIENTIOUSNESS. 

Ye    blind    guides,    which    strain    at    a    gnat,    and  -swallow   a    camel.  — 
Matthew  23 :  24. 

A  MAN  came  down  from  the  hills  to  a  Neapolitan  priest,  to 
confess  a  sin  which  lay  heavy  upon  his  conscience.  In 
the  busy  season  of  Lent,  while  engaged  in  making  cheese, 
some  of  the  whey  had  fallen  upon  his  lips,  and,  miserable  man 
that  he  was,  he  had  swallowed  it.  "  Free  my  distressed  con- 
science," he  besought,  "  from  its  agonies  by  absolving  me 
from  my  guilt."  "  Have  you  no  other  sins  to  confess  ?  "  asked 
the  priest.  "  No,  I  do  not  know  that  I  have  committed  any 
other."  "  We  often  hear  of  robberies  and  murders  committed 
in  your  mountains.  Have  you  never  been  concerned  in  these  ?  " 
"  Yes,  but  all  of  us  do  these  things.  We  never  account  them 
as  crimes  needing  confession  and  absolution."  We  may  smile 
at  such  a  type  of  conscientiousness,  but  if  we  search  strictly 
our  own  hearts,  may  we  not  find  there  some  similar  "  strain- 
ing at  a  gnat,"  which,  with  our  greater  light,  is  far  more  in- 
excusable ?  Are  we  not  all  tempted  to  think  more  of  a  strict 
outward  observance  of  our  religious  duties,  than  of  deep,  in- 
ward, hourly  communion  with  Jesus? 


CHRISTIANITY  A  FINALITY. 

And  this  gospel  of  the  kingdom  shall  be  preached  in  all  the  world  for  a 
witness  unto  all  nations ;  and  then  shall  the  end  come.  —  Matthew  24 :  14. 

TI7E  find  in  Christianity  the  qualities  and  capabilities  which 
V  V  so  endow  it  as  to  properly  make  it  a  finality.  If  a  final- 
ity, we  would  naturally  expect  to  find  in  it  extraordinary  qual- 
ities. This  is  what  we  expect  in  other  works  of  God  that  are 
designed  to  be  eternal,  and  fulfill,  without  waste  or  exhaustion, 
offices  of  beneficence  for  ever.  When  God  placed  the  sun  in 
the  heavens,  he  placed  it  there  as  a  finality.  He  did  not  ex- 
pect to  take  it  down,  or  replace  it  by  another.  Possessing  all 
fullness  and  capacity,  shining  will  never  hurt  it,  endurance 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  101 

never  waste,  age  never  affect  it.  We  do  not  need  any  other. 
It  has  all  the  light  and  heat  in  it  that  we  want.  As,  then,  we 
could  not  on  any  ground  expect  that  a  sun  could  be  made  that 
would  suit  our  world  any  better  than  the  one  we  have ;  and  as 
we  must  believe  that  the  same  sun  that  has  been  shining  for 
ages  upon  our  world  will  shine  with  equal  splendor  and  effi- 
ciency for  ages  to  come,  and  answer  to  the  wants  of  man  any 
number  of  ages  hence  as  well  as  now,  so  must  we  reason  with 
respect  to  Christianity.  It  is  one  of  the  grand  characteristics 
of  Christianity  that  it  is  an  only  source  of  illumination  to  every 
man.  It  shines  for  me,  explains  mysteries  to  me,  discovers 
truth  to  me,  opens  immortality  to  me,  and  speaks  of  God,  and 
judgment,  and  responsibility  to  me.  And  in  these  respects  it 
is  an  ONLY  source  of  light  to  me.  There  is  no  other,  there  can 
be  no  other,  there  is  no  need  of  any  other  —  it  is  a  finalit}^. 
Well,  what  it  is  to  me  it  is  to  all  about  me.  What  it  is  to-day 
it  will  be  to-morrow  and  forever.  Its  author  says,  "  I  am  the 
light  of  the  world." 


DANIEL'S  PROPHESY  FULFILLED. 

When  ye,  therefore,  shall  see  the  abomination  of  desolation,  spoken  of  by 
Daniel  the  prophet,  stand  in  the  holy  place  (whoso  readeth,  let  him  under- 
stand). —  Matthew  24  :  15. 


,"  says  Dr.  Adam  Clarke,  in  his  Commentary,  "  refers 
to  the  Roman  army  ;  and  this  abomination,  standing  in 
the  holy  place/  is  the  Roman  army  besieging  Jerusalem  ;  this, 
our  Lord  says,  is  what  was  spoken  of  by  Daniel  the  prophet, 
in  the  ninth  and  eleventh  chapters  of  his  prophecy.  The  Ro- 
man army  is  called  an  abomination,  for  its  ensigns  and  images 
were  so  to  the  Jews."  "  To  every  legion  was  a  golden  eagle 
with  expanded  wings,  grasping  a  thunderbolt.  These  eagles, 
with  the  standards  of  the  cohorts,  ten  in  each  legion,  were  ob- 
jects of  worship  among  the  Romans,  and  therefore  were  an 
abomination  to  the  Jews.  We  learn  from  Josephus,  that  after 
the  city  was  taken,  the  Romans  brought  their  ensigns  into  the 
temple,  and  placed  them  over  against  the  eastern  gate,  and 
there  sacrificed  to  them."  —  Benson.  "  And  as  it  was  to  des- 


102  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

olate  and  lay  waste  Jerusalem,  it  is  fitly  called  l  abomination 
of  desolation.'  *  Standing  in  the  holy  place/  not  only  means 
the  temple  and  city,  but  for  several  furlongs  round  about  it 
were  acounted  holy,  particularly  the  mount  on  which  our  Lord 
now  sat,  and  on  which,  afterwards,  the  Romans  placed  their 
ensigns." 


COMING  OF  THE  SON  OF  MAN. 

For  as  the  lightning  cometh  out  of  the  east,  and  shineth  even  unto  the 
west;  so  shall  also  the  coming  of  the  Son  of  man  be.  —  Matthew  24 :  27. 

FTHHREE  things  are  worthy  of  our  thought :  I.  Jesus  Christ 
JL  will  come  again.  1.  He  came  into  the  world  when  he 
took  on  him  our  nature,  and  was  made  in  the  likeness  of  sinful 
flesh.  Then  he  came  to  seek  and  to  save  the  lost.  2.  He 
came  in  judgment  to  destroy  Jerusalem  for  its  sins.  3.  He 
will  come  at  the  last  day  to  judge  the  world.  II.  When  he 
comes  whenever  and  however  it  is,  he  takes  care  of  his  peo- 
ple. 1.  When  he  came  at  first,  it  was  to  put  away  sin  by 
the  sacrifice  of  himself,  and  to  purify  unto  himself  a  peculiar 
people,  zealous  of  good  works.  2.  When  he  came  to  destroy 
Jerusalem,  he  so  ordered  it  in  his  providence  that  none  of  his 
people  perished  in  that  wicked  city.  3.  When  he  comes  to 
call  his  people  away  by  death,  he  takes  them  to  the  mansions 
he  has  gone  to  prepare  for  them.  4.  When  he  comes  to  judge 
the  world,  he  will  not  overlook  any  of  his-  people ;  none  of 
them  shall  be  lost.  He  will  say,  "  Come,  ye  blessed,  inherit 
the  kingdom  prepared  for  you  !  "  III.  We  should  expect  his 
coming,  and  be  ready  for  it  —  always  ready ;  for  we  know 
neither  the  day  nor  the  hour.  To  us,  death  is  the  same  as  the 
end  of  the  world  —  it  closes  our  probation  and  fixes  our  des- 
tiny ;  and  it  becomes  us  to  be  ever  ready  for  the  coming  of  the 
Son  of  man. 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  103 

AN  ELOQUENT  TRIBUTE  TO  THE  BIBLE. 

Heaven  and  earth  shall  pass  away,  but  my  words  shall  not  pass  away.  — 
Matthew  24 :  35. 

0  FRIENDS,  if  there  is  one  great  thing  in  this  world,  it  is 
,  the  Bible  of  God;  great  in  origin,  great  in  thought,  great 
in  promise,  great  in  beauty,  great  in  purpose,  great  in  power, 
great  in  its  results  !  It  hangs  as  by  a  golden  cord  from  the 
throne  of  the  Highest,  and  all  heaven's  light,  life,  love,  and 
sweetness  come  down  into  it  for  us.  It  hangs  there  like  a 
celestial  harp ;  the  daughters  of  sorrow  tune  it,  and  awake  a 
strain  of  consolation.  The  hand  of  joy  strikes  it,  and  feels  a 
diviner  note  of  gladness.  The  sinner  comes  to  it,  and  it  dis- 
courses to  him  of  repentance  and  salvation.  The  saint  bends 
an  ear  to  it,  and  it  talks  to  him  of  an  intercessor  and  immortal 
kingdom.  The  dying  man  lays  his  trembling  hand  on  it,  and 
there  steals  thence  into  his  soul  the  promise,  4  Lo,  I  am  with 
you  alway,  even  unto  the  end  of  the  world."  '  "  When  thou 
passest  through  the  waters,  they  shall  not  overflow  thee,  and 
through  the  fires,  thou  shalt  not  be  burned."  "  Be  of  good 
cheer,  I  have  overcome  the  world  ! "  "  The  last  enemy  that 
shall  be  destroyed  is  death.7'  "  This  mortal  shall  put  on  im- 
mortality, and  this  corruptible  shall  put  on*  incorruption,  and 
death  shall  be  swallowed  up  in  victory."  Where  is  promise, 
where  is  philosophy,  where  is  song  like  this !  Magnify  the 
word  of  God  !  — Rev.  E.  E.  Adams.  ' 


FAITHFUL  PREACHING. 

Who  then  is  a  faithful  and  wise  servant,  whom  his  lord  hath  made  ruler 
over  his  household,  to  give  them  meat  in  due  season  ?  —  Matthew  24 :  45. 

IN  one  of  the  sermons  which  Bourdaloue  preached  before 
the  monarch,  he  describes,  with  infinite  eloquence,  the  hor- 
rors of  a  licentious  life,  its  abomination  in  the  eye  of  God,  its 
scandal  to  man,  and  the  public  and  private  evils  which  attend 
it ;  but  he  managed  his  discourse  with  so  much  address,  that 
he  kept  the  king  from  suspecting  that  the  thunder  of  the 


104  NEW   TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

preacher  was  ultimately  to  fall  upon  him.  In  general,  Bour- 
daloue  spoke  in  a  level  tone  of  voice,  and  with  his  eyes  almost 
shut.  On  this  occasion,  having  wound  up  the  attention  of  the 
monarch  and  the  audience  to  the  highest  pitch,  he  paused. 
The  audience  suspected  something  terrible,  arid  seemed  to  fear 
.the  next  word.  The  pause  continued  for  some  time  ;  at  length, 
the  preacher,  fixing  his  eyes  directly  on  his  royal  hearer,  and 
in  a  tone  of  voice,  equally  expressive  of  horror  and  concern, 
said,  in  the  words  of  the  prophet,  "  Thou  art  the  man  !•"  then, 
leaving  these  words  to  their  eifect,  he  concluded  with  a  mild, 
and  general  prayer  to  heaven  for  the  conversion  of  all  sinners. 
A  miserable  courtier  observed,  in  a  whisper  to  the  mon- 
arch, "  the  preacher  exceeded  all  bounds,  and  should  be 
checked."  "  No,  sir,"  replied  the  monarch,  "  the  preacher  has 
done  his  duty  j  let  us  do  ours."  When  the  service  was  con- 
cluded, the  monarch  walked  slowly  from  the  church,  and  or- 
dered Bourdaloue  in  his  presence.  He  remarked  to  him,  his 
general  protection  of  religion,  the  kindness  which  he  had 
ever  shown  to  the  Society  of  Jesus,  his  particular  attention  to 
Bourdaloue  and  his  friends.  He  then  reproached  him  with 
the  strong  language  of  the  sermon,  and  asked  him  what  could 
be  his  motive  for  insulting  him,  thus  publicly,  before  his  sub- 
jects ?  Bourdaloue  fell  on  his  knees  :  "  God,"  he  assured  the 
monarch,  "  was  his  witness,  that  it  was  not  his  wish  to  insult 
his  majesty ;  but  I  am  a  minister  of  God,"  said  Bourdaloue, 
"  and  must  not  disguise  his  truths.  What  I  said  in  my  sermon 
is  my  morning  and  evening  prayer.  May  God,  in  his  infinite 
mercy,  grant  me  to  see  the  day  when  the  greatest  of  kings 
will  be  the  holiest."  The  monarch  was  atTected,  and  silently 
dismissed  the  preacher  ;  but,  from  this  time,  the  court  began 
to  observe  the  change  which  afterwards,  and  at  no  distant  pe- 
riod, led  Louis  to  a  life  of  regularity  and  virtue. — Butler's 
Remin. 

THEY  TOOK  NO  OIL  WITH  THEM. 

They  that  were  foolish  took  their  lamps,  and  took  no  oil  with  them.  — 
Matthew  25  :  3. 

THE  oil  is  the  Holy  Spirit.     To  oil  he  is  likened  throughout 
all  Scripture,  though  in  some  places  to  fire  and  water,  and 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  105 

to  wind  or  air.  But  it  is  as  the  light-giving  oil  that  he  is 
specially  spoken  of  here  ;  and  the  lack  of  him,  as  such,  makes 
the  difference  between  the  foolish  and  the  wise  ;  having  not 
the  spirit.  (Jude,  verse  19.)  Thus  a  man  may  be  very  like 
a  Christian,  and  yet  not  be  one.  He  may  come  very  near  the 
kingdom,  and  yet  not  enter  it.  He  may  have  all  the  outward 
features  of  a  Christian,  and  be  lacking  the  main  one.  He  may 
have  the  complete  dress  of  a  saint,  and  yet  not  be  one.  He 
may  have  a  good  life,  a  sound  creed,  a  strict  profession;  he 
may  be  one  who  says  and  does  many  things  excellent;  he 
may  be  a  subscriber  to  all  the  religious  societies  in  the  land,  a 
member  of  all  their  committees,  or  a  speaker  at  all  their  meet- 
ings, and  a  supporter  of  all  their  plans ;  he  may  profess  to  be 
looking  for  Christ's  coming,  and  going  forth  to  meet  the  Bride- 
groom, and  yet  not  necessarily  a  Christian.  He  may  lack  the 
oil  —  the  Holy  Spirit.  A  religion  without  the  Holy  Ghost 
profiteth  nothing.  There  is  the  religion  of  the  intellect,  of  the 
sense,  of  the  fancy,  of  the  flesh,  of  the  creed,  of  the  liturgy,  of 
the  catechism,  of  nature,  of  poetry,  of  sentiment,  of  mysticism, 
of  humanity  ;  but  what  are  these  without  the  Spirit.  Chris- 
tianity without  Christ  —  what  would  that  be  ?  Worship  with- 
out God  —  what  would  that  be  ?  So  religion  without  the  Holy 
Spirit  —  what  would  that  be  ?  Go  to  them  that  sell,  and  buy 
for  yourselves.  Not  to  men,  or  churches,  or  ministers,  but  to 
Christ.  Go  to  him.  He  is  exalted  to  give  it,  and  he  will. 
Apply  to  him  ere  it  be  too  late. — Sonar. 


"THE  DOOR  IS  SHUT." 

And  while  they  went  to  buy,  the  bridegroom  came ;  and  they  that  were  ready 
went  in  with  him  to  the  marriage  :  and  the  door  was  shut.  —  Matthew  25  :  10. 

OUR  Irish  correspondent,  in  a  recent  letter,  writes,  "  My 
old  friend,  John  Hands,  for  many  years  &  missionary  in 
Hindostan,  and,  on  his  return,  the  London  Missionary  Society's 
agent  in  this  city,  now  in  his  eighty-third  year,  resides  at 
Kingstown.     Some  months  ago  he  was  making  his  way  to  the 
platform  of  the  Westland  Row  railway  station,  when  he  saw 
14 


106  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

the  train  move  off,  and  a  lady  met  him,  exclaiming,  '  0,  sir,  just 
as  I  went  up,  the  door  was  shut.'  They  went  together  into 
the  waiting-room  to  stay  for  the  next  train,  and  Mr.  Hands 
said  to  the  lady,  '  Madam,  though  that  door  was  shut,  it  will 
be  opened  again  in  half  an  hour ;  but  there  is  another  door 
now  open  which,  when  shut,  will  be  closed  forever.'  He  then 
unfolded  to  her  the  way  of  salvation,  urging  an  immediate 
entrance  through  the  open  door.  The  train  was  now  ready. 
The  lady  entered  a  first-class  carriage,  Mr.  Hands  took  his 
place  in  a  second-class,  and  he  saw  her  no  more.  A  few  even- 
ings since  a  messenger  came  to  Mr.  Hands,  requesting  him  to 
go  immediately*  with  her  to  see  a  lady  supposed  to  be  dying. 
He  did  so,  and  was  shown  up  stairs  into  a  bedroom,  where  the 
window-blind  was  down,  and  the  silence  of  the  attendants  pre- 
sented a  gloom  and  solemnity  befitting  the  scene.  It  was  one 
of  death.  From  the  bed,  which  he  was  invited  to  approach, 
was  stretched  the  emaciated  hand  of  one  on  whose  face  was 
the  paleness  and  on  whose  brow  stood  the  dew  of  death.  '  Sir/ 
said  she,  <  I  wished  to  see  you  before  going  to  my  Saviour,  to  tell 
you  that  it  was  your  conversation  about  "  the  shut  door  "  that 
led  me  to  him,  and  that  you  might  join  me  in  giving  thanks  to 
him.'  Mr.  Hands  did  so,  and  she  died." 


JOHN  MAYNARD,  THE  FAITHFUL  PILOT. 

His  lord  said  unto  him,  Well  done,  good  and  faithful  servant ;  thou  hast  been 
faithful  over  a  few  tilings,  I  will  make  thee  ruler  over  many  things  :  enter  thou 
into  the  joy  of  thy  lord.  —  Matthew  25  :  23. 

JOHN  MAYNARD  was  well  known  as  a  God-fearing  pilot  on 
Lake  Erie.  He  had  charge  of  a  steamer  from  Detroit  to 
Buffalo.  One  summer  afternoon  smoke  was  seen  ascending 
from  below ;  and  the  captain  called  out,  "  Simpson,  go  down 
and  see  what  that  smoke  is  !  "  He  came  up  with  his  face  as 
pale  as  ashes,  and  said,  "  Captain,  the  ship  is  on  fire  !  "  "  Fire, 
fire,  fire  ! "  instantly  resounded  in  all  directions.  All  hands 
were  called  up.  Buckets  of  water  were  dashed  on  the  flames, 
but  in  vain.  There  were  large  quantities  of  rosin  and  tar  on 
board ;  and  it  was  useless  to  try  to  save  the  ship.  The  pas- 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  107 

sengers  rushed  forward,  and  inquired  of  the  pilot,  "  How  far 
are  we  from  land  ?  "  "  Seven  miles."  "  How  long  before  we 
reach  it  ?  "  "  Three  quarters  of  an  hour,  at  our  present  rate 
of  steam."  "  Is  there  any  danger  ?  "  "  Danger  enough  here  ! 
See  the  smoke  bursting  out  !  Go  forward,  if  you  would  save 
your  lives ! "  Passengers  and  crew,  men,  women,  and  chil- 
dren, crowded  to  the  forward  part  of  the  ship.  John  Maynard 
stood  at  his  post.  The  flames  burst  forth  in  a  sheet  of  fire  ; 
clouds  of  smoke  arose.  The  captain  cried  out  through  his 
trumpet,  "John  Maynard!"  "Ay,  ay,  sir!"  responded  the 
brave  tar.  "  How  does  she  head  ?  "  "  South-east  by  east,  sir." 
"  Head  her  south-east,  and  run  her  on  shore."  Nearer,  yet 
nearer,  she  approached  the  shore.  Again  the  captain  cried 
out,  "  John  Maynard  !  "  The  response  came  feebly,  "  Ay,  ay, 
sir  !  "  "  Can  you  hold  on  five  minutes  longer,  John?"  "  By 
God's  help  I  will  ! "  The  old  man's  hair  was  scorched  from 
the  scalp,  one  hand  was  disabled,  and  his  teeth  were  set ;  yet 
he  stood  firm  as  a  rock.  He  beached  the  ship.  Every  man, 
woman,  and  child  was  saved,  as  John  Maynard  dropped  over- 
board, and  his  spirit  took  its  flight  to  his  God.  —  J.  B.  Gough. 


MINISTERING  TO  HIM. 

For  I  was  a  hungered,  and  ye  gave  me  meat :  I  was  thirsty,  and  ye  gave 
me  drink :  I  was  a  stranger,  and  ye  took  me  in.  —  Matthew  25  :  35. 

fTHHERE  is  an  old  legend  which  says  that  Christ,  the  Man  of 
J_  Sorrows,  is  still  a  wanderer  upon  earth,  and  that  every 
year  he  comes,  an  unknown  mendicant,  to  the  gates  of  some 
charitable  institution,  and  tests  its  charity.  Sure  I  am  that 
Christ  comes  to  our  door  in  the  person  of  his  needy  disciples, 
and  tests  our  love  and  liberality  to  him.  In  his  saints  he  is 
perpetually  incarnate,  and  is  ever  undergoing  again  the  treat- 
ment that  he  received  on  earth.  The  apostle  urges  us  to  hos- 
pitality on  the  ground  that  peradventure  we  may  entertain 
angels  unawares.  May  we  not  be  urged  to  charitable  helping 
on  the  ground  that  we  are  ministering  to  Christ  himself? 
Angels  gladly  ministered  to  him  in  his  earthly  need;  his  temp- 


108  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

tation,  his  agony.  We  may  minister  as  angels  cannot,  —  min- 
ister a  daily  service  to  him  in  his  saints  ;  their  agonies  are  his, 
their  desert-fastings  and  temptations,  their  bitter  cup  of  fear 
and  death.  We  may  be  as  angels  to  strengthen  them,  and  if 
we  refuse,  why,  he  will  judge  it  as  if  the  angel  had  refused  his 
minister.  —  Rev.  Henry  Alton. 


"I  WAS  SICK,  AND  YE  VISITED  ME." 

Naked,  and  ye  clothed  me  :  I  was  sick,  and  ye  visited  me  :  I  was  in  prison, 
and  ye  came  unto  me.  —  Matthew  25  :  3G. 

IN  September,  1847,  Bishop  Paine,  of  the  Methodist  Episco- 
pal Church,  South,  went  on  board  a  steamboat  at  Memphis, 
on  his  way  to  Kentucky.  Nearly  every  boat  from  New 
Orleans  had  on  board  persons  suffering  with  yellow  fever, 
and  though  no  such  case  was  acknowledged  to  exist  on  the 
boat  in  question,  the  bishop  kept  a  "  sharp  lookout "  for  in- 
dications of  that  kind.  At  a  late  hour  that  night,  he  saw  a 
man  belonging  to  the  boat  go  rather  stealthily  to  a  state-room, 
and  hastily  open  and  shut  the  door,  passing  something  in, 
without  entering.  His  suspicions  were  now  awake,  but  he 
could  get  no  information  that  night.  Next  morning  he  de- 
manded to  know  if  there  was  not  a  sick  man  on  board.  The 
answer  was  evasive,  but  he  pressed  the  question  categorically, 
until  finally  it  was  confessed  that  there  was  a  sick  man,  said 
to  be  a  Catholic  priest  from  New  Orleans,  ill,  in  the  state-room 
in  question.  The  bishop  requested  to  see  him,  but  was  put 
off  with  excuses  ;  he  urged  the  matter,  and  finally  declared  he 
would  see  him.  His  importunity  and  resolute  stand  gave  him 
success;  the  door  was  opened,  and  from  it  issued  a  sickening- 
stench,  which,  for  a  moment,  drove  him  back  ;  but  he  rallied, 
and  made  his  entrance,  and  found  a  miserable  being  apparently 
at  the  point  of  death,  who  had  been  for  twenty-four  hours 
begging  in  vain  for  even  a  cup  of  cold  water  to  be  handed  to 
him.  But  what  was  the  good  bishop's  surprise,  when,  instead 
of  some  suffering  stranger,  he  found  that  victim  of  disease  and 
neglect  to  be  Rev.  Joseph  Cross,  of  IVydras  Street  Methodist 


NEW   TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  109 

Church,  New  Orleans  !  The  bishop  had  him  well  taken  care 
of,  becoming  himself  his  nurse,  and  by  proper  attention  the 
patient  speedily  recovered.  Professor  Cross  believes  that,  but 
for  the  bishop's  kind  interposition  in  his  behalf,  he  could  not 
have  recovered.  The  bishop  resolved  at  all  risks  to  succor  a 
stranger,  but  unexpectedly  found  himself  saving  a  friend. 


MINISTERING  AT  THE  SICK-BED. 

When  saw  we  thee  a  stranger,  and  took  thee  in?  or  naked,  and  clothed 
tliee?  Or  when  saw  we  thee  sick,  or  in  prison,  and  came  unto  thee?  — 
Matthew  25  :  38,  39. 

WHEN  Rev.  Dr.  Binney,  of  India,  was  in  this  country,  he 
was  one  evening  called  out  of  the  room  to  see  a  man 
who  proved  to  be  a  perfect  stranger.  "  I  heard  that  a  minis- 
ter by  the  name  of  Binney  was  stopping  at  this  house,  sir,  and 
I  want  you  to  go  and  see  my  wife,  who  is  very  ill.  She  has 
been  trying  all  day  to  make  me  understand  what  she  wanted, 
and  at  last  I  found  it  was  a  minister.  Do  come  quickly,  for 
she  is  very  low,  and  will,  I  fear,  soon  be  unconscious." 

They  started  at -once,  and  on  the  way  the  doctor  ascertained 
that  neither  he  nor  his  wife  knew  anything  of  religion.  On 
reaching  the  place,  the  doctor  said  to  the  man,  "  You  must  sit 
down  beside  your  wife,  and  I  shall  address  all  my  conversa- 
tion to  you,  as  she  is  too  ill  to  be  spoken  to,  and  you  "must 
reply  to  my  questions."  He  promised  to  do  so.  Then  the 
doctor,  speaking  slowly  and  distinctly,  explained  the  way  of 
salvation  through  Christ,  and  closed  with  an  affectionate  and 
earnest  appeal  to  him  to  give  his  heart  at  once  to  the  Saviour. 
The  man  was  deeply  affected.  His  wife  lay  through  it  all, 
apparently  unconscious ;  but  he  knelt  and  offered  fervent 
prayer  for  mercy  for  both,  and  left  them. 

Two  or  three  months  after,  he  received  a  letter  from  the 
woman,  who,  to  the  surprise  of  all,  had  recovered.  She  told 
him  that,  although  unable  to  speak  or  move,  she  had  heard 
every  word  he  had  addressed  to  her  husband,  and  then  and 
there  she  gave  herself  to  Christ.  Her  husband  had  been  con- 


110  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

verted  by  means  of  the  same  conversation,  and  they  had  both 
united  with  .the  church. 

Dr.  Binney,  in  telling  the  story,  said  it  had  been  a  life-long 
lesson  to  him  to  point  the  soul  to  Christ,  even  if  apparently 
too  far  gone  to  listen,  and  to  speak  words  of  comfort  to  depart- 
ing souls  while  life  lasted. 


STRIKING  GOD'S  CHILDREN. 

And  the  king  shall  answer  and  say  unto  them,  Verily  I  say  unto  you,  In- 
asmuch as  ye  have  done  it  unto  one  of  the  least  of  these  my  brethren,  ye  have 
done  it  unto  me.  —  Matthew  25  :  40. 

MANY  years  ago,  when  Joshua  Morse  was  preaching  the 
gospel  in  a  private  house  in  Stonington,  Connecticut, 
without  permission  of  the  law,  as  enacted  by  the  "  standing 
order,"  he  was  beset,  knocked  down,  and  dragged  out  of  the 
house.  Afterwards  he  was  fined,  and  sentenced  to  be  pub- 
licly whipped  for  preaching  contrary  to  law.  It  is  related 
that  when  he  was  brought  to  the  place  to  be  scourged,  he  said 
to  the  officer,  "  I  suppose  you  must  do  your  duty ;  but  re- 
member that,  when  you  strike  me,  you  strike  one  of  God's 
children."  The  officer  was  touched,  burst  into  tears,  released 
him,  and  paying  the  fine  himself,  sent  the  good  man  home. 

How  many  wrongs  are  done  which  would  not  be  if  men 
would  remember  that  they  are  dealing  with  "  God's  children." 
Wronged,  robbed,  cheated,  smitten,  and  abused,  their  unresist- 
ing patience  makes  them  the  easy  prey  of  unreasonable  and 
wicked  men ;  but  in  all  their  humiliation  the  Lord  still  loves 
them,  pities  them,  and  will  at  last  "  avenge  his  own  elect  that 
cry  day  and  night  unto  him." 

Striking  God's  children  is  serious  business  ;  how  serious 
will  never  be  known  until  the  judgment  day,  when  the  King 
shall  say  to  them  on  his  left  hand,  "  Inasmuch  as  ye  did  it  to 
one  of  the  least  of  these  my  brethren,  ye  did  it  unto  me." 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  \\\ 

NO  HOPE  TO  LOST  SOULS. 

And  these  shall  go  away  into  everlasting  punishment :  but  the  righteous 
into  life  eternal.  —  Mattliew  25  :  46. 

CONCERNING  the  duration  of  future  punishment,  Dr.  Adam 
\J  Clarke  remarks,  — 

"  No  appeal,  no  remedy  —  to  all  eternity  !  No  end  to  the 
punishment  of  those  whose  final  impenitence  manifests  in  them 
an  eternal  evil,  and  desire  to  sin.  By  dying  in  a  settled  op- 
position to  God,  they  cast  themselves  into  a  necessity  of  con- 
tinuing in  an  eternal  aversion  from  him. 

"  But  some  are  of  opinion  that  this  punishment  shall  have 
an  end.  This  is  as  likely  as  that  the  glory  of  the  righteous 
shall  have  an  end  ;  for  the  same  word  is  used  to  express  the 
duration  of  the  punishment,  as  is  used  to  express  the  duration 
of  the  state  of  glory.  I  have  seen  the  best  things  that  have 
been  written  in  favor  of  the  final  redemption  of  damned 
spirits,  but  I  never  saw  an  answer  to  the  argument  against 
that  doctrine,  drawn  from  this  verse,  but  what  sound  learning 
and  criticism  should  be  ashamed  to  acknowledge.  The  origi- 
nal word  is  certainly  to  be  taken  here  in  its  proper  grammati- 
cal sense,  continual  being,  never  ending.  Some  have  gone 
a  middle  way,  and  think  that  the  wicked  shall  be  annihilated. 
This,  I  think,  is  contrary  to  the  text.  If  they  go  into  punish- 
ment, they  continue  to  exist;  for  that  which  ceases  to  be, 
ceases  to  suffer."  See  the  note  on  Gen.  21 : 33.  Thus  writes 
the  "  calm  and  learned  "  Dr.  Clarke. 


LAMENTATIONS  OF  A  LOST  SOUL. 

The  Son  of  man  goeth  as  it  is  written  of  him :  but  woe  unto  that  man  by 
whom  the  Son  of  man  is  betrayed !  it  had  been  good  for  that  man  if  he  had 
not  been  born.  —  Matthew  20  :  24. 

"  TNFINITE  years  of  sorrow  must  I  spend, 
JL    Years  that  shall  never,  never  know  an  end  ? 
And  must  I  live  in  torment  and  despair 
As  many  years  as  atoms  in  the  air  ? 


112  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

When  these  are  spent  so  many  millions  more 

As  grains  of  sand  now  washed  on  ocean's  shore, 

When  these  are  gone  as  many  still  behind 

As  forest-leaves  tossed  by  the  autumn  wind  ? 

When  these  have  fled,  as  many  to  ensue 

As  blades  of  grass  besprinkled  with  the  dew, 

Succeeding  these  as  many  on  their  march, 

As  silver  stars  that  light  yon  azure  arch  ? 

When  these  are  gone  as  many  millions  more 

As  moments  in  the  millions  gone  before ; 

When  all  these  years  are  spent  in  woe  and  pain, 

And  multiplied  by  myriad  years  again, 

Till  numbers  vast  the  soul  doth  overpower, 

As  bends  the  grain  beneath  the  drenching  shower ; 

Could  I  suppose  e'en^then  my  suffering  life  would  close, 

Or  find  in  coming  years  some  moment  of  repose, 

'Twould  give  some  ease,  my  griefs  it  would  assuage 

That  crush  me  now,  increasing  with  each  age ; 

But,  0,  the  dread  abyss,  where  I  tormented  lie, 

Is  time  no  more,  but  vast  eternity." 


COMMUNION  WINES. 

And  lie  took  the  cup,  and  gave  thanks,  and  gave  it  to  them,  saying,  Drink 
ye  all  of  it.  —  Matthew  20  :  27. 


following  high  authorities  show  that  the  Lord's  Supper 
JL    was  instituted  with  non-intoxicating  wine  :  — 

Rev.  Dr.  William  Patton,  in  his  book,  Laws  of  Fermenta- 
tion and  Wines  of  the  Ancients,  says,  "  More  than  thirty-five 
years  since,  when  revising  the  study  of  Hebrew  with  Pro- 
fessor Seixas,  an  eminent  Hebrew  teacher,  I  submitted  to  him 
the  collection  of  texts  which  I  had  made,  with  the  request 
that  he  would  give  me  his  deliberate  opinion.  He  took  the 
manuscript,  and  in  a  few  days  after  returned  it  with  this  state- 
ment, '  Your  discriminations  are  just  ;  they  denote  that  there 
were  two  kinds  of  wine,  and  the  Hebrew  Scriptures  justify 
this  view.'  " 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  113 

Mr.  Thayer,  in  his  book  entitled  Communion  Wines,  and 
Dr.  Patton,  in  Laws  of  Fermentation,  give  a  very  large  num- 
ber of  authorities  to  show  that  there  were  two  kinds  of  wine, 
one  fermented  and  the  other  unfermented.  A  dozen  mission- 
aries have  testified  to  it.  Rev.  I.  S.  Diehl,  who  has  traveled 
over,  and  visited  most  of  the  Oriental  lands,  spending  years 
upon  his  travels,  testifies  to  the  existence  of  the  unfermented 
wines. 

Rev.  Albert  Barnes  says,  "  The  wine  of  Judea  was  the  pure 
juice  of  the  grape,  without  any  mixture  of  alcohol,  and  com- 
monly weak  and  harmless.  It  was  the  common  drink  of  the 
people,  and  did  not  tend  to  intoxication." 

Professor  Moses  Stuart  says,  "  Facts  show  that  the  ancients 
not  only  preserved  wine  unfermented,  but  regarded  it  as  a 
higher  flavor  and  higher  quality  than  fermented  wine." 

Dr.  Nott,  late  president  of  Union  College,  says,  "  That  un- 
intoxicating  wines  existed  from  remote  antiquity,  and  were 
held  in  high  estimation  by  the  wise  and  good,  there  can  be  no 
reasonable  doubt.  The  evidence  is  unequivocal  and  plenary." 


CHRIST  IN  THE  GARDEN. 

And  lie  went  a  little  further,  and  fell  on  his  face,  and  prayed,  saying,  0  my 
Father,  if  it  be  possible,  let  this  cup  pass  from  me :  nevertheless,  not  as  I  will, 
but  as  thou  wilt.  —  Matthew  26  :  39. 

HE  knelt — the  Saviour  knelt  and  prayed, 
When  but  his  Father's  eye 
Looked  through  the  lonely  garden's  shade, 

On  that  dread  agony  ! 
The  Lord  of  all,  above  —  beneath  — 
Was  bowed  with  sorrow  unto  death. 

The  sun  set  in  a  fearful  hour  — 

The  heavens  might  well  grow  dim, 
When  this  mortality  had  power 

So  to  o'ershadow  him  ! 
15 


114  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

That  he  who  gave  man's  breath  might  know 
The  very  depths  of  human  woe. 

He  knew  them  all !  —  the  doubt,  the  strife, 

The  faint  perplexing  dread  ; 
The  mists  that  hung  o'er  parting  life, 

All  darkened  round  his  head  ; 
And  the  deliverer  knelt  to  pray  - 
Yet  passed  it  not,  that  cup,  away. 

It  passed  not  —  though  the  stormy  wave 

Had  sunk  beneath  his  tread  ! 
It  passed  not  —  though  to  him  the  gravr 

Had  yielded  up  its  dead  ! 
But  there  was  gent  him  from  on  high 
A  gift  of  strength,  for  man  to  die. 

And  was  his  mortal  hour  beset 

With  anguish  and  dismay  ? 
How  may  we  meet  our  conflict  yet 

In  the  dark,  narrow  way  ? 
How,  but  through  him,  that  path  who  trod  ? 
Save,  or  we  perish,  Son  of  God  !  —  Mrs.  Hemans. 


"SAYING  THE  SAME  WORDS." 

And  he  left  them,  and  went  away  again,  and  prayed  the  third  time,  saying 
the  same  words.  —  Matthew  2G  :  44. 

IT  is  a  comforting  reflection  for  the  afflicted  disciple,  that 
Christ  in  his  agony  in  the  garden  went  repeatedly  to  the 
Throne  of  Grace  with  his  burden.     With  no  new  plea  to  urge, 
no  unused  petition  to  offer,  he  poured  out  his  soul  to  his 
Father  "  the  third  time,  saying  the  same  words." 

What  encouragement  is  here  to  the  human  sufferer,  who 
can  think  of  no  language  in  which  to  clothe  his  petition.  His 
heavenly  Father  will  not  turn  away  his  ear,  though  he  come 
often  with  the  same  sorrow,  and  tell  it  in  the  same  words. 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  115 

Though  a  story  of  distress  may  awaken  the  sympathy  of  an 
earthly  friend  upon  its  first  recital,  its  repetition  soon  wearies, 
and  ceases  to  create  emotion.  However  heavily  a  burden  may 
oppress  us,  if  long  continued  we  have  little  to  hope  from 
human  sympathy  •  but  he  who  went  again  and  again  to  his 
Father,  saying  the  same  words,  will  not  refuse  to  listen  when 
we  come  to  him  with  our  trials  because  we  have  told  them 
many  times  before.  If  the  cross  be  heavy,  and  the  way  be 
long,  he  will  not  be  weary,  or  refuse  to  pity  and  help  us ;  for 
he  is  the  same  yesterday,  to-day,  and  for  ever. 


FAIR-WEATHER  CHRISTIANS. 

But  all  this  was  done,  that  the  Scriptures  of  the  prophets  might  be  fulfilled. 
Then  all  the  disciples  forsook  him,  and  fled.  —  Matthew  26  :  5G. 

T)URGOMEISTER  GUERICKE  constructed  a  gigantic  ba- 
JJ  rometer,  with  a  tube  thirty  feet  in  height,  part  of  which 
projected  above  the  roof  of  his  house,  at  Magdeburg.  The 
index  was  the  figure  of  a  man,  who,  in  fair  weather,  was  seen 
standing  full  size  above  the  roof;  but,  when  a  storm  was 
brewing,  he  cautiously  withdrew  for  security  and  shelter. 
Antitype  of  religionists  and  politicians !  When  the  sun 
shines  brightly,  and  the  breezes  scarcely  breathe  across  the 
landscape,  how  erect  and  bold  they  look !  But  let  the  clouds' 
gather,  and  the  thunders  mutter,  and  what  a  drawing  in  of 
diminished  heads  !  0,  rare,  satirical  Burgomeister  !  you  must 
have  had  an  alderman's  experience.  —  Dr.  W.  F.  Warren. 


DEATH  OF  A  NOTED  INFIDEL. 

Then  Judas,  which  had  betrayed  him,  when  he  saw  that  he  was  condemned, 
repented  himself,  and  brought  again  the  thirty  pieces  of  silver  to  the  chief 
priests  and  elders,  saying,  I  have  sinned  in  that  I  have  betrayed  the  innocent 
blood.  And  they  said,  What  is  that  to  us  ?  see  thou  to  that.  —  Matthew  27  :  3,  4. 

THE  Right  Reverend  Manton  Eastburn,  Bishop  of  the  Dio- 
cese of  Massachusetts,  in  a  sermon  preached  before  the 
Young  Men's  Christian  Association  of  Boston,  on  the  value 


116  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

of  the  Bible,  related  a  striking  and  impressive  fact  respect- 
ing the  last  hours  of  Thomas  Paine,  the  author  of  the  Age 
of  Reason,  showing  that  the  principles  he  advocated  in  his 
life  failed  him  in  the  hour  of  his  extremity.  Referring  to  the 
fact  that,  in  the  solemn  and  decisive  hour  of  death,  the  Bible 
alone  shows  us  how  to  get  an  actual,  real,  living  sense  of  com- 
fort, derived  from  a  confident  hope  of  better  things  to  come, 
the  bishop  said,  "  How  worthy  of  consideration  the  fact,  that 
this  religion  of  the  Bible  never  fails  to  give  comfort  to  those  by 
whom  it  has  been  embraced. '  And  how  remarkable  another 
fact,  that  no  man  ever  repented  on  the  bed  of  death  of  having 
made  these  Scriptures  his  trust ;  while,  on  the  other  hand,  un- 
counted myriads  have  repented  of  the  neglect  of  this  book, 
and  have  closed  a  life  of  indifference  with  an  end  of  remorse 
and  agony.  Even  some  of  the  great  leaders  and  apostles  of 
infidelity  have  expired  amid  the  most  horrible  blackness  of 
despair.  During  my  residence  in  the  city  of  New  York,  one 
of  my  parishioners  was  the  physician  who  attended  in  his  last 
illness  the  famous  Thomas  Paine.  And  I  had  it  from  the  lips 
of  that  person  that  this  noted  blasphemer,  not  many  hours 
before  his  departure,  and  while  in  possession  of  his  mental 
faculties,  was  overheard  by  him  calling  repeatedly  for  help 
on  that  very  Lord  Jesus  Christ  whom  it  had  been  the  object 
of  all  his  previons  life  to  hold  up  to  scorn  and  execration. 
His  end  was  the  very  consummation  of  fear  and  foreboding. 
But  who  ever  heard  of  a  Christian  shrieking  out  for  sorrow, 
when  his  last  hour  came,  that  he  had  not  been  an  unbeliever? 
Ah,  no  !  The  Bible,  besides  meeting  all  our  other  wants, 
effectually  provides  for  this  last  want  —  the  need  of  support 
when  time  recedes,  and  eternity  is  at  hand.  And  it  hereby 
does  what  nothing  else  is  able  to  do." 


THE  PRICE  OF  BLOOD. 

And  the  chief  priests  took  the  silver  pieces,  and  said,  It  is  not  lawful  for  to 
put  them  into  the  treasury,  because  it  is  the  price  of  blood.  —  Matthew  27  :  6. 

N  Zion's  Herald,  of  Boston,  November  4,  1869,  the  editor 
thus  describes  the  wickedness  of  the  rum  traffic:  "  Last 


i 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  H7 

Thursday,  at  the  Beach  Street  Presbyterian  Church,  was  an 
•awful  picture,  which  could  have  been  entitled,  '  The  Price  of 
Blood.'  A  coffin  lay  before  the  pulpit,  and  in  it  the  form  of 
the  most  popular  temperance  orator  New  England  has  known, 
except  John  B.  Gough.  Bribed  first  by  medicine,  then  by  a 
fainting  fit,  which  was  wickedly  and  intentionally  relieved  by 
brandy,  he  ran  violently  down  the  steep  gulf,  even  to  self- 
destruction.  His  conscience  was  quick,  his  prayers  fervent, 
his  desires  ardent,  but  his  will  failed  before  the  demon  appe- 
tite. The  rum-sellers  of  this  city  took  his  watch,  rings,  and 
mementos  for  whiskey,  and  murdered  -him  in  cold  blood  for 
gold.  That  death  was  the  price  of  blood.  It  was  given  by 
fashion,  wealth,  political  ambition,  and  business  fanaticism,  to 
sustain  a  gigantic  and  growing  crime.  But  for  Boston's  de- 
fiance of  the  law,  the  popular  orator  would  now  be  alive. 
And  Boston  has  killed  one  of  her  most  eloquent  sons  for  her 
love  of  lucre.  It  is  the  price  of  blood." 


RELIEF  OBTAINED  BY  A  DREAM. 

When  he  was  set  down  on  the  judgment  scat,  his  wife  sent  unto  him,  say- 
ing, Have  thou  nothing  to  do  with  that  just  man  :  for  I  have  suffered  many 
things  this  day  in  a  dream  because  of  him.  —  Matthew  27  :  19. 


God  sometimes  communicates  with  us  by  dreams,  is 
JL  sustained  by  Scripture  and  experience.  Captain  Yount, 
of  California,  in  a  midwinter's  night,  had  a  dream,  in  which 
he  saw  what  appeared  to  be  a  company  of  emigrants  arrested 
by  the  snows  of  the  mountains,  and  perishing  rapidly  by  cold 
and  hunger.  He  noted  the  very  cast  of  the  scenery,  marked 
by  a  huge  perpendicular  front  of  white  rock  cliff;  he  saw  the 
men  cutting  off  what  appeared  to  be  tree-tops  rising  out  of 
deep  gulfs  of  snow  ;  he  distinguished  the  very  features  of  the 
persons,  and  the  look  of  their  particular  distress.  He  woke, 
profoundly  impressed  with  the  distinctness  and  apparent 
reality  of  his  dream.  At  length  he  fell  asleep,  and  dreamed 
exactly  the  same  dream  again.  In  the  morning,  he  could 
not  expel  it  from  his  mind.  Falling  in,  shortly,  with  an  old 


118  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

• 

hunter  comrade,  he  told  him  the  story ;  and  was  only  the  more 
deeply  impressed  by  his  recognizing,  without  hesitation,  the 
scenery  of  the  dream.  This  comrade  came  over  the  Sierra 
by  the  Carson  Valley  Pass  (in  California),  and  declared  that 
a  spot  in  the  pass  answered  exactly  to  his  description.  By 
this,  the  unsophisticated  patriarch  was  decided.  He  imme- 
diately collected  a  company  of  men  with  mules  and  blankets, 
and  all  necessary  provisions.  The  neighbors  were  laughing, 
meantime,  at  his  credulity.  "  No  matter,"  said  he ;  "  I  am 
able  to  do  this,  and  I  will ;  for  I  verily  believe  that  the  fact 
is  according  to  my  dream."  The  men  were  sent  into  the 
mountains  one  hundred  and  fifty  miles  distant,  directly  to  the 
Carson  Valley  Pass ;  and  there  they  found  the  company  in 
exactly  the  condition  of  the  dream,  and  brought  in  the  rem- 
nant alive.  A  gentleman  present,  when  the  captain  told  me, 
said,  "  You  need  not  doubt  this ;  for  we  Californians  all  know 
the  facts,  and  the  names  of  the  families  brought  in,  who  look 
upon  our  venerable  friend  as  a  kind  of  savior."  Their  names 
he  gave,  and  the  places  where  they  reside  ;  and  I  found,  after- 
wards, that  the  California  people  were  ready  everywhere  to 
second  his  testimony.  —  Dr.  Bushnell. 


WHAT  SHALL  I  DO  WITH  JESUS? 

Pilate  saith  unto  them,  What  shall  I  do  then  with  Jesus,  which  is  called 
Christ?     They  all  say  unto  him,  Let  him  be  crucified.  —  Matthew  27  :  22. 

SOONER  or  later,  to  every  one,  comes  the  question  which 
Pilate  asked  the  Jews,  "  What  then  shall  I  do  with  Jesus, 
which  is  called  Christ?"  If  a  man  cares  nothing  for  the 
principles  of  science  or  art,  or  takes  no  interest  in  politics, 
he  simply  lets  the  subject  alone,  giving  no  thought  to  it.  But 
this  question  will  be  answered,  and  can  be  but  in  one  or  two 
ways.  No  one  can  settle  the  matter  for  you  ;  each  soul  must 
make  its  own  reply.  Careless,  indifferent  fellow-sinner,  do 
you  think  to  evade  replying  to  this  all-important  question 
while  you  live?  If  you  pass  your  life  thus,  you  have  already 
answered  it,  unconsciously  to  yourself  it  may  be,  but  it  has 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  119 

had  a  reply  in  the  rejection  of  him.  But  when  at  the  judg- 
ment you  stand  before  your  despised  Saviour,  you  will  not 
then  think,  "  What  shall  I  do  with  Jesus?  "  The  one  thought 
will  be,  "  0  !  what  will  he  do  with  me  ?  "  Then  you  may  be 
constrained  to  ask  yourself  these  questions,  What  can  he  do 
with  me  ?  Can  he  receive  me  into  heaven,  when  I  have  not 
received  him  into  my  heart?  What  ought  he  to  do  with  me? 
What  will  he  do  with  me  ?  He  tells  us  in  his  Word  what  he 
will  do. 


BAPTIZING  IN  THE  NAME  OF  JESUS. 

Go  ye  therefore,  and  teach  all  nations,  baptizing  them  in  the  name  of  the 
Father,  and  of  the  Son,  and  of  the  Holy  Ghost.  —  Matthew  28  :  19. 

CONCERNING  the  Great  Commission,  Dr.  Lightfoot  makes 
\J  the  following  very  judicious  remarks  :  — 

First.  "  Christ  commands  them  to  go  and  baptize  the  na- 
tions ;  but  how  much  time  was  passed  before  such  a  journey 
was  taken  !  And  when  the  time  was  now  come  that  this  work 
should  be  begun,  Peter  doth  not  enter  upon  it  without  a  pre- 
vious admonition  given  him  from  heaven.  And  this  was  oc- 
casioned hereby,  that,  according  to  the  command  of  Christ, 
the  gospel  was  first  to  be  preached  to  Judea,  Samaria,  and 
Galilee. 

Second.  "  He  commands  them  to  baptize  in  the  name  of  the 
Father,  and  of  the  Son,  and  of  the  Holy  Ghost ;  but  among  the 
Jews  they  baptize  only  in  the  name  of  Jesus.  (Acts  2  :  38 ; 
8:16;  19  :  5.)  For  this  reason,  that  thus  the  baptizers  might 
assert,  and  the  baptized  confess  Jesus  to  be  the  true  Messias ; 
which  was  chiefly  controverted  by  the  Jews.  Of  the  same 
nature  is  that  apostolic  blessing,  '  Grace  and  peace  from  "God 
the  Father,  and  from  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ.'  Where,  then, 
is  the  Holy  Ghost?  He  is  not  excluded,  however  he  be  not 
named.  The  Jews  did  more  easily  consent  to  the  spirit  of 
the  Messias,  which  they  very  much  celebrated,  than  to  the 
person  of  the  Messias.  Above  all  others,  they  deny  and 
abjure  Jesus  of  Nazareth.  It  belonged  to  the  apostles,  there- 


120  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.. 

fore,  the  more  earnestly  to  assert  Jesus  (to  be  the  Messias), 
by  how  much  the  more  vehemently  they  opposed  him ;  which 
being  once  cleared,  the  acknowledging  of  the  Spirit  of  Christ 
would  be  introduced  without  delay  or  scruple.  Moses  (Ex. 
6  :  14),  going  about  to  reckon  up  all  the  tribes  of  Israel,  goes 
no  further  than  the  tribe  of  Levi ;  and  takes  up  with  that  to 
which  his  business  and  story,  at  that  present,  related.  In  like 
manner  the  apostles,  for  the  present,  baptize  in  the  name  of 
Jesus,  and  bless  in  the  name  of  the  Father  and  of  Jesus,  that 
thereby  they  might  more  firmly  establish  the  doctrine  of 
Jesus,  which  met  with  such  sharp  virulent  opposition ;  which 
doctrine  being  established  among  them,  they  would  soon  agree 
about  the  Holy  Ghost. 

Third.  "  Among  the  Jews  the  controversy  was  about  the 
true  Messias ;  among  the  Gentiles,  about  the  true  God.  It 
was,  therefore,  proper  among  the  Jews  to  baptize  in  the  name 
of  Jesus,  that  he  might  be  vindicated  to  be  the  true  Messias. 
Among  the  Gentiles,  in  the  name  of  the  Father,  and  of  the 
Son,  and  of  the  Holy  Ghost ;  that  they  might  be  hereby  in- 
structed in  the  doctrine  of  the  true  God.  Let  this  be  partic- 
ularly noted. 

Fourth.  "  The  Jews  baptized  proselytes  into  the  name  of 
the  Father,  that  is,  into  the  profession  of  God,  whom  they 
called  by  the  name  of  Father.  Tlie  apostles  baptized  the 
Jews  into  the  name  of  Jesus  the  Son,  and  the  Gentiles  into 
the  name  of  the  Father,  and  of  the  Son,  and  of  the  Holy 
Ghost. 

Fifth.  "  The  Father  hath  revealed  himself  in  the  Old  Cove- 
nant, the  Son  in  the  New ;  in  human  flesh  by  his  miracles,  doc- 
trine, resurrection,  and  ascension ;  the  Holy  Ghost  in  his  gifts 
and  miracles.  Thus  the  doctrine  of  the  ever  blessed  Trinity 
grew  by  degrees  to  full  maturity ;  —  for  the  arriving  to  the 
acknowledgment  of  which  it  was  in'cumbent  upon  all  who 
professed  the  true  God  to  be  three  in  one,  to  be  baptized  into 
his  name." 


NEW   TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  121 


"10,  I  AM  WITH  YOU." 

Teaching  them  to  observe  all  tilings  whatsoever  I  have  commanded  you: 
and,  lo,  I  am  with  you  alway,  even  unto  the  end  of  the  world.     Amen.  — 

Matthew  28  :  20. 

THE  results  recorded  in  the  following  instances  show  Christ 
with  his  ministers.  There  are  extant  well  authenticated 
instances  of  modern  sermons  and  preachers  being  favored 
with  blessed  success.  We  know  a  London  minister  who  de- 
livered a  s^ermon  which  was  the  means  of  twenty-eight  con- 
versions. We  know  another  who  preached  a  discourse  of 
great  power,  and  thirty- six  conversions  took  place.  An  emi- 
nent Independent  minister  in  the  Provinces  preached  one 
Sunday  evening,  and  seventy-six  persons  attributed  their  con- 
versions to  his  appeals,  and  one  of  them  became  the  mayor 
and  member  of  Parliament  for  the  city  in  which  the  preacher 
resides.  A  tradition  obtains  in  Cornwall  that  the  celebrated 
Joseph  Benson  once  preached  to  an  immense  open-air  congre- 
gation, and  that  five  hundred  persons  professed  to  find  the 
Saviour,  and  joined  the  Wesley  an  societies ;  and  those  who 
have  read  his  life  know  that  he  often  preached  with  such 
transcendent  power  that  his  congregations  could  scarcely 
keep  their  seats.  May  similar  results  attend  the  Word  in 
these  days. 


CHARACTERISTICS  OF  THE  GOSPEL. 

The  beginning  of  the  gospel  of  Jesus  Christ,  the  Son  of  God.  —  Mark  1  :  1. 

THE  Bishop  of  Bristol  and  Gloucester,  in  the  introductory 
lecture  of  his  course  on  the  "  Life  of  Christ,"  gives,  in  a 
note,  the  following  condensed  summary  of  the  principal  points 
in  which  the  four  evangelical  narratives  are  distinguished  from 
each  other :  — 

First.  In  regard  to  their  external  features  and  character- 
istics : 

The  point  of  view  of  the  first  gospel  is  mainly  Israelitic  ;  of 
16 


122  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

the   second,  Gentile  ;  of  the  third,  universal ;  of  the  fourth, 
Christian. 

The  general  aspect,  and,  so  to  speak,  physiognomy  of  the 
first,  mainly,  is  Oriental :  of  the  second,  Roman ;  of  the  third, 
Greek  ;  of  the  fourth,  spiritual. 

The  style  of  the  first  is  stately  and  rhythmical ;  of  the  second, 
terse  and  precise  ;  of  the  third,  calm  and  copious  ;  of  the  fourth, 
artless  and  colloquial. 

The  most  striking  characteristic  of  the  first  is  symmetry ; 
of  the  second,  compression ;  of  the  third,  order  ;  of  the  fourth, 
system. 

The  thought  and  language  of  the  first  are  both  Hebraistic ; 
of  the  third,  both  Hellenistic ;  while  in  the  second,  the  thought 
is  often  Occidental,  though  the  language  is  Hebraistic,  and  in 
the  fourth,  the  language  is  Hellenistic,  but  the  thought  He- 
braistic. 

Second.  In  respect  to  their  subject-matter  and  contents :  — 

In  the  first  gospel  we  have  narratives ;  in  the  second, 
memoirs ;  in  the  third  history  ;  in  the  fourth,  dramatic  por- 
traiture. 

In  the  first  we  have  often  the  record  of  events  in  their  ac- 
complishment ;  in  the  second,  events  in  their  detail ;  in  the 
third,  events  in  their  connection;  in  the  fourth,  events  in  re- 
lation to  the  teaching  springing  from  them. 

Thus,  in  the  first  we  more  often  meet  with  the  notice  of  im- 
pressions ;  in  the  second,  of  facts  ;  in  the  third,  of  motives ;  in 
the  fourth,  of  words  spoken. 

And,  lastly,  the  record  of  the  first  is  mainly  collective,  and 
often  antithetical ;  of  the  second,  graphic  and  circumstantial ; 
of  the  fourth,  selective  and  supplemental. 

Third.  In  respect  to  their  portraiture  of  our  Lord  :  - 

The  first  gospel  presents  him  to  us  as  the  Messiah  ;  the 
second,  mainly  as  the  God-man  ;  the  third,  as  the  Redeemer ; 
the  fourth,  as  the  only-begotten  Son  of  God. 


NEW   TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  123 

JESUS  TEMPTED  BY  SATAN. 

And  he  was  there  in  the  wilderness  forty  days  tempted  of  Satan.  — 
Mark  1 :  13. 

ON  the  subject  of  the  temptation  of  Jesus  by  Satan,  or  the 
devil,  no  better  exposition  is  to  be  found,  from  the  writings 
of  any  theologian,  than  that  given  by  Dr.  Whedon,  in  his  Com- 
mentary on  St.  Matthew,  4th  chapter.  He  says,  "We  can 
view  this  transaction  neither  as  a  mere  train  of  thought,  as  a 
vision,  as  a  parable,  nor  a  myth ;  but  as  a  great  verity,  occupy- 
ing a  most  significant  place  in  the  system  of  sacred  realities. 
The  first  Adam  truly  was  tempted,  and  fell ;  the  second  Adam 
was  as  truly  tempted,  and  won  the  victory.  Hence  he  became 
the  great  Head  of  triumphant  humanity.  Tempted  in  all 
points  as  we,  he  shows  how  to  overcome.  We  remark,— 

First.  "  The  history  implies  in  the  abstract  human  nature  of 
Jesus,  the  power  to  sin.  This  is  necessary  in  order  to  a  re- 
sponsible, free  agency.  If  he  had  no  power,  to  choose  sin,  it 
is  difficult  to  see  how  he  could  be  tempted  to  a  choice,  not 
only  impossible,  but  consciously  impossible.  If  he  could  not 
comply  with  temptation,  there  could  be  no  danger,  and  truly 
no  temptation  at  all.  If  he  were  unable  to  comply  with  the 
temptation,  there  was  no  virtue  in  the  non-compliance.  He 
was  that  much  no  free  agent ;  his  non-compliance  was  neces- 
sary and  mechanical,  and  *so  non-meritorious.  The  supposi- 
tion that  Christ  could  not  sin,  raises  him  above  all  fitness  to  be 
an  example  for  us  as  one  '  tempted  in  all  points  like  as  we  are, 
yet  without  sin.'  Propose  such  a  pattern  to  a  fallible  sinner, 
and  he  can  answer,  conclusively,  l  Make  it  impossible  for  me 
to  sin,  and  I  will  be  as  holy  as  he.'  None  but  a  free  agent  can 
be  an  example  for  a  free  agent.  Nor  is  any  but  a  free  agent 
capable  of  responsible  probation. 

"  This  free  agency  implies  not,  indeed,  a  preferential  state  of 
soul  for  evil,  as  exists  in  depraved  man,  but  a  susceptibility,  as 
in  the  perfect  first  Adam,  to  impressions  which,  voluntarily 
followed  out  to  excess  or  misdirection,  would  become  sin. 
This  view  implies  no  uncertainty  of  his  accomplishing  our 
redemption.  For,  in  full  view  of  all  possibilities,  the  infinite 
wisdom  and  foreknowledge  of  God  had  selected  for  Messiah, 


124:  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

that  being,  of  all  others,  who,  he  foresaw,  would,  with  perfect 
free  will,  prefer  God  to  Satan,  and,  in  spite  of  all  temptation, 
prove  true  to  his  redemptional  offioe.  Hence,  while  there  was 
an  intrinsic  possibility  in  the  thing,  there  was  a  full  and  perfect 
certainty  upon  which  the  .  divine  mind  could  rest,  that  the 
possible  catastrophe  of  his  fall  would  not  take  place. 

Second.  "  In  the  whole  transaction  we  are  to  view  the  Saviour 
in  pure  humanity.  As  he  is  led  by  the  spirit  to  the  scene,  so 
the  blessed  human  One  stood  in  the  universe,  —  a  pure,  lone 
man,  as  the  first  Adam  himself,  leaning,  indeed,  as  every  Chris- 
tian may,  on  the  divine  arm,  yet  as  truly  able  to  fall  by  his 
own  will  from  all  union  with  God,  as  our  first  progenitor,  and 
truly  able,  by  freely  standing,  to  maintain  an  identification 
with  God,  impossible  to  the  man  of  Eden. 

Third.  "  As  God  said  to  Satan  of  Job,  so  now,  we  conceive, 
he  said  of  his  Son,  *  Behold,  he  is  in  thine  hand,  but  save  his 
life.'  Satan  had  it  in  his  power  to  tempt  him  only  with  appar- 
ent good.  Not  now  was  his  hour  and  power  to  try  him  with 
untold  agonies.  But  by  withstanding  the  temptations  to  the 
apparent  good,  the  man-Jesus  proved  his  fitness  to  stand  the 
terrible  ordeal  of  ill. 

Fourth.  "  This  surrender  to  Satan  was  greater,  we  think, 
than  is  ordinarily  conceived.  So  far  forth  as  the  necessities 
of  the  trial  required,  yet  with  no  power  of  violence  or  con- 
tamination, our  Lord's  person  was  in  his  hand.  How  else  did 
Satan  take  him  to  the  temple's  summit,  or  to  the  mountain  top  ? 
Or  how  else  did  he  make  all  the  kingdoms  of  the  world  visible 
to  his  eye  ?  The  miracles  indicated  in  the  first  query  may 
be  supposed  to  be  performed,  first,  by  creating  the  .concep- 
tions in  the  Saviour's  mind ;  or,  second,  by  snatching  his  soul 
from  his  body  ;  or,  third,  by  transporting  his  person  so  with 
the  quickness  of  a  thought,  that  lie  is  not  to  be  conceived  as 
on  his  way  at  any  intermediate  point.  We  adopt  the  last  as 
being  perfectly  supposable,  and  as  best  meeting  the  honest 
demands  of  the  literal  history.  The  miracle  suggested  in  the 
second  question  above,  of  making  visible  to  his  eye  all  the 
kingdoms  of  the  world,  but  simply  requires  that  we  frame  our 
ideas  to  the  unparalleled  statement.  It  is  as  conceivable  that 
Satan  should  endow  a  human  eye  with  miraculous  vision,  as 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  125 

that  lie  should  fire  the  human  blood  of  Job  with  miraculous 
heat,  and  compel  it  to  fling  out  boils  upon  the  skin.  That  he 
should  do  this  upon  a  high  mountain,  where  the  natural  eye 
could  see  as  far  as  possible,  accords  with  the  universal  rule, 
that  the  miraculous  should  never  be  used  where  the  natural 
will  suffice ;  or,  rather,  that  the  natural  should  furnish  a  nu- 
cleus for  the  miraculous,  just  as  our  Saviour  touched  with  his 
finger,  or  with  a  clay-and- spittle  ointment,  the  eyes  of  the 
blind,  formed  the  nucleus  for  the  miracle  of  restoration  of  sight. 
'  To  be  tempted,'  —  Put  to  the  test.  His  virtues  were  to  be 
tried  by  a  contest  with  his  and  our  great  adversary. 

"  The  heads  of  the  kingdom  of  heaven  and  the  kingdom  of 
hell  must  meet  in  contest.  How  vapid  to  reduce  all  this  to  a 
vision  ?  l  The  devil]  —  The  Diabolus  or  Accuser.  The  be- 
ing who  accused  Job,  and  who  brings  even  a  charge  against 
God's  elect.  He  is  not  the  l  personified  principle  of  evil,'  but 
a  being  deeply  animated  by  the  purpose  of  evil.  We  have  no 
more  right  to  reduce  Satan  and  hell  to  a  figure,  than  we  have 
Christ,  angels,  and  heaven,  nay,  God  himself.  If  there  are 
good  beings  in  the  body,  there  are  also  bad.  So,  also,  if  there 
are  good  bodiless  spirits,  there  may  be  bad.  It  is  no  more 
conjrary  to  the  nature  of  God's  government  that  there  should 
be  a  Satan,  than  that  there  should  be  a  Nimrod,  a  Tamerlane, 
or  a  Mohammed.  Though  Satan  is  not  omnipresent,  nor  om- 
nipotent, he  may  fill  a  vast  space  .with  his  presence.  We 
know  not  how  much  of  the  earth  he  may  overshadow  at  the 
same  moment.  And  we  know  not  how  numerous  the  demoniac 
angels  .who  do  his  bidding,  and  through  whom  he  tempts  the 
sons  of  men.  The  allusions  to  Ids  fall  from  a  state  of  purity 
are  too  numerous  and  pointed  to  leave  a  doubt  as  to  its  be- 
ing a  doctrine  of  Scripture.  Such  are  John  8  :  44 ;  Jude  6  ; 
2  Peter  2  :  4.  Satan  is  crafty  beyond  measure,  but  very  little 
wise.  There  may  be  depths  of  cunning  and  masses  of  knowl- 
edge in  him  ;  and  yet  many  of  the  plainest,  simplest  things  of 
redemption,  Christ,  and  Scripture,  may  be  utterly  unintelligi- 
ble to  his  fatuity.  The  simplest  saint,  though  immeasurably 
outwitted  by  him,  may  be  deep  beyond  his  comprehension  in 
the  things  of  God.  So  the  bee  can  build  her  comb  with  the 
science  of  a  profound  mathematician  without  being  able  to 
count  three." 


126  NEW   TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 


VARIOUS  SEASONS  OF  PRAYER. 

And  in  the  morning,  rising  up  a  great  while  before  day,  he  went  out,  and 
departed  into  a  solitary  place,  and  there  prayed.  —  Mark  1 :  35. 

T)RAYER  is  not  to  be  limited  to  particular  days,  or  times  in 
JL  the  day,  but,  as  indicated  below,  at  all  times,  both  day 
and  night. 

Always.  —  Luke  18:1;  Epli.  6  :  18. 

Without  ceasing.  —  1  TJiess.  5  : 17. 

Three  times  a  day.  —  Dan.  6:10. 

Evening,  and  morning,  and  at  noon.  —  Ps.  55  : 17. 

Every  morning  and  at  even.  —  1  Chron.  23  :  30. 

All  night,  —  Luke  6:12. 

Night  and  day.  —  1  These.  3:10. 

Seven  times  a  day.  —  Ps.  99  :  164. 

A  great  while  before  day. —  Mark  1  :  35. 

In  the  night-watches.  —  Ps.  63  :  6. 

About  the  sixth  hour.  —  Acts  10  :  9. 

The  ninth  hour.  —  Acts  3:1. 

At  the  even  tide.  —  Gen.  24 :  63. 

By  night.  — Ps.  134:1. 

At  midnight.  —  Ps.  134  :  62  ;  Acts  16  :  25. 

Read  the  passages  in  the  Bible. 


REASON  AND  RELIGION. 

And  immediately,  when  Jesus  perceived  in  his  spirit  that  they  so  reasoned 
within  themselves,  he  said  unto  them,  Why  reason  ye  these  things  in  your 
hearts?—  Mark  2:8. 


office  of  reason  in  religion  is  easily  understood,  but 
JL  liable  to  be  badly  perverted.  Human  reason  is  not  ignored 
in  accepting  Christianity,  but  holds  a  most  important  relation 
to  it.  It  belongs  to  reason  to  discover  man's  need  of  a  divine 
revelation,  and  to  judge  of  the  evidence  that  authenticates 
such  a  revelation.  The  lines  of  evidence  that  center  on  the 
Bible,  as  a  revelation  from  God,  are  such  as  are  found  in  no 


NEW   TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  127 

other  book  in  this  world.  It  does  not  belong  to  reason  to  sit 
in  judgment  on  what  God  has  revealed,  on  the  plea  that  this 
or  that  declaration  is  unreasonable,  for  that  would  exalt  each 
man's  reason  above  revelation,  —  a  thing  most  unreasonable. 
The  traveler  through  a  vast  wilderness  uses  his  compass  to 
indicate  the  direction  he  wishes  to  go.  In  his  path  lie  obsta- 
cles that  impede  his  progress :  now  a  stream,  now  a  bold  cliff 
of  rocks,  here  a  fallen  tree,  and  there  a  bog  that  would  sink 
him  in  mire.  Should  that  traveler  use  his  reason  in  disputing 
the  direction  indicated,  instead  of  determining  how  to  cross 
this  stream,  or  avoid  this  bold  ledge  of  rocks,  he  would  be 
greatly  at  fault.  The  direction  indicated  by  his  compass  must 
be  accepted  by  him ;  how  best  to  travel  in  that  direction  is  to 
be  determined  by  his  reason.  The  captain  of  a  ship  receives 
his  compass,  chart,  and  sailing  directions,  as  established  facts. 
His  reason  is  to  find  its  scope  in  bringing  his  ship  through 
storm  and  calm,  through  adverse  winds  and  counter  currents, 
to  the  destined  port.  Should  that  sailor  dispute  his  compass, 
despise  his  chart,  and  disregard  his  sailing  instructions  ;  should 
he  refuse  these  aids,  and  in  his  boasted  confidence  sail  that  ship 
according  to  his  reason,  who  would  wonder  at  its  speedy 
wreck?  What  sailor  ever  made  an  ocean  voyage  without 
help  beyond  himself?  Life  is  a  voyage,  time  is  the  ocean  on 
which  we  all  are  sailing.  The  Bible  is  both  compass  and 
chart,  not  only  pointing  the  way  we  should  go,  but  indicating 
safety  and  danger  along  the  voyage.  He  who  shapes  his  life- 
course  according  to  this  book,  will  reach  the  desired  haven  in 
safety,  while  he  who  disputes  these  truths,  and  takes  life's 
responsibilities  into  his  own  keeping,  will  become  wrecked 
ere  the  voyage  is  closed,  and  in  dying  will  be  compelled  to 
say,  "  I  take  a  leap  in  the  dark."  —  W.  J. 


128  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

EFFECTIVENESS  OF  APPROPRIATE  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

And  when  the  scribes  and  Pharisees  saw  him  eat  with  publicans  and  sin- 
ners, they  said  unto  his  disciples,  How  is  it  that  he  eateth  and  drinketh  with 
publicans  and  sinners?  When  Jesus  heard  it,  he  saith  unto  them,  They  that 
are  whole  have  no  need  of  the  physician,  but  they  that  are  sick :  I  came  not 
to  call  the  righteous,  but  sinners  to  repentance.  —  Mark  2  :  16,  17. 

DR.  ARNOLD,  of  Rugby,  said,  «  There  are  moments  that 
are  worth  more  than  years.  We  cannot  help  it ;  there  is 
no  proportion  between  spaces  of  time  in  importance  nor  in 
value.  A  stray  unthought-of  five  minutes  may  contain  the 
event  of  a  life.  And  this  all-important  moment,  dispropor- 
tionate to  all  other  moments,  who  can  tell  when  it  will  be  upon 
us?" 

We  are  seldom  conscious  of  the  vital  importance  of  these 
critical  moments,  which  make  or  unmake  us.  Yet  all  human 
biographers  and  all  national  histories  are  full  of  them.  A 
striking  instance  occurs  to  us  in  the  life  of  the  late  Rev.  Dr. 
Guthrie.  For  more  than  two  years  after  his  theological  studies 
were  finished  he  was  unable  to  obtain  a  call  to  any  church. 
Discouraged,  he  went  to  the  continent  and  studied  medicine 
for  a  time.  Then  he  came  home  and  entered  his  father's 
banking-house.  His  biographer  says  that  at  this  time  "  he  had 
not  the  knack  of  making  friends  either  in  or  out  of  the  pulpit." 

After  one  of  his  trial  discourses,  one  of  his  critics  called  him 
a  "  bullerin  blockhead  "  -  the  word  "bullerin"  being  proba- 
bly a  coarse  synonym  for  "  bellowing,"  for  he  always  gave 
full  play  to  his  great  voice  in  preaching.  Something,  what- 
ever it  was,  kept  him  from  reaching  the  popular  ear  and  heart. 
At  last,  Lord  Panmure  presented  him  the  living  of  the  little 
church  of  Arbirlot.  Things  went  on  smoothly  enough  among 
his  quiet  farmers,  but  he  made  little  impression  either  by 
thundering  the  laws  or  piping  peace.  So  it  went  on  until  one 
day  he  observed  that  an  anecdote  which  he  ventured  to  tell 
in  a  racy  way  woke  up  his  sleepy  hearers,  and  kept  thrm 
a \\;ike  to  the  close  of  his  sermon.  From  that  moment  he 
changed  his  style  of  preaching,  giving  full  play  to  his  wonder- 
ful genius  for  splendid  illustration.  After  ten  years  in  the  coun- 
try he  removed  to  Edinburgh,  where  for  thirty  years  more  he 


NEW   TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  129 

preached  the  gospel  with  a  popularity  that  never  waned,  and 
to  crowds  that  never  failed  to  throng  his  church.  The  turning- 
point  in  his  ministry  was  that  brief  pulpit  experiment  upon 
his  country  audience. 


SABBATH-KEEPING  A  BLESSING. 

Therefore  the  Son  of  man  is  Lord  also  of  the  Sabbath.  —  Mark  2 :  28. 

A  NOTHER  source  of  human  weal,  which  is  older  than  Chris- 
/A_  tianity,  and  more  extensive  than  Judaism,  is  the  Sabbath. 
The  father  of  political  economy,  Adam  Smith,  without  regard 
to  its  religious  associations,  acknowledges  that  it  is  indispen- 
sable in  social  life.  Man's  constitution  seems  to  have  an 
inborn  necessity  of  a  weekly  holiday.  Were  he  only  an  animal, 
compelled  to  observe  the  day  of  rest,  he  would  praise  God,  as 
unintelligent  nature  praises  him,  in  the  enjoyment  of  his  rest, 
in  the  physical  comfort  it  bestows,  in  the'health  it  preserves, 
in  the  life  it  prolongs.  But  the  intellectual  and  moral  man 
finds  the  holiday  a  restorer  of  vitality  and  vigor  to  the  mind, 
and  a  power  that  regenerates  the  moral  aspirations.  The 
divine  goodness  in  the  appointment  of  the  day  is  the  more 
obvious,  in  that  the  rest  subtracts  nothing  from  the  labor  of 
the  world.  Experience  shows  that  the  poor  man  cannot  afford 
to  lose  the  day  of  rest,  and  those  who  are  pressed  with  urgent 
duties  cannot  spare  the  exhilarating  and  clarifying  effect  of  a 
Sabbath  on  their  mental  faculties.  Indeed,  God  has  given 
man  one  seventh  of  his  time  for  leisure,  making,  if  efficiency 
were  the  only  measure  of  time,  the  six  parts  really  more  than 
the  seven.  —  Dr.  George  N.  Boardman. 


REACHING  THE  HEARTS  OF  THE  PEOPLE. 

And  when  he  had  looked  round  about  on  them  with  anger,  being  grieved 
for  the  hardness  of  their  hearts,  he  saith  unto  the  man,  Stretch  forth  thine 
hand.  And  he  stretched  it  out :  and  his  hand  was  restored  whole  as  the  other.  — 
Mark  3  :  5. 

T  is,  I  think,  an  error  into  which  many  of  our  modern  min- 
isters, whose  education  has  been  carried  to  a  high  pitch, 
17 


i 


-130  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

have  fallen,  that  everything  is  to  be  done  by  the  head  rather 
than  by  the  heart.  We  know  very  well  that  the  true  method 
is  to  reach  the  heart  through  the  head,  and  men  must  be  made 
to  feel  by  being  shown  why  they  should  feel,  and  what  it  is  to 
make  them  feel.  But  in  many  cases  the  head  is  to  be  reached 
by  appeals  to  the  heart.  We  often  hear  the  remark,  "  Yes,  it 
was  a  smart  sermon,  but  wanted  heart.  It  sparkled  like  the 
stars,  or  shone  like  the  moon  on  a  wintry  night,  but  it  warmed 
no  one."  I  have  been  sometimes  struck,  as  every  one  must 
have  been,  with  the  varying  effect  produced  by  diiferent 
speakers  at  a  public  meeting ;  and  how  much  power  over  an 
audience,  and  how  much  more  the  object  of  the  meeting  has 
been  accomplished  by  a  few  gushes  of  simple  eloquence  from 
the  heart  of  some  earnest  and  ardent  advocate,  than  by  the 
elaborate,  but  passionless  pleader.  The  latter  was  coldly  ad- 
mired, and  admitted  to  be  an  eloquent  speaker ;  but  the  former 
melted  and  moved  Jiis  audience  by  the  depth  and  intensity 
of  his  own  feelings.  —  James. 


A  WORD  TO  MINISTERS. 

And  he  ordained  twelve,  that  they  should  be  with  him,  and  that  he  might 
send  them  forth  to  preach.  —  Mark  3  :  14. 

MAKE  no  apologies.  If  you  have  the  Lord's  message, 
declare  it ;  if  not,  hold  your  peace.  Have  short  pre- 
faces and  introductions.  Say  your  best  things  first,  and  stop 
before  you  get  prosy.  Do  not  spoil  the  appetite  for  dinner 
by  too  much  thin  soup.  Leave  yourself  out  of  the  pulpit,  and 
take  Jesus  in.  Defend  the  gospel,  and  let  the  Lord  defend 
you  and  your  character. 

Do  not  get  excited  too  soon.  Do  not  run  away  from  your 
hearers.  Engine  driving-wheels  whirl  fast  on  an  icy  track, 
but  when  loaded  go  slower.  It  takes  a  cold  hammer  to  bend 
hot  iron.  Heat  up  the  people,  but  keep  the  hammer  wet  and 
cool.  Do  not  bawl  and  scream.  Too  much  water  stops  mill- 
wheels,  and  too  much  noise  drowns  sense.  Empty  vessels 
ring  the  loudest.  Powder  is  not  shot.  Thunder  is  harmless ; 
lightning  kills. 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  131 

If  you  have  lightning,  you  can  afford  to  thunder.  Don't 
scold  the  people.  Do  not  abuse  the  faithful  souls  who  come 
to  meeting  on  rainy  days,  because  others  are  too  lazy  to  attend. 
Preach  the  best  to  the  smallest  assemblies.  Jesus  preached 
to  one  woman  at  the  well,  and  she  got  all  Samaria  out  to  hear 
him  next  time. 


PRESIDENT  HUMPHREY  ON  NOVEL-READING. 

No  man  can  enter  into  a  strong  man's  house,  and  spoil  his  goods,  except 
he  will  first  bind  the  strong  man ;  and  then  he  will  spoil  his  house.  —  Mark  3  :  27. 

"  YTOTHING,"  says  President  Humphrey,  "  is  more  to  be 
-Li  deprecated  in  a  family,  than  a  morbid  appetite  for 
novels.  Experience  proves  how  difficult  it  is  to  keep  it  from 
becoming  absolutely  ravenous,  if  indulged  at  all.  There  is  a 
striking  resemblance,  in  this  respect,  between  the  novel-reader 
and  the  dram-drinker.  Both  begin  moderately.  Both  are 
sure  a  little  does  them  good,  and  that  they  can  refrain  when- 
ever they  please.  But  reading  one  work  of  fiction  is  almost 
certain  to  create  in  the  young  and  susceptible  mind  a  more 
eager  demand  for  another ;  and  the  demand  rises  in  every 
step  of  the  progress,  till  it  is  prepared  to  break  over  all  bounds, 
and  devour  whatever  comes  in  its  way,  however  it  may  inflame 
the  passions,  pollute  the  imagination,  or  corrupt  the  heart. 
The  appetite  for  strong  drink,  and  novel-reading,  is  sharpened 
by  indulgence,  till"  self-control  is  completely  at  the  mercy  of 
its  own  insatiabieness.  The  only  safe  course  in  either  case  is, 
'  touch  not,  taste  not,  handle  not'/  total  abstinence.  One  of  the 
evils  which  comes  of  novel-reading  —  even  of  the  higher  or 
better  class  of  novels  —  is  the  perversion  of  life  from  the  real 
and  actual,  to  the  ideal  and  imaginary.  It  is  not  good  while 
in  this  world  to  lose  sight  of  the  actualities  of  life.  The  good 
there  is  in  life  we  should  appreciate,  and  be  thankful  for  to  the 
almighty  Giver ;  the  bad  in  life  should  be  known,  that  it  may 
be  removed,  and  something  better  substituted  in  its  place." 


132  KEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 


ETEENITY. 

But  he  that  shall  blaspheme  against  the  Holy  Ghost  hath  never  forgiveness, 
but  is  in  danger  of  eternal  damnation.  —  Mark  3  :  29. 

1  T  NEVER  can  forget  that  word  which  was  once  whispered 
JL  to  me  in  an  inquiry-meeting."  "What  word,  was  it?" 
"  It  was  the  word  eternity.  A  young  Christian  friend,  who 
was  yearning  for  my  salvation,  came  up  to  me  as  I  sat  in  my 
pew,  and  simply  whispered  i  eternity '  in  my  ear,  with  great 
solemnity  and  tenderness,  and  then  left  me.  That  word  made 
me  think,  and  I  found  no  peace  till  I  came  to  the  cross  of 
Christ  for  salvation." 

It  is  enough  to  make  any  one  think.  My  friend,  have  you 
ever  taken  the  measure  of  that  word  ?  Have  you  ever 
weighed  it  ?  You  are  wearing  out  life,  perhaps,  in  the  desper- 
ate endeavor  to  grow  rich  —  have  you  ever  asked  yourself 
how  much  you  will  be  u  worth  "  in  eternity  ?  Some  men  will 
be  millionaires  -in  heaven ;  men  like  Paul,  and  Oberlin,  and 
Luther,  and  Wilberforce  ;  how  rich  will  you  be  when  death  has 
reduced  your  form  to  a  house  of  six  feet  by  two  ?  You  are 
anxious,  perhaps,  about  your  society  on  earth  —  have  you 
thought,  With  whom  shall  I  spend  my  eternity  ?  and  where  ? 

Eternity !  Dwell  on  that  portentous  word.  Revolve  it. 
Study  it.  Hang  over  its  infinite  depths  ;  fathom  it,  if  you  can. 
Gaze  upward,  and  scale  its  heights,  if  you  can.  Stretch  away 
over  its  illimitable  breadth;  measure  it,  if  you  can.  Give 
wings  to  your  imagination,  and  speed  onward ;  find  its  end,  if 
you  can. 

Heaven  will  be  as  endless  in  its  joys  as  hell  is  endless  in 
its  remorseful  agonies  of  soul.  So  I  read,  for  one,  the  revela- 
tions of  God's  word.  In  heaven  new  joys  must  open  every 
moment.  New  recognitions  of  the  Lord ;  new  discoveries  of 
God's  unexhausted  truth.  New  strains  of  rapture  will  fill  the 
ear ;  new  banquets  of  God's  beauty  and  glory  fill  the  soul. 
And  yet  newer,  fresher,  sublimer,  more  magnificent  revela- 
tions ever  bursting  upon  the  glorified  spirit ! 

The  eternity  is  just  at  the  door.  You  and  I  may  be  launched 
into  it  before  to-morrow's  sun  goes  down.  What  is  time  to  us 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  133 

but  the  brief  hour  for  preparing  to  meet  the  destinies  of  that 
eternal  state  ?  What  have  we  to  do  but  to  save  our  souls,  and 
to  save  others,  too,  with  the  utmost  alacrity  of  Christian  love  ? 
Every  moment  spent  for  God  and  our  fellow-men  now  will 
yield  to  its  centuries  of  bliss.  Let  us  live  —  as  earth's  best 
and  holiest  have  lived —  in  the  light  of  eternity. 

"Here,  take  this  watch,  my  friend,"  said  the  noble  Lord 
Russell  when  he  mounted  the  scaffold  to  die  as  a  patriot  mar- 
tyr ;  "  take  this  watch,  I  have  no  more  to  do  with  time.  My 
thoughts  are  now  about  eternity." 

So  would  I  say  to  many  a  reader  with  whom  I  have  grown 
intimate.  Take  your  Bible,  my  friend ;  learn  from  it  how  to 
live,  and  how  to  die.  You  will  soon  have  done  with  time.  Let 
your  thoughts  be  about  eternity.  —  Rev.  T.  L.  Cuyler. 


AN  HONEST  HEARER. 

And  these  are  they  which  are  sown  on  good  ground ;  such  as  hear  the 
word,  and  receive  it,  and  bring  forth  fruit,  some  thirty  fold,  some  sixty,  and 
some  a  hundred.  —  Mark  4  :  20. 

LORD,  the  preacher  this  day  came  home  to  my  heart.  A 
left-handed  Gibeonite  hit  not  the  mark  more  surely  than 
he  my  darling  sins.  I  could  find  no  fault  with  his  sermon, 
save  only  that  it  had  too  much  truth.  But  this  I  quarreled 
at,  that  he  went  far  from  his  text  to  come  close  to  me,  and  so 
was  faulty  himself  in  telling  me  of  my  faults  j  and  yet  I  cannot 
deny  that  which  he  spoke,  though  nothing  to  that  portion  of 
Scripture  which  he  had  for  his  text  was  according  to  the  pro- 
portion of  Scripture.  For  is  not  thy  word  in  general  the  text 
at  large  of  any  preacher  ?  Yea,  rather  I  should  have  con- 
cluded that  if  he  went  from  his  text,  thy  goodness  sent  him  to 
me  ;  for  without  thy  guidance  it  had  been  impossible  for  him 
so  truly  to  have  traced  the  intricate  turnings  of  my  deceitful 
heart.  —  Thomas  Fuller. 


134  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

A  TIMELY  WARNING  UNHEEDED. 

And  he  said  unto  them,  Take  heed  what  ye  hear.  With  what  measure  ye 
mete,  it  shall  be  measured  to  you ;  and  unto  you  that  hear,  shall  more  be 
given.  —  Mark  4  :  24. 

THE  Roman  senators  conspired  against  Julius  Caesar  to  kill 
him.  That  very  next  morning  Artemidorus  —  Cesar's 
friend  —  delivered  him  a  paper  (desiring  him  to  peruse  it) 
wherein  the  whole  plot  was  discovered  j  but  Caesar  compli- 
mented away  his  life,  being  so  taken  up  to  return  the  saluta- 
tions of  such  people  as  met  him  in  the  way,  that  he  pocketed 
the  paper  among  other  petitions,  as  unconcerned  therein,  and 
so  going  to  the  senate-house,  was  there  slain.  Thus  the  world, 
the  flesh,  and  the  devil  have  a  design  for  the  destruction  of 
men ;  ministers,  such  as  watch  for  their  good,  bring  a  letter 
of  advice,  God's  word,  wherein  all  the  conspiracy  is  revealed  ; 
but  who  doth  believe  their  report  ?  Most  men  are  so  busy, 
and  taken  up  with  worldly  delights,  that  they  are  not  at  leisure 
to  listen  to  them,  or  read  the  letter,  but  thus,  alas  !  run  head- 
long to  their  own  destruction. 


CHRISTIAN  CHARACTER  A  GROWTH. 

For  the  earth  bringeth  forth  fruit  of  herself;  first  the  blade,  then  the  ear, 
after  that  the  full  corn  in  the  ear.  —  Mark  4  :  28. 

IT  matters  not  if  you  cannot  tell  just  when  you  become  a 
Christian.  If  we  sow  a  handful  of  wheat  in  your  garden, 
we  could  not  tell,  though  we  watched  it  ever  so  narrowly,  the 
exact  moment  when  it  germinated.  But  when  we  see  the 
waving  grain  in  the  autumn,  we  know  it  did  germinate,  and 
that  is  all  we  care  for.  The  young  disciple  should  not  expect 
too  much  light  at  once.  It  will  grow  brighter  with  every 
Christian  duty  he  performs.  The  Christian  life  is  a  sort  of 
mountain  path ;  and  the  higher  one  climbs  the  clearer  the  at- 
mosphere, and  the  sooner  he  will  see  the  morning  sun.  To 
the  adventurous  traveler  who  has  ascended  to  the  summit  of 
Mont  Blanc,  the  sun  rises  earlier  and  sets  later,  and  the  night 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  135 

is  therefore  shorter,  than  to  the  peasant  who  lives  down  in  the 
valley  at  its  base.  So  it  is  in  the  Christain  life.  Clearness  of 
vision,  and  firmness  of  foot,  and  beauty  of  prospect,  come  only 
to  those  who  have  struggled  up  to  the  heights  —  to  the  heav- 
enly places  in  Christ  Jesus.  Conversion  may  be  the  work  of 
a  moment,  but  a  saint  is  not  made  in  an  hour.  Character, 
Christian  character,  is  not  an  act,  but  a  process  ;  not  a  sudden 
creation,  but  a  development.  It  grows  and  bears  fruit  like  a 
tree ;  and,  like  a  tree,  it  requires  patient  care  and  unwearied 
cultivation. 


DR.  GUTHRIEtS  SECRET. 

And  with  many  such  parables  spake  he  the  word  unto  them,  as  they  were 
able  to  hear  it.  But  without  a  parable  spake  he  not  unto  them :  and  when 
they  were  alone,  he  expounded  all  things  to  his  disciples.  —  Mark  4  :  33,  34. 

REV.  MR.  TAYLOR,  of  Liverpool,  gives  the  following  ac- 
count of  the  manner  in-  which  Dr.  Guthrie  became  such 
a  master  of  the  art  of  illustration :  — 

'"  I  do  not  know  that  there  is  a  minister,  either  in  the  old 
country  or  the  new,  who  could  so  arrest  at  the  beginning  of 
his  discourse,  and  hold  it  unbroken  to  the  end,  the  attention 
of  his  hearers,  as  Dr.  Thomas  Guthrie  of  Edinburgh;  bat  it 
Was  not  always  so  with  him.  God  cast  his  lot  in  a  northern 
parish  in  Scotland,  and  he  had  there  a  Sabbath  afternoon  class. 
Fart  of  the  exercises  of  this  class  was  for  each  to  repeat  as 
much  of  the  sermon  as  he  could  remember.  To  the  amaze- 
ment of  the  preacher,  and  somewhat  also  to  his  regret,  he  dis- 
covered that  those  passages  of  his  sermon  which  he,  in  his 
ignorance,  thought  the  most  telling,  and  the  most  likely  to  be 
remembered,  were  not  brought  up  at  all,  but  this  and  that 
illustration  were  brought  up,  and  the  truth  connected  with 
them.  So,  gathering  wisdom  from  the  discovery,  he  began  to 
try  to  make  all  his  sermons  consist  of  such  things  as  the  mem- 
bers of  his  church  remembered,  until  at  length  they  came  to 
remember  the  sermon  from  beginning  to  end.  If  Sunday- 
school  teachers  were  to  proceed  upon  a  plan  like  this,  we 
should  very  soon  engage  the  attention,  and  interest  the  hearts 
of  children." 


136  KEW   TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 


MISFORTUNE  CHANGED  TO  A  BLESSING. 

And  they  come  to  Jesus,  and  see  him  that  was  possessed  with  the  devil, 
and  had  the  legion,  sitting,  and  clothed,  and  in  his  right  mind ;  and  they  were 
afraid.  —  Mark  5  :  15. 

IN  the  year  1825,  a  rich  young  nobleman  of  Russia,  Mr.  W., 
was  suspected  of  having  taken  part  in  a  conspiracy  against 
the  life  of  the  Emperor  Nicholas.  He  was  arrested  and 
thrown  into  prison  at  St.  Petersburg.  Naturally  of  a  quick 
and  violent  temper,  the  injustice  done  him  aroused  the  deep- 
est passions  of  his  soul,  and  he  spent  that  first  long  Decem- 
ber night  swearing  and  stamping  on  the  ground,  alternately 
cursing  the  sovereign  of  his  country  who  had  ordered  his 
arrest,  and  the  Sovereign  of  heaven  who  had  permitted  it. 
Exhausted  at  last,  he  threw  himself  on  his  bed  of  straw,  and 
remained  there  for  hours  in  mournful  silence.  Thus  eight 
wretched  days  passed  away. 

On  the  evening  of  the  ninth  a  venerable  clergyman  came  to 
pray  with  and  for  him,  and  to  entreat  him  to  accept  the  invita- 
tion of  the  Saviour,  who  says,  "  Come  unto  me,  all  ye  that 
labor  and  are  heavy-laden,  and  I  will  give  you  rest."  (Matt. 
11  :  28.)  The  only  answer  was  a  scornful  laugh.  On  leaving, 
however,  the  old  man  gave  him  a  Bible,  begging  him  to  read 
it.  But  as  soon  as  the  door  was  closed,  Mr.  W.  kicked  it  into 
a  corner,  exclaiming,  "  I  want  nothing  to  do  with  the  Word  of 
God  who  permits  injustice ; "  and  there  the  sacred  book  was 
left  for  days  unnoticed.  But  time  hung  heavily  ;  hours  seemed 
days,  and  days  months.  To  relieve  his  utter  weariness,  he 
took  up  the  Bible  and  opened  it.  The  first  verse  that  caught 
his  eye  impressed  him  deeply :  "  Call  upon  me  in  the  day  of 
trouble:  I  will  deliver  thee,  and  thou  shalt  glorify  me."  (Psu. 
50  :  15.)  But  he  shut  the  book  immediately,  as  if  ashamed  to 
have  been  affected  by  reading  anything  in  the  Bible.  The 
next  day  he  opened  it  again,  and  was  soon  surprised  at  the 
wisdom  it  evidently  contained.  He  went  through  whole 
chapters,  sometimes  even  learning  them  by  heart,  and  at  last 
became  so  much  interested  that  he  often  waited  impatiently 
for  daylight,  to  read  and  study  his  Bible. 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  137 

It  was  not  long  before  he  began  to  know  something  of  the 
state  of  his  own  heart,  and  to  see  that,  like  every  human  heart, 
it  was  "  desperately  wicked."  (Jer.  17  :  9.)  He  began  to  feel 
that  in  the  sight  of  God  he  was  a  sinner,  deserving  eternal 
punishment.  In  his  distress  he  fell  upon  his  knees,  crying 
out,  "  0  Lord,  save  me,  or  I  perish.  0  Lord,  wash  away  my 
sins.  Blot  them  out  with  the  precious  blood  of  Christ.  For 
Jesus'  sake,  have  mercy  upon  me,  a  miserable  sinner."  His 
prayer  was  answered :  he  felt  that  his  sins  were  pardoned ; 
and  now,  instead  of  complaining  of  the  injustice  of  others,  he 
was  mourning  over  his  own  sinfulness,  and  thinking  of  the 
love  of  Jesus.  He  asked  to  see  the  old  minister  j  and  the  joy 
of  the  good  man  may  be  imagined  when,  on  entering  the  cell, 
he  found  the  once  enraged  prisoner  sitting  with  a  quiet,  happy 
countenance,  rejoicing  in  the  hope  that  Christ  had  now  become 
his  Saviour  and  Friend.  "  At  first,"  said  Mr.  W.,  "  I  considered 
my  imprisonment  a  great  misfortune  ;  but  now  I  see  why  I  was 
placed  here,  and  I  thank  God  for  it.  If  I  had  continued  in  my 
prosperity,  I  should,  perhaps,  never  have  read  this  holy  book, 
which,  by  the  grace  of  God,  has  led  mo  to  Jesus." 


A  GREAT  CHANGE- IN  A  SHORT  TIME. 

Howbeit  Jesus  suffered  him  not,  but  saith  unto  him,  Go  home  to  thy 
friends,  and  tell  them  how  great  things  the'Lord  hath  done  for  thee,  and  hath 
had  compassion  on  thee.  —  Mark  5  :  19. 

IN  the  fall  of  1825,  a  prayer-meeting  was  established  at 
Fern's  Bridge,  Ga.,  that  was  usually  conducted  by  a 
young  convert,  who  was  engaged  as  a  teacher  some  miles 
off;  but  Satan,  who  is  ever  ready  to  resist,  stirred  up  the 
heart  of  a  noted  infidel,  who  publicly  declared  that  "  he  meant 
to  defeat  the  schoolmaster,  and  in  order  to  do  it  he  would 
attend  the  next  meeting  himself,  and  prove  to  the  people  that 
their  praying  people  were  all  fools  and  liars."  The  day  ar- 
rived, and  the  teacher  having  heard  of  his  purpose  was  much 
cast  down,  as  the  traveling  preacher  on  the  circuit,  and  on 
whom  he  depended  for  aid,  was  sick,  and  could  not  be  there 
to  assist  him.  He  was  about  to  start,  not  knowing  how  he 
18 


138  NEW   TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

should  faro,  when  God,  in  his  providence,  sent  to  his  rescue 
the  Rev.  James  Osgood  Andrew;  and  never,  perhaps,  were 
the  services  of  that  man  of  God  more  truly  acceptable  than 
upon  that  occasion. 

Brother  Andrew  heard  the  circumstance,  and  though  not 
within  the  bounds  of  his  own  circuit,  with  the  utmost  cheer- 
fulness offered  to  go  and  lead  the  meeting,  saying,  as  he  did 
so,  "  that  he  could  now  see  why  God  refused  to  let  him  pass 
by  Providence  circuit,  for  when  he  started,  he  designed  to 
have  gone  another  way." 

The  place  was  reached,  and  true  to  his  threat,  the  infidel 
was  there,  seated,  too,  at  the  end  of  the  only  aisle  in  the  room 
where  he  could  command  a  full  view  of  the  speaker  and  the 
audience  ;  the  room  was  full,  and  at  the  proper  moment  brother 
A.  took  his  place  at  the  table  and  gave  out  the  hymn,  on  page 
401,  "  Shall  I  for  fear  of  feeble  man,"  <fec. ;  and  while  singing, 
moved  his  chair  toward  the  place  where  the  infidel  was 
seated,  by  whom  he  finally  took  his  stand.  At  the  close  of 
the  hymn  he  said,  "  Let  us  all  pray,  and  I  trust  no  man  will 
stand  in  the  house."  The  skeptic  knelt  with  the  rest,  but  was 
surprised  and  confounded  when  he  felt  himself  struck  kindly  on 
the  back,  accompanied  with  a  request,  "  Brother,  pray  with 
us."  The  poor  man  knew  not  what  to  do,  but  concluded  he 
had  better  make  a  trial,  and  accordingly  began,  "  Lord,  them 
knowest  I  never  did  pray ;  them  knowest  I  cannot  pray." 
"That's  right,  brother,  tell  him  the  truth,  and  he  will  help 
you/'  rejoined  brother  A.  Another  stammering  petition,  and 
another  response,  was  followed  by  a  silence  of  a  few  moments, 
during  which  the  suppliant  found  the  barriers  of  infidelity 
giving  way,  and  the  heart  softening  in  a  most  uncommon  man- 
ner ;  and  the  next  burst  was  a  hearty  cry  for  mercy :  "  Lord  ! 
0  Lord !  have  mercy ; "  and  now  the  sonorous  voice  of  the 
preacher  was  heard  above  the  sobs  and  cries  (for  the  room 
was  now  filled  with  them),  most  fervently  imploring  mercy 
for  the  poor  deluded  infidel.  This  intercession  with  God  in 
his  behalf  continued  without  ceasing,  and  in  less  than  half  an 
hour  the  cry  for  mercy  was  turned  into  songs  of  rejoicing; 
the  man  who  had  gone  to  scoff,  had  received  a  "  new  mind," 
and  the  pious  worshipers  returned,  glorifying  God  for  the 


NEW   TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  139 

great  things  he  had  done  for  them.  It  is  gratifying  to  add 
that  the  change  proved  as  permanent  as  it  was  sudden  and 
decisive ;  he  has  since  proved  as  great  a  Boanerges  for  the 
Lord,  as  he  then  was  for  the  devil. 


PEACE  PROCLAIMED -AN  ILLUSTRATION. 

And  he  departed,  and  began  to  publish  in  Decapolis  how  great  things  Jesus 
had  done  for  him :  and  all  men  did  marvel.  —  Mark  5  :  20. 

IN  a  sermon  of  Dr.  Wayland,  entitled  "  The  Apostolic  Minis- 
try," he  illustrates  the  duty  of  every  man  to  take  part  in 
preaching  the  gospel,  spreading  the  glad  tidings,  evangeliz- 
ing the  world. 

"  At  the  close  of  the  last  war  with  Great  Britain,  I  was  in 
the  city  of  New  York.  The  prospects  of  the  nation  were 
shrouded  in  gloom.  We  had  been  for  two  or  three  years  at 
war  with  the  mightiest  nation  on  earth ;  and  as  she  had  now 
concluded  a  peace  with  the  continent  of  Europe,  we  were 
obliged  to  cope  with  her  single-handed.  Our  harbors  were 
blockaded.  Communication  coastwise  between  our  ports  was 
cut  off.  Our  ships  were  rotting  in  every  creek  and  cove 
where  they  could  find  a  place  of  security.  Oar  immense 
annual  products  were  molding  in  our  warehouses.  The 
sources  of  profitable  labor  were  dried  up.  Our  currency  was 
reduced  to  irredeemable  paper.  The  extreme  portions  of  our 
country  were  becoming  hostile  to  each  other,  and  differences 
of  political  opinions  were  imbittering  the  peace  of  every 
household.  The  credit  of  the  government  was  exhausted. 
No  one  could  predict  when  the  contest  would  terminate,  or 
discover  the  means  by  which  it  could  be  much  longer  pro- 
tracted. 

"  It  happened  that,  on  a  Saturday  afternoon  in  February,  a 
ship  was  discovered  in  the  offing,  which  was  supposed  to  be  n 
cartel,  bringing  home  our  commissioners  at  Ghent,  from  their 
unsuccessful  mission.  The  sun  had  set  gloomily  before  any 
intelligence  from  the  vessel  had  reached  the  city.  Expecta- 
tion became  painfully  intense  as  the  hours  of  darkness  drew 


140  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

on.  At  length  the  boat  reached  the  wharf,  announcing  that  a 
treaty  of  peace  had  been  signed,  and  was  waiting  for  nothing 
but  the  action  of  our  government  to  become  a  law.  The  men 
on  whose  ears  these  words  first  fell,  rushed  in  breathless  haste 
into  the  city  to  repeat  them  to  their  friends,  shouting,  as  they 
ran  through  the  streets,  '  Peace  !  Peace  ! '  Every  one  who 
heard  the  sound  repeated  it.  From  house  to  house,  from 
street  to  street,  the  news  spread  with  electric  rapidity.  *The 
whole  city  was  in  commotion.  Men  bearing  lighted  torches 
were  flying  to  and  fro,  shouting  like  madmen,  l  Peace  !  Peace ! 
Peace  ! '  When  the  rapture  had  partially  subsided,  one  idea 
occupied  every  mind.  But  few  men  slept  that  night.  In 
groups  they  were  gathered  in  the  streets  and  by  the  fireside, 
beguiling 'the  hours  of  midnight  by  reminding  each  other  that 
the  agonies  of  war  were  over,  and  that  a  worn-out  and  dis- 
tracted country  was  about  to  enter  again  upon  its  wonted 
career  of  prosperity.  Thus,  every  one  becoming  a  herald,  the 
news  soon  reached  every  man,  woman,  and  child  in  the  city, 
and  in  this  sense  the  city  was  evangelized.  All  this,  you  see, 
was  reasonable  and  proper.  But  when  Jehovah  has  offered 
to  our  world  a  treaty  of  peace ;  when  men  doomed  to  hell 
may  be  raised  to  seats  at  the  right  hand  of  God,  why  is  not 
a  similar  zeal  displayed  in  proclaiming  the  good  news  ?  Why 
are  men  perishing  all  round  us,  and  no  one  has  ever  personally 
cfffered  them  salvation  through  a  crucified  Redeemer  ?  " 


ONLY  BELIEVE. 

As  soon  as  Jesus  heard  the  word  that  was  spoken,  he  saith  unto  the  ruler 
of  the  synagogue,  Be  not  afraid,  only  believe.  —  Mark  5  :  36. 

SAYS  a  pious  servant  of  Christ,  "  Several  years  ago,  when  I 
was  going  home  one  day  from  church,  I  encountered  an 
old  gentleman  who  looked  very  unhappy.     I  approached  him, 
and  said, — 

" l  My  dear  friend,  you  seem  not  to  be  happy.' 
"  '  O,  no/  he  replied,  '  indeed- 1  am  not.' 
"  '  Why  ? '  I  continued  ;  '  are  you  not  sure  of  your  salva- 
tion?' 


NEW   TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  141 

" '  Xo,'  he  answered,  '  I  am  not ;  and  yet  I  have  made  it  a 
subject  of  prayer  for  twenty  years.' 

"  '  Prayed  for  it  twenty  years/  I  said,  l  and  not  yet  saved  ! 
Then  I  will  tell  you  a  story.  Some  time  ago  I  saw  a  re- 
spectable man  who,  bein^lame  on  one  side,  used  to  be  carried 
about  in  a  little  carriage.  At  the  corner  of  a  street  lie  saw  a 
beggar,  who  was  suffering  in  the  same  way,  and  was  also  blind, 
and  who  asked  alms  of  him.  The  gentleman  offered  him  a 
dollar,  saying,  as  he  held  it  out  to  him,  "  Here,  my  poor  friend, 
is  a  gold  dollar  for  you."  Now  the  poor  man  was  not  only 
lame  and  blind,  but  deaf  also;  and  thus,  while  the  gift  was 
held  out  to  him  in  all  its  richness  and  value,  he  continued  to 
beg  for  two  pennies,  until  the  gentleman  caused  his  carriage 
to  be  wheeled  up  close  to  him,  and  again  he  shouted  into  his 
ear,  "  Here  is  a  dollar  for  you.77  And  then  first  he  accepted 
the  gift  with  great  joy.  Is  it  not  the  same  with  you,7  I  said, 
'  dear  friend  ?  God  has  given  his  own  Son.  He  offers  you 
forgiveness  of  sins  in  his  blood.  But  you  keep  praying  for 
that  very  thing.'  * 

" l  What ! 7  answered  he,  '  can  I  be  saved  in  so  simple  a 
way  ? ' 

" (  Certainly,7  I  replied.  <  The  gift  of  God  is  eternal  life 
through  Jesus  Christ  our  Lord.  "  Believe  on  the  Lord  Jesus 
Christ,  and  thou  shalt  be  saved.7'  "  Whosoever  believeth  in 
him  hath  everlasting  life.7' ' 

"  l  0,  now  I  see  it ! '  he  exclaimed,  full  of  joy ;  ( I  am  called 
to  salvation.'  And  he  went  on  his  way  rejoicing." 

Is  there  not  many  a  burdened  soul  which  has  gone  sorrow- 
ing and  doubting  for  many  years,  and  whose  only  need  is  to 
grasp  the  meaning  of  Christ's  precious  words,  "  Only  believe." 


THE  MARVELOUSNESS  OF  UNBELIEF. 

And  lie  marveled  because  of  their  unbelief.  —  Mark  G  :  6. 

TTNBELIEF  is  represented  as  filling  Jesus  with  surprise  ;-and 
U    is  it  any  wonder,  especially  our  unbelief?     Consider  what 


142  NEW   TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

God  hath  done  to  remove  doubt.  He  hath  sent  his  character : 
"  God  is  love."  He  hath  made  a  proclamation:  "  Behold  now 
is  the  accepted  time  ;  behold  now  is  the  day  of  salvation."  He 
hath  given  an  invitation :  "  Look  unto  me,  and  be  ye  saved." 
He  hath  employed  entreaty :  "  As  Chough  God  did  beseech 
you  by  us,  we  pray  you  in  Christ's  stead,  be  ye  reconciled  to 
God."  He  hath  issued  a  command :  "  This  is  his  command- 
ment, that  we  should  believe  on  the  name  of  his  Son  Jesus 
Christ,"  He  hath  sworn  an  oath,  "  That  by  two  immutable 
things  in  which  it  was  impossible  for  God  to  lie,  we  might 
have  strong  consolation."  He  hath  given  his  Son  as  a  pledge 
to  assure  us  that  "  whosoever  believeth  on  him  shall  never 
perish,  but  have  eternal  life."  He  hat'h  added  the  testimony 
of  all  his  saints.  Well,  then,  may  he  marvel  at  our  unbelief. 
Never  let  us  attempt  to  excuse  it,  but  let  us  plead  and  pray 
against  it,  until  we  conquer  it.  Because  the  Lord  has  done 
so  much  to  secure  the  confidence  Of  men,  and  lead  them  to 
trust  in  him,  that  when  they  refuse  and  persist  in  unbelief, 
there  is  no'hope  for  their  recovery.  Unbelief  is,  therefore, 
truly  called  "  the  damning  sin ; "  for  it  is  written,  "  He  that 
believeth  not  shall  be  damned." 


•  PREACH  TO  THEM  AS  SINNERS. 

And  they  went  out,  and  preached  that  men  should  repent.  —  Mtirk  6  :  12. 

AT  a  dinner-table  in  Princeton,  N.  J.,  several  clergymen 
were  discussing  the  difficulty  of  preaching  to  the  college 
students.  "  Pshaw  !  "  said  the  late  Dr.  Phillips,  of  New  York, 
"  there's  no  difficulty  in  the  matter  if  you  preach  to  them  as 
pinners.  They  need  regeneration,  faith,  repentance,  the  atone- 
ment, just  as  other  sinners  do.  Why  not  treat  them  as  you  do 
other  congregations  ?  "  We  are  reminded  of  this  incident  by 
the  following :  "  A  minister's  wife  asked  Mr.  P.  how  he  felt 
when  about  to  preach  in  St.  Paul's  church,  Methodist,  New 
York  City.  He  said,  when  he  saw  the  millionaires  and  other 
persons  of  note  coming  in,  he  felt  very  small ;  but  when  he 
saw  a  colored  woman  come1  in  and  kneel  in  one  corner  of  her 
pew  to  pray,  he  felt  he  was  all  right," 


NEW   TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  143 


DANCING  THAT  LED  TO  MURDER. 

And  when  the  daughter  of  the  said  Herodias  came  in,  and  danced,  and 
pleased  Herod  and  them  that  sat  with  him,  the'king  said  unto  the  damsel,  Ask 
of  me  whatsoever  thou  wilt,  antf  I  will  give  it  thee.  —  Mark  G  :  22. 

¥HEN  I  hear  of  a  dancing  party,  I  feel  an  uneasy  sensation 
about  the  throat,  remembering  that  a  far  greater  preach- 
er had  his  head  danced  off  in  the  days  of  our  Lord.  However 
pleasing  the  polkas  of  Herodias'  daughter  might  be  to  Herod, 
they  were  dear  to  John  the  Baptist.  The  caperings  and  wan- 
tonings  of  the  ball-room  are  death  to  the  solemn  influence  of 
our  ministry,  and  many  an  ill-ended  life  first  received  its  bent 
for  evil  amid  the  flippancies  of  gay  assemblies  met  to  trip  away 
the  hours.  Ever  since  Herodias  danced  off  the  head  of  the 
Lord's  prophet,  the  curse  of  God  seems  to  be  on  the  dance. 
It  is  death  to  the  moral  influence  of  those  who  engage  in  it, 
It  will  bring  spiritual  and  eternal  death ;  for  it  inflames  the 
passions,  blunts  the  conscience,  and  leads  on  to  greater  vices. 
Parents  cannot  be  too  careful  in  restraining  their  children 
from  this  evil. 


PRIVATE  PRAYER. 

And  when  he  had  sent  them  away,  he  departed  into  a  mountain  to  pray.  — 
Mark  6  :  46. 

IT  is  very  helpful  to  spend  a  few  moments  in  preparation 
before  we  engage  in  secret  devotion.  "  You  cannot,"  says 
Flavel,  "  come  reeking  hot  out  of  the  world  into  God's  pres- 
ence, but  you  will  find  a  taste  of  it  in  your  duties."  How  ex- 
cellent was  the  plan  of  the  mother  of  the  Wesleys,  whose  habit 
was,  when  she  went  alone  for  prayer,  to  sit  down  and  think 
of  God  for  some  minutes  before  she  addressed  him.  M;>ny  a 
golden  opportunity  of  fellowship  with  Christ  is  lost  for  want  of 
this.  Let  us,  when  we  enter  into  our  closet,  and  shut  the  door, 
think,  "  I  am  now  alone  with  God  ;  no  eye  but  his  looks  down 
upon  me  ;  no  ear  but  his  hearkens  to  my  words.  His  presence 
surrounds  me,  and  I  kneel  before  him  to  implore  his  help.  Let 


144  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

me,  with  deep  seriousness,  and  lively  faith,  address  myself  to 
the  supreme  God. 

"  I  ought  to  pray  before  seeing  any  one.  Often,  when  I 
sleep  long,  or  meet  with  others  early,  and  then  have  family 
prayer,  and  breakfast,  and  forenoon-callers,  it  is  eleven  or 
twelve  o'clock  before  I  begin  secret  prayer.  This  is  a  wretched 
system.  It  is  unscriptural.  Christ  rose  before  day,  and  went 
into  a  solitary  place.  David  says,  '  Early  will  I  seek  thee  ; 
thou  shalt  early  hear  my  voice.'  Mary  Magdalene  came  to 
'  the  sepulcher '  while  '  it  was  yet  dark/  Family  prayer  loses 
much  of  its  power  and  sweetness,  and  I  can  do  no  good  to  those 
who  come  to  seek  it  from  me.  The  conscience  feels  guilty, 
the  soul  unfed,  the  lamp  not  trimmed.  Then,  when  secret 
prayer  comes,  the  soul  is  often  out  of  tune.  I  feel  it  is  far 
better  to  begin  with  God,  to  see  his  face  first,  to  get  my  soul 
near  him  before  it  is  near  another.  '  When  I  awake,  I  am  still 
with  thee.'  "  —  Robert  M.  McCheane. 


EMBARRASSING  A  PRIEST. 

Then  the  Pharisees  and  scribes  asked  him,  Why  walk  not  thy  disciples 
according  to  the  tradition  of  the  elders,  but  eat  bread  with  unwashen  hands?  — 
Mark  7 :  5. 

DR.  JESSUP,  writing  to  the  Evangelist  from  Beyrout,  Syria, 
say's,  "  I  am  almost  amazed  at  the  extent  to  which  evan- 
gelical light  pervades  the  nominally  Christian  communities  here. 
The  Greek  church  in  Beyrout  will  go  over  en  masse  some  day 
to  Protestantism,  if  the  light  continue  to  spread  in  the  future 
as  it  has  in  the  past  ten  years.  A  prominent  Greek  said,  a  few 
days  ago,  l  You  Protestants  need  not  trouble  yourselves  about 
converting  Syria.  Our  children  are  all  going  to  be  Protes- 
tants whether  you  will  or  not.  The  Bible  is  doing  the  work.' 
Another  Greek  was  visited  recently  by  a  priest  who  came  to 
receive  the  confession  of  the  family  previous  to  the  Mass.  The 
priest  said,  '  My  son,  I  have  come  to  hear  you  confess.'  '  All 
right,  your  reverence.  I  have  a  big  score  to  confess  to-day.' 
'  Go  on,  my  son.'  '  I  do  not  believe  in  the  worship  of  pictures.' 
(This  is  a  cardinal  point  in  the  Greek  church.)  '  No  matter 


NEW   TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  145 

about  that,  as  long  as  you  are  orthodox  Greek.'  l  But  I  do  not 
believe  in  the  invocation  of  the  Virgin  and  the  saints.'  '  Ah  ! 
you  do  not?  Well,  that  is  a  small  matter.  Go  on.'  l  Nor  do  I 
believe  in  transubstantiation.'  *  No  matter  about  that ;  it  is 
a  question  for  the  theologians.'  '  Nor  do  I  believe  in  priestly 
absolution.'  <  Very  well ;  between  you  and  me,  there  is  room 
for  objection  to  that,  so  no  matter  as  long  as  you  confess.' 
1  But  I  do  not  believe  in  confession  to  a  priest.'  Here  the 
priest  became  somewhat  confused,  but  finally  smoothed  the 
matter  over,  and  said,  l  No  matter  about  that.'  The  man  then 
replied,  *  What  business  have  I,  then,  in  the  Greek  church? 
Good  morning,  your  reverence  ;  I  have  done  with  the  tra- 
ditions of  men.'  " 


NATURAL  GOODNESS. 

For  from  within,  out  of  the  heart  of  men,  proceed  evil  thoughts,  adulteries, 
fornications,  murders,  thefts,  covetousness,  wickedness,  deceit,  lasciviousness, 
an  evil  eye,  blasphemy,  pride,  foolishness.  —  Mark  7  :  21,  22. 

TOU  go  home,  some  evening,  and  find  your  clock  stopped. 
But  it  so  happened  that  the  hands  just  now  are  exactly 
right.  Does  that  prove  that  the  works  inside  are  in  order? 
But,  having  nothing  to  do,  you  sit  down  and  slowly  move  the 
hands  round  with  your  finger,  and  so  keep  them  right  the  whole 
evening ;  will  that  put  the  works  in  good  condition  ?  How 
many  such  operations  would  mend  a  broken  main-spring,  or 
clean  the  wheels  ?  Now,  a  man  who  is  all  wrong  at  the  main- 
spring, in  the  heart  —  a  man  who  has  none  of  the  love  to  God, 
which  is  the  foundation  principle  of  a  sound  character  —  may 
often  do  generous  acts  in  his  life,  outside,  on  his  dial-plate,  and 
be  essentially  the  same  man  as  before. 

To  be  acceptable  to  God,  we  must  be  right  at  heart. 
Christianity  provides  for  making  the  bad  good,  by  taking 
away  heart-sins,  and  regenerating  the  soul  by  the  power  of 
the  Holy  Ghost,  As  some  external  power  mighfc  move  the 
hands  on  the  dial  till  they  were  occasionally  right,  but  could 
not  correct  the  internal  defect,  so  some  acts  of  outward  mo- 
rality may  appear  well,  even  when  the  heart  is  wrong. 
19 


146  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

DOME  OF  GOD'S  PROVIDENCE. 

He  hath  done  all  things  well.  —  Mark  1 :  37. 

IN  the  Baptistery  of  the  cathedral  at  Pisa  is  a  wonderful 
dome.  Spacious,  symmetrical  •  composed  of  the  choicest 
marble.  It  is  a  delight  to  stand  beneath,  and  gaze  upon  its 
beauties.  Thus  I  stood,  one  sunny  April  day,  when  suddenly 
the  air  became  instinct  with  melody.  The  great  dome  seemed 
full  of  harmony.  The  waves  of  music  vibrated  to  and  fro, 
loudly  beating  against  the  walls,  swelling  into  full  chords  like 
the  roll  of  a  grand  organ,  and  then  dying  away  into  soft, 
long-drawn,  far-receding  echoes,  melting  in  the  distance  into 
silence.  It  was  only  my  guide,  who,  lingering  behind  me  a 
moment,  had  softly  murmured  a  triple  chord.  But  beneath 
that  magic  roof  every  sound  resolved  into  a  symphony.  No 
discord  can  reach  the  summit  of  that  dome  and  live.  Every 
noise  made  in  the  building,  the  slamming  of  seats,  the  tramping 
of  feet,  all  the  murmur  and  bustle  of  the  crowd,  are  caught  up, 
softened,  harmonized,  blended,  and  echoed  back  in  music.  So 
it  seems  to  me  that  over  our  life  hangs  the  great  dome  of 
God's  providence.  Standing  as  we  do  beneath  it,  no  act  in 
the  divine  administration  toward  us,  no  affliction,  no  grief,  no 
loss  which  our  heavenly  Father  sends,  however  hard  to  bear 
it  may  be,  but  will  come  back  at  last,  softened,  and  blended 
into  "harmony,  within  the  over-arching  dome  of  his  Avisdom, 
mercy,  and  power,  till  to  our  corrected  sense  it  shall  be  the 
sweetest  music  of  heaven.  —  Professor  J.  Dorman  Steele.^ 


JESTJS  AND  THE  BLIND  MAN. 

And  he  took  the  blind  man  by  the  hand,  and  led  him  out  of  the  toAvn ;  and 
when  he  had  spit  on  his  eyes,  and  put  his  hands  upon  him,  he  asked  him  if  lie 
saw  aught.  —  Mark  8  :  23. 

CAN  we  read  this  narrative  without  being  deeply  touched 
by  the  ways  of  our  lowly  and  loving  Lord  ?     No  hand  but 
his  own  guided  that  poor  blind  man  ;  and  as  we  contemplate 
him   gently  leading   "  the  blind  by  a  way  they  knew  not," 


NEW   TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  147 

prophecy  and  promise  stand  out  before  us  as  finding  their  true 
fulfillment  here,  and  the  action  of  our  Lord  is  seen  to  be  sig- 
nificant of  his  wondrous  way  in  all  time  with  his  Church  as  a 
whole,  with  his  people  as  individual.  Blind  as  this  poor  man 
was,  surrounded  by  unbelievers  like  those  in  Bethsaida,  Jesus 
finds  us  dark  by  nature  and  ignorant.  Then  he  puts  forth  his 
guiding,  his  saying  hand,  and,  leading  us  apart,  away  from  the 
busy  crowd  of  careless  and  indifferent  men,  he  draws  us  iii 
solitary  thought  to  deal  with  him  alone,  till  the  blessed  moment 
when  he  puts  his  hand  forth  again,  and  opens  the  blind  eyes. 
It  has  been  well  said  by  Tholuck,  "  Faith  is  a  new  sense." 
This  is  true  in  the  experience  of  those  who  have  it ;  but  in 
order  that  they  may  attain  it,  Jesus  has  led  them  by  the  hand 
"  out  of  the  town,"  and  has  dealt  with  them  as  he  deals  with 
those  whom  his  Father  has  given  him,  out  of  the  world. 

But  there  is  often  a  difference  between  our  cases  and  that 
of  this  man.  He  was  willing,  thankful,  happy  to  be  led 
wherever  Jesus  pleased :  how  often  are  we  faithless,  reluc- 
tant, rebellious  !  "  The  meek  will  he  guide  in  judgment  — 
the  meek  will  he  teach  his  Avay."  Let  us  pray  that  he  give 
us  meek  hearts,  willing  to  be  guided  ever  by  that  gracious 
hand  ! 


SHE  PREFERRED  CHRIST  TO  HOME. 

Whosoever  will  come  after  me,  let  him  deny  himself,  and  take  up  his  cross, 
and  follow  me.  —  Mark  8  :  34. 


wise   choice  in  the  following  incident  is  worthy  of 
JL    commendation  :  — 

"  A  gentleman  and  his  wife  were  present  at  a  camp-meeting. 
Neither  had  ever  made  a  profession  of  religion.  Under  one 
of  the  sermons  the  lady  was  deeply  and  sorely  convicted  of 
sin.  She  desired  to  go  forward  and  kneel  at  the  altar  as  a 
poor  penitent.  Her  husband  protested  against  it,  and  tried  to 
lead  her  from  the  ground.  Her  conviction  was  so  profound 
and  intense  that  she  insisted  upon  presenting  herself  at  the 
altar.  He  used  his  authority,  forbidding  her  to  go.  She  pleaded 
with  him,  for  her  soul's  sake,  not  to  interfere  with  her  con- 


148  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

science.  He  threatened  to  desert  her  if  she  dared  to  go. 
'  Never  return  to  rny  house  if  you  go/  said  he.  Swept  as  by 
an  irresistible  current  of  anxiety  and  longing,  she  ran  to  the 
altar.  Casting  herself  upon  the  ground,  she  pleaded  for  the 
divine  mercy.  Such  earnest  longing  found  a  speedy  response, 
and  the  i  peace  of  God  ?  rested  upon  her  spirit.  '  0,  where 
is  my  husband  ? '  she  exclaimed,  as  she  tried  to  rise  from  her 
knees.  •'  Here  I  am,'  sobbed  the  crushed  and  penitent  man, 
who  had  followed  her  in  her  flight  toward  God,  and  had  fallen 
by  her  side,  himself  crying  for  mercy.  Peace  soon  came  to 
his  heart,  and  they  went  from  the  meeting  rejoicing  in  God." 


A  HARD  PROBLEM  TO  SOLVE. 

For  what  shall  it  profit  a  man,  if  he  shall  gain  the  whole  world,  and  lose 
his  own  soul?  —  Mark  8  :  36. 

A  YOUNG  man  who  had  graduated  at  one  of  the  first  col- 
leges, and  was  celebrated  for  his  literary  attainments, 
particularly  his  knowledge  of  mathematics,  settled  in  a  village 
where  a  faithful  minister  of  the  gospel  was  stationed.  It  was 
not  long  before  the  clergyman  met  with  him  in  one  of  his 
evening  walks,  and,  after  some  conversation,  as  they  were 
about  to  part,  addressed  him  as  follows  :  — 

"  I  have  heard  you  are  celebrated  for  your  mathematical 
skill ;  I  have  a  problem  which  I  wish  you  to  solve." 

"  What  is  it  ?  "  eagerly  inquired  the  young  man. 

The  clergyman  answered  with  a  solemn  tone  of  voice, 
"  What  shall  it  profit  a  man  if  he  should  gain  the  whole  world, 
and  lose  his  own  soul  ?  " 

The  youth  returned  home,  and  endeavored  to  shake  off  the 
impression  fastened  on  him  by  the  problem  proposed  to  him, 
but  in  vain.  In  the  giddy  round  of  pleasure,  in  his  studies, 
the  question  still  forcibly  returned  to  him,  "  What  if  I  gain 
the  whole  world,  and  lose  my  own  soul  ?  "  It  resulted  in  his 
conversion,  and  his  becoming  an  able  advocate  and  preacher 
of  the  gospel  he  once  rejected. 


NEW   TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  149 

MONEY  RECEIVED  IN  EXCHANGE  FOR  HIS  SOUL. 

Or  what  shall  a  man  give  in  exchange  for  his  soul?  —  Mark  8  :  37. 

THE  great  London  preacher,  Mr.  Spurgeon,  tells  the  follow- 
ing story  in  one  of  his  sermons  :  — 

"  There  is  a  story  told  of  a  most  eccentric  minister,  that 
walking  out  one  morning  he  saw  a  man  going  to  work,  and 
said  to  him,  '  What  a  lovely  morning  !  How  grateful  we  ought 
to  be  to  God  for  all  his  mercies!'  The  man  said  he  did  not 
know  much  about  it.  t  Why,'  said  the  minister,  '  I  suppose 
you  always  pray  to  God  for  your  wife  and  family  —  for  your 
children — don't  you?'  'No/  said  he,  'I  do  not  know  that  I 
do.'  i  What,'  said  the  minister,  '  do  you  never  pray  ? '  '  No.' 
'Then  I  will  give  you.  half  a  crown,  if  you  will  promise  me 
you  never  will,  as  long  as  ever  you  live.'  '  0,'  said  he, '  I  shall 
be  very  glad  of  half  a  crown  to  get  me  a  drop  of  beer.' 

"  He  took  the  half  crown,  and  promised  never  to  pray  as 
long  as  he  lived.  He  went  to  his  work,  and  when  he  had 
been  digging  for  a  little  while,  he  thought  to  himself,  l  That's 
a  queer  thing  —  I've  taken  money,  and  promised  never  to 
pray  as  long  as  I  live.'  He  thought  it  over,  and  it  made  him 
feel  wretched.  He  went  home  to  his  wife,  and  told  her  of  it. 
'  Well,  John/  said  she,  l  you  may  depend  upon  it,  it  was  the 
devil;  you've  sold  yourself  to  the  devil  for  half  a  crown.' 
This  so  bowed  the  poor  wretch  down  that  he  did  not  know 
what  to  do  with  himself.  This  was  all  his  thought  —  that  he 
had  sold  himself  to  the  devil  for  money,  and  would  soon  be 
carried  off  to  hell. 

"  He  commenced  attending  places  of  worship,  conscious  that 
it  was  of  no  use,  for  he  had  sold  himself  to  the  devil ;  but  he 
was  really  ill,  bodily  ill,  through  the  fear  and  trembling  which 
had  come  upon  him.  One  night  he  recognized  in  the  preacher 
the  very  man  who  had  given  him  the  half  crown ;  and  probably 
the  preacher  recognized  him,  for  the  text  was,  '  What  shall  it 
profit  a  man  if  he  shall  gain  the  whole  world,  and  lose  his  own 
soul?'  The  preacher  remarked  that  he  knew  a  man  who  had 
sold  his  soul  for  half  a  crown.  The  poor  man  rushed  forward, 
and  said,  'Take  it  back!  Take  it  back!'  'You  said  you 


150  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

never  would  pray/  said  the  minister,  l  if  I  gave  you  half  a 
crown ;  do  you  want  to  pray  ? '  '  0,  yes  ;  I  would  give  the 
world  to  be  allowed  to  pray.'  That  man  was  a  great  fool  to 
sell  his  soul  for  half  a  crown ;  but  some  of  you  are  a  great  deal 
bigger  fools,  for  you  never  had  the  half  crown,  and  yet  you  do 
not  pray,  and  I  dare  say  never  will ;  but  will  go  down  to  hell, 
never  having  sought  God." 


TRANSFIGURATION  OF  CHRIST. 

And  there  appeared  unto  them  Elias  with  Moses  :  and  they  were  talking 
with  Jesus.  And  Peter  answered  and  said  to  Jesus,  Master,  it  is  good  for  us 
to  be  here  :  and  let  us  make  three  tabernacles ;  one  for  thee,  and  one  for 
Moses,  and  one  for  Elias.  —  Mark  9  :  4,  5. 

CONCERNING  the  wonderful  event  known  as  the  Trans- 
\J  figuration  of  Christ,  Dr.  Adam  Clarke,  in  his  Commentary 
on  Matt.  17  :  7,  9,  says,  "  It  is  very  likely  that  this  transfigura- 
tion took  place  in  the  night,  which  was  a  more  proper  season 
to  show  forth  its  glory  than  the  daytime,  in  which  a  part  of 
the  splendor  must  necessarily  be  lost  by  the  presence  of  the 
solar  light.  That  this  transfiguration  was  intended  to  show 
forth  the  final  abolition  of  the  whole  ceremonial  law ;  which 
necessarily  could  not  fail  to  irritate  the  Jewish  rulers  and  peo- 
ple, and  should  therefore  be  kept  secret  till  Jesus  had  accom- 
plished vision  and  prophecy  by  his  death  and  resurrection. 

"  The  whole  of  this  emblematic  transaction  appears  to  me 
to  be  intended  to  prove  the  reality  of  the  world  of  spirits,  and 
the  immortality  of  the  soul ;  the  resurrection  of  the  body,  and 
the  doctrine  of  future  rewards  and  punishments ;  the  abolition 
of  the  Mosaic  institutions,  and  the  fulfillment  of  the  predictions 
of  the  prophets  relative  to  the  person,  nature,  sufferings,  death, 
and  resurrection  of  Christ,  and  the  glory  that  should  follow. 
The  establishment  of  the  mild,  light-bringing,  and  life-giving 
gospel  of  the  Son  of  God.  That  as  the  old  Jewish  covenant 
and  mediatorship  had  ended,  Jesus  was  now  to  be  considered 
as  the  sole  teacher,  the  only  availing  offering  for  sin,  and  the 
grand  mediator  between  God  and  man." 


NEW   TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  151 


CUPS  OF  COLD  WATER. 

For  whosoever  shall  give  you  a  cup  of  water  to  drink  in  my  name,  because 
ye  belong  to  Christ,  verily  I  say  unto  you,  he  shall  not  lose  his  reward.  — 
Mark  9  :  41. 

THERE  is  a  pleasant  story  told  of  a  man  living  on  the  bor- 
ders of  an  African  desert,  who  carried  daily  a  pitcher  of 
cold  water  to  the  dusty  thoroughfare,  and  left  it  for  any  thirsty 
traveler  who  might  pass  that  way.  And  our  Saviour  said, 
"  Whosoever  shall  give  to  drink  unto  one  of  these  little  ones 
a  cup  of  cold  water  only,  in  the  name  of  a  disciple,  verily  I  say 
unto  you,  he  shall  in  no  wise  lose  his  reward."  But  cups  of 
cold  water  are  not  given  in  African  deserts  alone.  A  spiritual 
Sahara  spreads  over  the  whole  earth,  and  to  its  fainting  trav- 
elers many  a  ready  hand  holds  forth  the  grateful  "  cup."  . 

A  lady,  whose  home  looks  out  upon  our  beautiful  Common, 
called  to  ask  me  if  I  would  tell  her  of  some  poor  and  sick  per- 
sons to  whom  she  could  be  of  service  in  furnishing  good  books. 
The  names  of  two  were  given ;  and  the  Testament,  in  large 
type,  which  shortly  found  its  way  to  the  old  man's  abode,  also 
the  green  tea  and  white  sugar  —  rare  luxuries  —  for  the  feeble 
woman  in  the  cellar  kitchen,  and  the  dollar  bill,  slipped  into 
her  hand  at  parting,  were  they  not  "  cups  of  cold  water  ?  " 


TAR  FROM  GOD -A  PUNISHMENT. 

Where  their  worm  dieth  not,  and  the  fire  is  not  quenched.  —  Mark  9 :  46. 

LET  the  fairest  star  be  selected,  like  a  beauteous  island  in 
the  vast  and  shoreless  sea  of  the  azure  heavens,  as  the 
future  home  of  .the  criminals  from  the  earth,  and  let  them  pos- 
sess whatever  they  most  love,  and  all  that  it  is  possible,  for 
God  to, bestow;  let  them  be  endowed  with  undying  bodies, 
and  with  minds  which  shall  for  ever  retain  their  intellectual 
powers ;  let  no  Saviour  ever  press  his  claims  upon  them,  no 
God  reveal  himself  to  them,  no  Sabbath  ever  dawn  upon  them, 
no  saint  ever  live  among  them,  no  prayer  ever  be  heard  within 


152  NEW   TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

their  borders  ;  but  let  society  exist  there  for  ever,  smitten  only 
by  the  leprosy  of  hatred  to  God,  and  with  utter  selfishness  as 
its  all-prevailing  and  eternal  purpose ;  then,  as  sure  as  the  law 
of  righteousness  exists,  on  which  rests  the  throne  of  God,  and 
the  government  of  tlie  universe,  a  society  so  constituted  must 
work  out  for  itself  a  hell  of  solitary  and  bitter  suffering,  to 
which  there  is  no  limit,  except  the  capacity  of  a  finite  nature  ! 
Alas !  the  spirit  that  is  without  love  to  its  God  or  its  neigh- 
bor, is  already  possessed  by  a  power  which  must  at  last 
create  for  its  own  self-torrnent  a  worm  that  will  never  die, 
and  a  fire  that  can  ne.ver  more  be  quenched.  —  Dr.  Norman 
Madeod. 


COVENANT  OF  SALT. 

Salt  is  good  :  but  if  the  salt  have  lost  his  saltness,  wherewith  will  ye  season 
it?  Have  salt  in  yourselves,  and  have  peace  one  with  another.  —  Mark  9  :  50. 

IN  order  to  give  a  pledge  of  the  inviolability  of  their  engage- 
ments, the  Orientals  have,  from  time  immemorial,  been  in 
the  habit  of  eating  salt  together.  Some  think  that,  as  with 
all  sacrifices  salt  was  offered,  a  covenant  of  salt  means  one 
confirmed  by  solemn  sacrifice.  Others  are  of  opinion  that 
it  contains  an  allusion  to  the  fact  that  covenants  were  gener- 
ally confirmed  by  the  parties  eating  together,  salt  being  a 
necessary  appendage.  This  act  of  eating  another's  salt  has 
always  been  regarded  as  a  token  of  fidelity  and  friendship  ; 
hence,  during  the  British  war  in  India,  there  were  bitter 
complaints  that  those  who  had  eaten  English  salt  had  rebelled 
against  English  authority.  Tamerlane,  speaking  of  a  traitor 
who  had  gone  over  to  the  enemy,  but  who  afterwards  returned 
to  loyalty  and  obedience,  says,  "  My  salt  which  he  had  eaten 
filled  him  with  remorse,  till  at  length  he  fled  from  his  new 
master,  and  threw  himself  on  my  mercy."  - 

If  Herbetat  mentions  the  following  incident  of  Jacoub-ben- 
Laith,  the  founder  of  a  dynasty  of  Persian  princes,  who  is  said 
to  have  broken  into  the  palace  of  that  country,  and  having 
collected  a  very  large  booty,  which  he  was  on  the  point  of 
carrying  off,  he  found  las  foot  kicked  something  which  made 


LITTLE    CHILBREH    TO    COME    KIOTO)  ME 


NEW   TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  153 

him  stumble.  He  imagined  it  might  be  something  of  value, 
and  putting  it  to  his  mouth  the  better  to  distinguish  what  it 
was,  soon  found  it  was  a  lump  of  salt.  Upon  this  he  was  so 
touched  that  he  left  all  his  booty,  and  retired  without  taking 
any  part  of  it  with  him.  Great  was  the  surprise  in  the  palace, 
and  strict  the  inquiry  made  on  the  following  morning,  when  it 
was  found  that  Jacoub  was  the  guilty  man.  On  examination, 
he  stated  the  whole  of  the  circumstances  to  the  prince,  with 
such  apparent  sincerity,  as  to  gain  his  favor.  Having  been 
engaged  in  many  successful  enterprises,  he  was  raised  by  the 
prince  to  the  highest  position  in  the  army,  and  on  the  death 
of  his  sovereign,  became  the  absolute  master  of  the  province, 
from  whence  he  afterward  spread  his  conquests  far  and  wide. 
His  regard  to  salt,  and  the  principles  it  symbolized,  laid  the 
foundation  of  his  greatness. 


CHILDHOOD  RECOGNIZED  IN  CHRISTIANITY.  ' 

And  they  brought  young  children  to  him,  that  he  should  touch  them;  and 
his  disciples  rebuked  those  that  brought  them.  But  when  Jesus  saw  it,  he  was 
much  displeased,  and  said  unto  them,  Suffer  the  little  children  to  come  unto 
me,  and  forbid  them  not ;  for  of  such  is  the  kingdom  of  God.  —  Mark  10  :  13,  14. 

OF  all  the  great  religious  systems,  such  as  Pagan,  Moham- 
medan, and  Christian,  Christianity  alone  officially  recog- 
nizes childhood.  By  this  recognition,  it  shows  it  is  designed 
for  humanity,  without  regard  to  age  or  sex.  Little  children 
are  made  partakers  of  its  benefits,  and  sharers  in  the  privileges 
of  its  covenant  blessings.  It  not  only  allows  little  children 
attendance  upon  the  public  worship  of  God,  but  before  they 
can  express  a  faith,  or  perform  obedience,  they  are  allowed 
to  enter  covenant  relations,  and  receive  the  seal  of  that  cove- 
nant in  baptism.  Jesus  said,  "  Suffer  the  little  children  to 
come  unto  me,  and  forbid  them  not,  for  of  such  is  the  king- 
dom of  God."  The  "  come  unto  me,"  means  as  much  wln-n 
predicated  of  children  as  of  adults,  though  the  "  coming  "  may 
require  the  parents'  arms  in  bringing  them.  It  is  worthy  of 
remark  that  our  Lord  was  never  "  much  displeased,"  except 
when  his  mistaken  disciples  rebuked  those  parents  who  brought 
young  children  to  him,  that  he  might  touch  them. 
20 


154  NEW   TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

He  was  betrayed  by  Judas,  denied  by  Peter,  mocked  by 
Roman  soldiers,  spit  upon,  and  beaten  by  his  enemies,  and 
delivered  over  by  his  countrymen  to  be  crucified ;  but  in  all 
this  he  was  not  "  much  displeased."  But  when  his  disciples, 
without  authority,  rebuked  those  parents  as  they  brought  their 
infant  children  to  Jesus,  then  was  he  "  much  displeased."  If 
allowed  to  pass  unnoticed  and  unrebuked  by  our  Lord,  that 
unchristian  act  of  the  disciples  might  be  taken  as  an  indication 
that  children  under  the  gospel  dispensation  are  disallowed 
covenant  blessings.  But  with  the  sharp  rebuke  of  our  Lord 
to  those  disciples,  and  his  words  which  follow,  no  Christian 
parent  should  hesitate  to  secure  to  his  infant  child  Christi- 
anity's official  recognition.  That  little  children  are  officially 
recognized  in  the  gospel  is  shown  — • 

First.  By  the  unrepealed  constitution  of  the  Jewish  church, 
which  allowed  to  infant  children  the  relation  of  members  with 
their  parents,  and  the  same  seal  of  the  covenant  as  their  par- 
ents. That  the  Jewish  church,  founded  in  Abraham  upon  the 
basis  of  faith,  is  continued  in  its  fundamental  principle  under 
the  gospel  dispensation,  is  shown  by  the  apostle,  who  says, 
"  Know  ye,  therefore,  that  they  which  are  of  faith,  the  same 
are  children  of  Abraham."  (Gal.  3  :  7.)  And  St.  Paul  calls  him 
"  the  father  of  all  them  that  believe."  (Rom.  4:11.) 

Second.  By  the  declaration  of  Jesus :  "  Suffer  the  little  chil- 
dren to  come  unto  me,  and  forbid  them  riot." 

T/iird.  By  the  renewal  on  the  day  of  Pentecost,  of  the 
promise  made  by  Joel  the  prophet :  "  For  the  promise  is  unto 
you  and  to  your  children."  (Acts  2  :  39.) 

Fourth.  The  baptism  of  households  by  the  apostles.  (Acts 
16:15;  1  Cor.  1 :  16.)— JF. «/. 


HEAVEN  ENTERED  WITH  DIFFICULTY. 

It  is  easier  for  a  camel  to  go  through  the  eye  of  a  needle,  than  for  a  rich 
man  to  enter  into  the  kingdom  of  God.  —  Mark  10  :  25. 

ALL  the  important  cities  of  the  East,  in  ancient  times,  were 
surrounded  by  high  and  massive  walls ;  and  so  they  are, 
as  the  modern  traveler  informs  us,  at  the  present  day.     At 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  155 

certain  points  these  walls  are  perforated  by  large  pass-ways 
for  the  exit  and  entrance  of  the  inhabitants.  These  passage- 
ways in  times  of  peace  were  open  by  day,  but  at  night  they 
were  closed  by  massive  gates,  capable  of  resisting  any  com- 
mon assault.  Now,  by  these  large  entrances  were  very  much 
smaller  ones,  used  by  foot  passengers,  and  by  those  who  had 
occasion  to  go  forth  or  enter  the  city  by  night.  They  were 
called  "  the  needle's  eye/7  as  Lord  Nugent,  an  English  traveler 
of  modern  times,  when  at  Hebron,  was  directed  to  go  out  by 
the  "  needle's  eye,"  that  is,  by  the  small  side  gate  of  the  city. 
The  camel  can  go  through  the  needle's  eye,  but  with  difficulty, 
and  hardly  with  a  full  load,  nor  without  stooping. 

I  think  this  expresses  the  just  idea  of  the  passage,  "  It  is 
easier  for  a  camel  to  go  through  the  needle's  eye,  than  for  a 
rich  man  to  enter  the  gate  of  heaven."  It  is  not  impossible 
for  a  rich  man  to  enter  heaven,  for  we  may  believe  there  are 
many  already  in  the  paradise  of  God  who  consecrated  their 
wealth  to  the  service  of  their  Redeemer,  and  trusted  in  him 
always  for  salvation.  But  just  as  the  camel  must  be  relieved 
of  part  of  his  load  before  he  can  pass  through  the  "  needle's 
eye,"  so  the  rich  man  must  divest  himself  of  large  portions  of 
his  wealth  in  the  walks  of  benevolence  in  order  to  enter  the 
gates  of  glory.  Our  Saviour  seems  to  have  reference  to  the 
same  idea  when  he  says,  "  Strait  is  the  gate."  And  as  the 
camel  was  compelled  to  stoop  in  order  to  enter  by  the  low  and 
narrow  gate  of  the  city,  so  must  the  rich  man  learn  humility 
if  he  would  "  see  the  Lord  in  the  fullness  of  joy." 


LEAVING  ALL  FOR  CHRIST. 

Then  Peter  began  to  say  unto  Mm,  Lo,  we  have  left  all,  and  have  followed 
thee.  —  Mark  10  :  28. 

ITHE  late  Rev.  W.  E.  Miller,  before  he  devoted  himself  to  the 
-L  Wesleyan  ministry,  was  an  eminent  musician  in  Sheffield. 
He  possessed  a  violin  which,  it  is  said,  he  estimated  at  the 
value  of  three  hundred  guineas ;  the  probability  is,  that,  with 
his  well-known  disregard  of  money,  it  was  invaluable.  The 


156  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

tradition  in  current  vogue  used  to  be,  that,  when  young  Miller 
was  in  India,  he  heard  that,  in  the  court  of  Tippoo  Saib,  an 
exquisite  instrument  was  in  use  by  one  of  the  sultan's  band ; 
and,  having  pushed  his  way  to  Seringapatam,  he  so  enchanted 
the  sovereign  by  his  performances  as  to  obtain  possession  of 
the  prize.  Whatever  may  have  been  the  means  by  which  he 
came  to  be  possessed  of  it,  he  acquired  it  in  India.  That 
which  is  the  means  of  acquiring  happiness  or  glory,  though 
in  itself  unimportant,  becomes  interesting  to  its  possessor,  and 
often  the  fond  object  of  superstitious  affection.  The  horse 
which  carried  Alexander  through  his  wars  was  next  to  deified 
by  the  hero.  Mr.  Miller's  violin  had  more  than  carried  him 
to  the  height  of  his  fame  and  popularity  :  it  had  been  the  com- 
panion of  his  wanderings  in  a  foreign  land ;  it  had  soothed  his 
hours  of  weariness  on  board  ship ;  and  it  had  given  life  to,  and 
made  vocal,  the  deep,  tender,  enthusiastic,  and  melancholy 
emotions  of  his  inmost  soul.  When,  however,  Mr.  Miller  was 
brought  to  feel  the  necessity  of  a  perfect  decision  in  religion, 
he  found  that  this  instrument  stood  in  his  way ;  it  was  the  idol 
of  his  heart ;  he  was  perfectly  wedded  to  it ;  and  he  felt  it  to 
be  a  great  snare.  "  With  almost  unexampled  firmness  and 
resolution,"  adds  his  biographer,  "  he  laid  it  aside,  —  though 
at  the  time  he  was  esteemed  the  second,  if  not  the  first,  per- 
former in  England, — with  the  purpose  never  to  touch  it  more; 
and  he  kept  his  resolution  to  the  day  of  his  death." 


THE  LAST  TIME. 

And  when  he  heard  that  it  was  Jesus  of  Nazareth,  he  began  to  cry  out,  and 
say,  Jesus,  thou  Son  of  David,  have  mercy  on  me.  —  Mark  10 :  47. 

A  CLERGYMAN  of  this  city,  while  making  some  remarks  on 
J\_  the  case  of  blind  Bartimeus,  as  recorded  in  Mark  10  :  46- 
51,  observed  that  our  Saviour  on  that  occasion  was  passing 
through  Jericho  for  the  last  time  ;  and  that  it  was  the  last  oppor- 
tunity which  the  poor  man  could  ever  have  enjoyed  for  obtain- 
ing that  mercy  which  he  sought.  In  applying  this  to  the  case 
of  impenitent  sinners,  he  observed  that  there  is  to  each  one  a 
last  time  in  which  the  offers  of  salvation  are  made.  To  impress 


NEW   TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  157 

this  truth  more  deeply,  he  mentioned  a  case  which  came  under 
his  own  observation :  He  was  called  to  visit  a  very  aged  man 
on  his  death-bed,  so  deaf  that  it  was  with  great  difficulty  he 
could  understand  what  was  said  to  him.  A  young  woman  was 
present,  to  whom  the  clergyman  observed  that  it  was  dan- 
gerous putting  off  preparation  for  death  till  a  dying  hour  — 
that  the  present  was  the  best  time  to  attend  to  so  important  a 
concern  —  and  that  it  might  be  the  last  time  in  which  the  offers 
of  salvation  would  be  made  to  her.  She  was  soon  after  taken 
with  a  violent  fever,  which  deprived  her  of  her  reason.  The 
clergyman  was  sent  for.  but  it  was  too  late  •  she  had  heard  the 
gospel  for  the  last  time,  and  neglected  it,  and  death  closed  the 
scene. 


WHY  AM  I  NOT  A  CHRISTIAN? 

And  Jesus  stood  still,  and  commanded  him  to  be  called.  And  they  call 
the  blind  man,  saying  unto  him,  Be  of  good  comfort,  rise ;  he  calleth  thee.  — 
Mark  10  :  49. 

1.  TS  it  because  I  am  afraid  of  ridicule  ? 

_L  "  Whosoever  shall  be  ashamed  of  me  and  of  my  words, 
of  him  shall  the  Son  of  man  be  ashamed." 

2.  Is  it  because  of  the  inconsistencies  of  professing  Chris- 
tians ? 

"Every  man  shall  give  an  account  of  himself  to  God." 

3.  Am  I  not  willing  to  give  up  all  for  Christ  ? 

"  What  shall  it  profit  a  man  if  he  shall  gain  the  whole  world, 
and  lose  his  own  soul  ?  " 

4.  Am  I  afraid  that  I  shall  not  be  accepted  ? 

"  Him  that  cometh  unto  me  I  will  in  no  wise  cast  out." 

5.  Is  it  for  fear  I  am  too  great  a  sinner  ? 

"  The  blood  of  Jesus  Christ  his  Son  cleanseth  from  all  sin." 

6.  Is  it  because  I  fear  I  shall  not  "  hold  out  "  ? 

"  He  that  hath  begun  a  good  work  in  you,  will  perform  it 
unto  the  day  of  Christ  Jesus." 

7.  Am  I  thinking  that  I  will  do  as  well  as  I  can,  and  that 
God  ought  to  be  satisfied  with  that  ? 

"  Whosoever  shall  keep  the  whole  law,  and  yet  offend  in  one 
point,  is  he  guilty  of  all." 


158  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

8.  Is  it  because  I  am  postponing  the  matter,  without  any 
definite  reason  ? 

"  Boast  not  thyself  of  to-morrow,  for  thoti  knowest  not  what 
a  day  may  bring  forth." 

Reader !  think  of  these  several  questions,  divinely  an- 
swered. 


NOTHING.  BUT  LEAVES. 

And  seeing  a  fig  tree  afar  off  having  leaves,  he  came,  if  haply  he  might 
find  any  thing  thereon  :  and  when  he  came  to  it,  he  found  nothing  but  leaves ; 
for  the  time  of  figs  was  not  yet.  — Mark  11 :  13. 

]^TOTHING  but  leaves  !     The  Spirit  grieves 
±\      Over  a  wasted  life  : 
O'er  sins  committed  while  conscience  slept ; 
Promises  made  but  never  kept ; 
Folly,  and  shame,  and  strife  ; 
Nothing  but  leaves. 

Nothing  but  leaves  !     No  gathered  sheaves 

Of  life's  fair  ripening  grain ; 
We  sow  our  seeds,  lo  !  tares  and  weeds, 
Words,  idle  words,  for  earnest  deeds ; 

We  reap  with  toil  and  pain, 
Nothing  but  leaves. 

Nothing  but  leaves  !     Sad  memory  weaves 

No  vail  to  hide  the  past ; 
And  as  we  trace  our  weary  way, 
Counting  each  lost  and  misspent  day, 

Sadly  we  find  at  last 
Nothing  but  leaves. 

Ah  !  who  shall  thus  the  Master  meet, 

Bearing  but  withered  leaves  ? 
Ah  !  who  shall  at  the  Saviour's  feet, 
Before  the  awful  judgment-seat, 

Lay  down  for  golden  sheaves 
Nothing  but  leaves  ? 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  159 


"HAVE  FAITH  IN  GOD." 

And  Peter  calling  to  remembrance,  saith  unto  him,  Master,  behold,  the  fig 
tree  which  thou  cursedst  is  withered  away.  And  Jesus  answering,  saith  unto 
them,  Have  faith  in  God.  —  Mark  11:21,  22. 

IT  appears  from  the  chapter  in  which  these  words  are  found, 
that  Christ  had  said  of  the  fruitless  fig  tree,  "  No  man  shall 
eat  fruit  of  thee  hereafter  for  ever."  "  And  his  disciples  heard 
it."  Subsequently,  "  as  they  passed  by,  they  saw  the  fig  tree 
dried  up  from  the  roots.  And  Peter  calling  to  remembrance, 
saith  unto  him,  Master,  behold,  the  fig  tree  which  thou  cursedst 
is  withered  away."  The  Saviour  replied,  "  Have  faith  in  God." 
This,  says  Dr.  Clark,  is  a  mere  Hebraism ;  have  the  faith  of 
God ;  i.  e.,  have  strong  faith,  or  the  strongest  faith. 

The  importance  of  having  "  the  faith  of  God  "  cannot  be  too 
deeply  felt  by  every  Christian  who  would  act  understand- 
ingly  and  efficiently  in  the  work  assigned  him.  The  apostle 
is  clear  and  emphatic  on  this  point,  in  the  llth  chapter  of 
Hebrews  :  "  But  without  faith,  it  is  impossible  to  please  him  ; 
for  he  that  cometh  to  God,  must  believe  that  he  is,  and  that  he 
is  a  re  warder  of  them  that  diligently  seek  him." 

While  we  consider  the  importance  of  faith,  the  inquiry  nat- 
urally arises  in  the  mind,  "What  is  faith?"  And  this  is  an 
inquiry  of  momentous  importance  to  every  one  who  believes  the 
doctrine  of  the  moral  agency  of  man,  and  that  man's  salvation 
depends  upon  his  having  faith  in  "  God  manifested  in  the 
flesh,  justified  in  the  Spirit,  seen  of  angels,  preached  unto 
the  Gentiles,  believed  on  in  the  world,  received  up  into  glory." 

Fortunately  for  us,  a  question  of  so  much  importance  is  not 
left  without  an  answer  —  an  answer  so  plain  that  "  the  way- 
faring men,  though  fools,"  need  "  not  err  therein."  "  Now 
f-iithis  the  substance  (margin,  ground,  or  confidence)  of  things 
hoped  for,  the  evidence  of  things  not  seen."  Faith  is  the 
subsistence  of  things  hoped  for  ;  the  demonstration  of  things  not 
seen.  (Clarke.)  This  question, and  the  answer,  should  receive 
our  most  serious,  candid,  and  prayerful  consideration.  No 
man  ever  became  great  in  any  sense,  without  laboring  for  it 
with  all  his  strength ;  and  especially  is  it  true,  that  no  one 


160  NEW   TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

ever  became  a  distinguished  Christian,  without  taking  great 
pains.  If  we  would  obtain  the  crown,  we  must  "  run  with  pa- 
tience the  race  that  is  set  before  us,  looking  unto  Jesus,  the 
author  and  finisher  of  our  faith." 


FAITH  THAT  REMOVES  MOUNTAINS. 

For  verily  I  say  unto  you,  That  whosoever  shall  say  unto  this  mountain, 
Be  thou  removed,  and  be  thou  cast  into  the  sea ;  and  shall  not  doubt  in  his 
heart,  but  shall  believe  that  those  things  which  he  saith  shall  come  to  pass  ;  he 
shall  have  whatsoever  he  saith.  —  Mark  11 :  23. 

IN  one  of  the  Swiss  valleys  there  is  a  tremendous  mountain 
of  rock,  which  completely  blocks  up  one  end.  Two  travel- 
ers, journeying  up  this  valley,  caught  sight  of  this  mighty 
barrier,  and  one  of  them  said,  "  Let  us  turn  back ;  there  is  no 
way  in  this  direction  j  it  is  quite  impossible  to  climb  that  per- 
pendicular rock."  "  Come  on,"  said  the  other,  "  I  am  sure  we 
shall  get  over."  So  on  they  went,  and  at  length  discovered  a 
wonderful  groove,  cut  in  zigzags,  on  the  face  of  this  rock,  by 
means  of  which  they  gradually  ascended,  and  passed  out  of 
the  valley.  Now,  you  see  the  belief  which  the  one  traveler 
had,  prevented  that  mountain  appearing  to  his  mind  such  an 
insurmountable  thing  as  it  seemed  to  the  other.  Jesus  urges 
us  to  have  a  faith  which  will  remove  mountains ;  that  is,  such 
a  belief  as  will  prevent  our  thinking  any  spiritual  difficulty 
insurmountable,  or  anything  too  hard  for  the  Lord. 

The  faith  which  saves  is  not  a  faith  in  Christianity,  but  a 
faith  in  Christ.  The  question  is,  "  How  can  we  get  from  this 
valley  of  sin  and  death  into  the  region  of  holiness  and  life?" 
Our  guilt  seems  to  be  like  an  impassable  barrier  —  that  per- 
pendicular rock;  but  as  soon  as  we  believe  in  Christ, the  diffi- 
culty at  once  vanishes,  for  we  see  that  Christ  is  the  way.  We 
believe  in  him,  and  then  feel  sure  he  will  guide  us  home. 
Whenever  you  ride  calmly  through  a  railway  tunnel,  it  is 
because  you  have  faith, .or  confidence,  in  the  engine  driver  : 
and  all  who  have  a  holy  calmness  in  the  darkest  part  of  the 
valley  of  death,  get  it  by  trusting  entirely  in  the  grace,  merit, 
and  mercy  of  the  Lord  Jesus.  Thus  they  "  go  in  peace  ; 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  161 

their  faith  saves  them  "  from  all  vain  fears.  As  a  little  child 
can  take  its  spoonful  of  rnilk,  and  be  sustained  by  it  as  surely 
as  the  man  is  sustained  by  his  strong  meat,  so  the  little  child 
with  its  hand  of  faith  can  take  as  firm  a-  hold  of  Christ,  and 
get  life  and  salvation  as  surely  as  an  aged  Christian. 


CRAMER'S  FORG1VINGNESS. 

But  if  ye  do  not  forgive,  neither  will  your  Father  which  is  in  heaven  for- 
give your  trespasses.  —  Mark  11 :  26. 

AMONG  the  early  enemies  of  this  great  and  good  man  were 
Dr.  Thornton,  suffragan  of  Dover,  and  Dr.  Barber,  a 
civilian,  who,  though  entertained  in  his  family,  intrusted  with 
his  secrets,  and  indebted  to  him  for  many  favors,  entered  into 
a  conspiracy  against  him.  Their  letters  were  discovered : 
Cranmer  took  them  both  into  his  study,  telling  them  that  he 
had  been  basely  and  falsely  abused  by  some,  in  whom  he  had 
always  reposed  the  greatest  confidence,  and  desiring  them  to 
give  him  their  advice  as  to  the  conduct  to  be  pursued  toward 
them.  "  Harry ! "  said  Barber,  "  such  villains  and  knaves 
deserve  to  be  presently  hanged,  without  further  trial." 
"  Hanging  is  too  good  for  them,"  said  Thornton  ;  "  and  if  there 
wan't  an  executioner,  I  would  be  hangman  myself!  "  "  0  Lord, 
and  most  merciful  God  !  "  exclaimed  Cranmer,  solemnly  looking 
up  to  heaven,  "  whom  may  a  man  trust  in  these  days  ?  How 
truly  is  it  said,  i  Cursed  be  he  that  trusteth  in  man  and  maketh 
flesh  his  arm.' 7:  Then,  taking  out  the  letters  from  his  pocket, 
he  asked,  "  Know  you  these  letters,  my  masters  ?  "  They  fell 
on  their  knees,  and  humbly  sued  for  forgiveness.  "  Well," 
replied  the  archbishop,  with  mingled  tenderness  and  dignity, 
"  God  make  you  both  good  men ;  I  never  deserved  this  at 
your  hands ;  but  ask  forgiveness  of  God,  against  whom  you 
have  highly  offended." 
21 


162  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

"AND  THE  BOOK  WAS  NOT  THERE." 

This  was  the  Lord's  doing,  and  it  is  marvelous  in  our  eyes.  —  Mark  12  :  11. 

IN  the  year  1832,  the  Flat  Heads  and  Nez  Perces  tribes  of 
American  Indians  had  determined,  in  solemn  council,  to 
send  four  of  their  number  to  "  the  Rising  Sun,"  for  that  "  Book 
from  Heaven."  They  had  learned,  in  some  way,  of  the  Bible 
and  the  Saviour,  from  the  Iroquois.  Four  Indians,  one  of  them 
a  chief,  made  their  way  to  St.  Louis.  The  perils  of  this  great 
journey  of  over  one  thousand  miles  were  so  many,  that  but 
one  of  them  lived  to  return.  They  fell  into  the  hands  of  Gen- 
eral Clark,  who,  with  Lewis,  had  traveled  extensively  in  the 
regions  of  the  Columbia  River,  in  the  north-western  territory. 
He  was  a  Romanist,  and  took  them  to  his  church,  and,  to  en- 
tertain them,  to  the  theatre.  How  utterly  he  failed  to  meet 
their  wants  is  revealed  in  the  sad  words  with  which  they 
departed  :  "  I  came  to  you,"  —  and  the  survivor  repeated  the 
words  to  Rev.  Mr.  Spaulding,  years  afterwards,  —  "I  came  to 
you  with  one  eye  partly  opened;  I  go  back  with  both  eyes  closed 
and  both  arms  broken.  My  people  sent  me  to  obtain  that 
Book  from  Heaven.  You  took  me  where  your  women  dance 
as  we  do  not  allow  ours  to  dance,  and  the  Book  was  not  there. 
You  took  me  where  I  saw  men  worship  God  with  candles,  and 
the  Book  was  not  there.  I  am  now  to  return  without  it,  and  my 
people  will  die  in  darkness."  And  so  they  took  their  leave. 
But  this  sad  lament  was  overheard.  A  young  man  wrote  to 
liis  friends  in  Pittsburg.  They  showed  the  account  to  Catlin, 
of  Indian  portrait  fame,  who,  ascertaining  the  facts,  said,  "  Give 
tlftj  Bible  to  the  world."  The  Rev.  Mr.  Lee  was  soon  sent  out 
in  search  of  these  tribes,  who,  with  certain  others,  established 
a  Christian  mission  among  them.  They  got  the  Book,  and 
with  it  light  from  heaven.  With  the  Book  came  the  knowledge 
of  Christ,  then  peace  and  joy  in  the  Holy  Ghost.  There  is  no 
substitute  for  the  Book  of  God  — the  Holy  Bible.  All  grades 
of  society,  and  classes  of  men,  alike  need  it.  That  is  a  false 
religion  that  keeps  "  the  Book  "  from  the  people. 


NEW   TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  163 

PREACH  FOR  THE  MASSES. 

And  the  common  people  heard  him  gladly.  —  Mark  12  :  37. 

IF  the  minister  will  lose  sight  of  self,  he  will  more  effectually 
exhibit  Christ.  Our  fine  preachers  embody  too  many 
ideas  in  their  discourses,  and  mystify  them  with  too  many 
learned  words.  They  attempt  to  meet  the  supposed  demands 
of  the  cultured  few  in  their  congregations,  instead  of  the  simple- 
minded  many.  Consequently  the  few  praise  the  preacher, 
while  the  many  go  away  unfed.  Nine  tenths  of  the  hearers 
of  some  preachers  can  give  no  intelligible  synopsis  of  their 
sermons,  and  for  the  reason  that  they  are  over-crowded  with 
thoughts  expressed  ^in  language  beyond  the  comprehension  of 
the  people.  I  often  wonder,  while  listening  to  such  dis- 
courses, what  models  do  such  preachers  follow.  Certainly  not 
Christ  and  his  apostles.  Their  discourses  were  simple  talks, 
with  few  but  clearly-defined  ideas,  expressed  in  the  plainest 
language  of  the  people,  and  accompanied  with  convincing 
power.  Such,  too,  was  the  style  of  the  early  Methodist  preach- 
ers ;  such  must  our  fine  preachers  condescend  to  adopt  if 
they  would  have  the  "  common  people  hear  them  gladly."  — 

a  a  North. 

JEHOIADA'S  IDEA  OF  GIVING. 

And  Jesus  sat  over  against  the  treasury,  and  beheld  how  the  people  cast 
money  into  the  treasury  :  and  many  that  were  rich  cast  in  much.  —  Mark  12:41. 

IN  collecting  money  for  the  repairs  of  the  temple,  which 
•  Athaliah  and  her  sons  had  dilapidated,  the  good  priest  did 
a  thing  worth  noticing.  He  had  a  chest  placed  right  alongside 
the  brazen  altar  in  front  of  the  temple,  and  in  the  lid  of  the 
chest  was  a  hole  bored,  and  into  the  hole  the  priests,  selected 
for  the  purpose,  dropped  the  coins  which  the  people  brought, 
either  as  their  half-shekel  tax,  or  as  the  offerings  for  vows,  or 
as  the  free-will  offering  to  the  temple  of  Jehovah.  When  I 
read  this  story,  and  then  read  from  Paul's  First  Epistle  to  the 
Corinthians,  "Upon  the  first  day  of  the  week  (the  Lord's  day, 


164  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

mind  you  !)  let  every  one  of  you  lay  by  him  in  store,  as  God 
hath  prospered  him,"  I  cannot  help  thinking  that  giving  is  a 
part  of  worship.  Close  alongside  the  great  altar  where  the 
type  of  the  Lamb  of  God  was  offered  up  was  the  money-chest. 
How  exalted  giving  to  the  Lord's  cause  is  in  this  light !  And 
Paul  calls  it  Sunday  work,  puts  it  with  prayer,  and  praise,  and 
Bible  instruction,  and  all  that  is  improving  to  the  soul.  I  take 
it  that  if  all  Christians  in  our  land  would  entertain  the  notion  of 
Jehoiada  and  Paul  about  giving  to  the  Lord  (and  it  is  not  their 
notion  but  the  Holy  Ghost's),  our  spiritual  temple  would  not 
be  so  dilapidated  —  thousands  would  flow  forth  from  willing 
hearts,  where  now  hundreds  are  squeezed  out.  Take  the  idea, 
my  brother  with  the  long  purse,  yes,  and  my  brother  with  the 
short  purse,  too.  Make  your  giving  a  part  of  your  worship, 
and  then  thank  Jehoiada  and  Paul,  but  above  all  the  Lord,  for 
making  your  Christian  life  the  happier.  —  Rev.  Dr.  Crosby. 


THE  WIDOW'S  MITE. 

And  there  came  a  certain  poor  widow,  and  she  threw  in  two  mites,  which 
make  a  farthing.  —  Mark  12  :  42. 

IT  is  quite  time  that  the  value  of  the  widow's  mite  should 
be  determined.  Her  example  is  frequently  quoted,  and 
even  the  penurious  use  it  as  a  sort  of  shield.  A  gentleman 
called  upon  a  wealthy  friend  for  a  contribution.  "  Yes,  I  must 
give  my  mite,"  said  the  rich  man.  "  You  mean  the  widow's 
mite,  I  suppose  ?  "  replied  the  other.  "  To  be  sure  I  do."  The 
gentleman  continued,  "  I  will  be  satisfied  with  half  as  much  as 
she  gave.  How  much  are  you  worth  ?  "  "  Seventy  thousand 
dollars,"  he  answered.  "  Give  me,  then,  a  check  for  thirty- 
five  thousand,  that  will  be  just  half  as  much  as  the  widow 
gave ;  for  she  gave  all  she  had."  It  was  a  new  idea  to  the 
wealthy  merchant. 

The  late  missionary,  Rev.  Daniel  Temple,  once  said  at  a 
meeting  of  the  missionary  board,  "  The  poor  widow's  gift  is 
not  to  be  estimated  so  much  by  what  she  gave,  as  by  what  she 
Lad  left." 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  165 

OVER-SCRUPULOUSNESS. 

But  take  heed  to  yourselves.  —  Mark  13  :  9. 

THE  Rev.  Dr.  McLeod  (father  of  the  late  Norman  McLeod) 
was  proceeding  from  the  manse  of  D to  church,  to 

open  a  new  place  of  worship.  As  he  passed  slowly  and 
gravely  through  the  crowd  gathered  about  the  doors,  an 
elderly  man,  with  the  peculiar  kind  of  wig  known  in  that  dis- 
trict  —  bright,  smooth,  and  of  a  redidsh  brown,  accosted  him. 

il  Doctor,  if  you  please,  I  wish  to  speak  to  you." 

"  Well,  Duncan,"  says  the  venerable  doctor,  "  can  ye  not 
wait  till  after  worship  ?  " 

"  No,  doctor ;  I  must  speak  to  you  now,  for  it  is  a  matter 
upon  my  conscience." 

"  0,  since  it  is  a  matter  of  conscience,  tell  me  what  it  -is ; 
but  be  brief,  Duncan,  for  time  presses." 

"  The  matter  is  this,  doctor.  Ye  see  the  clock  yonder  on 
the  face  of  the  new  church.  Well,  there  is  no  clock  really 
there  —  nothing  but  the  face  of  the  clock.  There  is  no  truth 
in  it  but  only  once  in  the  twelve  hours.  Now,  it  is,  in  my 
mind,  very  wrong,  and  quite  against  my  conscience,  that  there 
should  be  a  lie  on  the.  face  of  the  house  of  the  Lord." 

"  Duncan,  I  will  consider  the  point.  But  I  am  glad  to  see 
you  looking  so  well ;  you  are  not  young  now ;  I  remember 
you  for  many  years ;  and  what  a  fine  head  of  hair  you  have 
still ! " 

"  Eh,  doctor,  you  are  joking  now ;  it  is  long  since  I  have 
had  my  hair." 

"  0,  Duncan,  Duncan !  are  ye  going  into  the  house  of  the 
Lord  with  a  lie  upon  your  head  ?  " 

This  settled  the  question,  and  the  doctor  heard  no  more  of 
the  lie  on  the  face  of  the  clock. 


166  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

DANIEL  CONFIRMED  BY  HISTORIC  DISCOVERIES. 

But  when  ye  shall  see  the  abomination  of  desolation,  spoken  of  by  Daniel 
the  prophet,  standing  where  it  ought  not  (let  him  that  readeth  understand), 
then  let  them  that  be  in  Judea  flee  to  the  mountains.  —  Mark  13  :  14. 

¥E  read  in  Daniel  5  :  30,  that  when  Darius  took  Babylon, 
Belshazzar,  the  king  of  it,  was  in  the  city,  and  in  "  that 
night  was  Belshazzar,  king  of  the  Chaldeans,  slain."  Herodo- 
tus, the  Greek  historian,  informs  us  that  the  king  of  Babylon, 
whose  name  was  Labynetus,  was  absent  when  the  city  was 
taken  ;  that  he  sought  shelter  in  Barsippa ;  that  Cyrus  attacked 
him  there,  took  him,  stripped  him  of  his  regal  dignity,  but 
allowed  him  to  retire,  and  to  spend  the  rest  of  his  life  in  ease 
in  Caramansa.  The  two  statements  appear  to  be  contradic- 
tory, and  that  the  credit  of  historic  veracity  must  be  denied 
either  to  Daniel  or  to  Herodotus.  Thus  stood  the  matter, 
when  Sir  Henry  Rawlinson,  the  celebrated  Oriental  scholar, 
discovered  in  his  Eastern  researches  one  of  those  cylinders  on 
which  historic  records  used  to  be  written  in  the  cuneiform 
characters  by  the  ancients.  Having  deciphered  the  writing 
on  this  relic  of  antiquity,  it  was  discovered  that  at  the  capture 
of  Babylon,  referred  to  by  Daniel  and  Herodotus,  there  were 
two  kings  presiding  over  the  empire,  a  father  and  his  son ; 
and  thus  we  can  see  that  Herodotus  speaks  of  the  father,  who 
escaped,  while  Daniel  speaks  of  the  son,  who  was  slain.  This 
unsuspected  fact  not  only  reconciles  the  prophet  and  the  his- 
torian, but  explains  an  otherwise  inexplicable  expression,  in 
Daniel,  where  it  was  promised  to  the  prophet  by  Belshazzar, 
that  if  he  could  explain  the  writing  on  the  wall,  he  would  make 
him  the  third  ruler  in  the  kingdom.  (Daniel  5  :  17.)  Now, 
why  not  the  second  ruler,  as  Joseph  in  similar  circumstances 
had  been  made  in  Egypt  ?  The  cylinder  answers  the  ques- 
tion :  there  were  two  kings  in  Babylon,  and  therefore  the 
place  next  to  the  throne  could  be  only  the  third  ruler  in  the 
kingdom. 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  167 

HOW  THIS  WORLD  MAY  END. 

Heaven  and  earth  shall  pass  away :  but  my  words  shall  not  pass  away.  — 
Mark  13  :  31. 

THE  disappearance  of  stars  from  the  planetary  world  is 
suited  to  awaken  deep  and  solemn  reflections  in  the  human 
mind.  They  indicate  that  the  period  is  coming  when  this 
earth  also  will  disappear,  and  the  heavens  be  rolled  together 
as  a  scroll,  and  the  grand  catastrophe  at  the  end  of  the  world 
will  come  to  pass. 

During  the  last  two  or  three  centuries,  upwards  of  thirteen 
fixed  stars  have  disappeared.  One  of  them,  situated  in  the 
northern  hemisphere,  presented  a  peculiar  brilliancy,  and  was 
so  bright  as  to  be  seen  by  the  naked  eye  at  midday.  It 
seemed  to  be  on  fire,  appearing  at  first  of  dazzling  white,  then 
of  a  reddish  yellow,  and  lastly  of  an  ashy  pale  color.  La  Place 
supposed  that  it  was  burned  up,  as  it  has  never  been  seen 
since.  The  conflagration  was  visible  about  sixteen  months. 
How  dreadful !  a  whole  system  on  fire,  the  great  central  lumi- 
nary and  its  planets,  with  their  mountains,  forests,  villages, 
cities,  and  inhabitants,  all  in  flames,  consumed  !  And  here  we 
have  a  presumptive  proof  of  the  truth,  and  a  solemn  illustra- 
tion of  a  singular  passage  in  the  Bible,  "  The  heavens  will 
pass  away  with  a  great  noise,  the  elements  shall  melt  with 
fervent  heat,  the  world  also,  and  the  works  therein,  shall  be 
burned  up." 

• 

INTENTION  IS  REWARDED. 

She  hath  done  what  she  could :  she  is  come  aforehand  to  anoint  my  body 
to  the  burying.  —  Mark  14  :  8. 

"VTO  higher  praise  could  be  bestowed  upon  a  servant  of 
\\  Christ  than  this.  All  that  our  Saviour  and  Master  does 
is  not  to  exact  of  us  this  or  that  visible  or  positive  result,  and 
then  for  this,  and  this  alone,  reward  us ;  he  simply  requires 
that,  in  whatsoever  position,  and  under  whatsoever  circum- 
stances, we  do  what  we  can  to  advance  his  cause.  He  will 
not  ask  what  has  he  done,  but  what  has  he  desired  to  do,  and 


1G8  NEW   TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

tried  his  very  best  to  do  ;  not  how  many  sheaves  has  he  gath- 
ered, and  does  he  bring  from  the  great  harvest-field,  but  how 
many  has  he  sought  to  bring.  I  bless  God  for  this  comforting 
thought.  I  see  little  that  we  have  done  to  encourage  us  to 
continue  to  labor  and  toil,  to  preach  and  pray  ;  little  that  is 
calculated  to  sweeten  the  retrospections  of  my  dying  pillow  ; 
but,  blessed  thought  !  Jesus  will  consider  only  what  I  have 
desired  and  sought  to  do. 

JUDAS,  THE  COVETOUS  DISCIPLE. 

And  Judas  Iscariot,  one  of  the  twelve,  went  unto  the  chief  priests,  to  be- 
tray him  unto  them.  And  when  they  heard  it,  they  were  glad,  and  promised 
to  give  him  money.  And  he  sought  how  he  might  conveniently  betray  him.  — 
Mark  14  :  10,  11. 


sin  of  covetousness  has  an  awful  record  ;  for  many 
JL  crimes  have  sprung  from  it,  as  its  prolific  root. 

Achan's  covetous  humor  made  him  steal  that  wedge  of  gold 
which  served  to  cleave  his  soul  from  God  ;  it  made  Judas  be- 
tray Christ  ;  "  what  will  ye  give  me  and  I  will  deliver  him  unto 
you."  It  made  Absalom  attempt  to  pluck  the  crown  from  his 
father's  head.  He  that  is  a  Demas,  will  soon  prove  a  Judas. 
(2  Tim.  3  :  2),  "  Men  shall  be  covetous  ;  "  and  it  follows  in  the 
next  verse,  "  traitors."  When  covetousness  is  in  the  premises, 
treason  will  be  in  the  conclusion.  Why  did  Ahab  stone  Na- 
both  to  death,  but  to  possess  the  vineyard  ? 

The  covetous  person  bows  down  to  the  image  of  gold.  His 
money  is  his  god,  for  he  puts  his  trust  in  it.  Money  is  his 
creator  ;  when  he  hath  abundance  of  wealth,  then  he  thinks  he 
is  made  :  it  is  his  redeemer  ;  if  he  be  in  any  strait  or  trouble, 
he  flies  to  his  money,  and  that  must  redeem  him  :  it  is  his 
comforter;  when  he  is  sad,  he  tells  over  his  money,  and  with 
this  golden  harp  he  drives  away  the  evil  spirit.  When  you 
see  a  covetous  man,  you  may  say,  there  goes  an  idolater. 

In  the  parable,  the  thorn  choked  the  seed.  This  is  the 
reason  the  word  preached  doth  no  more  good  ;  the  seed  often 
falls  among  thorns  ;  thousands  of  sermons  lie  buried  in  earthly 
hearts.  A  covetous  man  hath  a  withered  hand,  he  cannot 
reach  it  out  to  clothe  or  feed  such  as  are  in  want. 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  169 


TRANSTJBSTANTIATION. 

And  as  they  did  eat,  Jesus  took  bread,  and  blessed,  and  brake  it,  and  gave 
to  them,  and  said,  Take,  eat ;  this  is  my  body.  —  Mark  14  :  22. 

WHEN  Wolsey  and  Erasmus  disputed  on  this  point  (an 
essential  change  in  the  elements),  Wolsey  said  to  Eras- 
mus  at  parting,  "  Well,  only  believe  that  it  is  so,  and  it  will 
be  so."  Erasmus,  on  leaving  England,  borrowed  Wolsey's 
palfrey  to  take  him  to  the  ship  ;  but,  instead  of  returning  it, 
carried  the  animal  off  with  him  to  the  continent,  and  sent 
Wolsey  this  answer  on  paper  :  — 

"  If  wine  and  bread,  mere  human  food, 
Becomes  the  Saviour's  flesh  and  blood, 

When  I  in  faith  receive  it ; 
Then  faith  for  you  as  much  may  do, 
And  your  lost  jade  is  safe  with  you, 

If  you  will  but  believe  it." 


ANECDOTE  OF  FATHER  SEWALL. 

And  he  took  the  cup,  and  when  he  had  given  thanks,  he  gave  it  to  them : 
and  they  all  drank  of  it.  —  Mark  14  :  23. 

THE  inconsistency  of  refusing  to  commune  with  those  who 
are  manifestly  good  Christians,  whose  baptism  has  not  been 
after  a  particular  pattern,  is  well  rebuked  in  the  following 
anecdote : — 

"  The  recent  death  of  this  good  man  reminds  me  of  an  inci- 
dent I  heard  of  him  several  years  since,  which  is  too  good  to 
be  lost.  He  had  been  employed  by  a  Baptist  church  in  the 
State  of  Maine  as  a  stated  supply,  during  a  season  when  they 
were  unable  to  support  a  settled  pastor.  His  fervent  piety 
and  faithful  labors  won  their  Christian  confidence,  and  even 
veneration.  At  length,  desiring  to  commemorate  the  Lord's 
supper,  they  obtained  a  Baptist  clergyman  to  come  and  admin- 
ister  the  ordinance,  —  a  measure  in  which  Mr.  Sewall  very 
cheerfully  concurred.  When  the  season  arrived,  the  brethren 
22 


170  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

were  much  embarrassed  about  Mr.  Sewall.  He  was  present, 
and  would  probably  partake  of  the  supper,  unless  forbidden. 
But  how  could  they  forbid  such  a  man  —  their  own  preacher, 
under  whose  ministry  they  had  sat  with  so  much  delight  and 
profit?  No  wonder  their  best  feelings  revolted  at  the  ungra- 
cious task.  They,  however,  mustered  courage  to  signify  to 
him,  that,  according  to  the  rules  of  the  Baptist  church,  he  could 
not  be  permitted  to  commune  with  them  on  that  occasion. 
4  What/  said  he,  'is  not  this  our  Father's  table?'  i  Of 
course  it  is,''  they  replied.  l  Do  you  not,  then,  regard  me  as  a 
child  of  God  ? '  i  Certainly/  they  answered  ;  l  we  have  more 
confidence  in  your  piety  than  in  our  own.'  '  If,  then,  I  am  a 
child  of  God,  why  may  I  not  come  to  my  own  Father's  table  ? ' 
More  confused  and  embarrassed  than  ever,  they  could  only 
reply,  that  it  was  contrary  to  the  rules  of  their  church.  '  Well, 
then/  said  the  old  gentleman,  l  if  you  will  not  let  me  come 
to  my  own  Father's  table,  I  will  go  and  tell  my  Father. ,'  He 
rose  from  his  seat  and  moved  toward  the  door,  when  the 
Baptist  brethren,  overcome  by  the  obvious  and  irresistible 
force  of  so  simple  an  argument,  begged  him  not  to  '  tell  his 
Father/  and  they  would  receive  him  to  the  table." 


CHRIST'S  HEART  GIVEN  FOR  THE  WORLD. 

And  saitli  unto  them,  My  soul  is  exceeding  sorrowful  unto  death :  tarry  ye 
here,  and  watch.  —  Mark  14  :  34. 

FT  is  one  of  the  traditions  of  the  age  of  chivalry,"  says  Rev. 

JL  Dr.  Williams,  "  that  a  Scottish  king,  when  dying,  be- 
queathed his  heart  to  the  most  trusted  and  beloved  of  his 
nobles,  to  be  carried  to  Palestine.  Enclosing  the  precious 
deposit  in  a  golden  case,  and  suspending  it  from  his  neck,  the 
knight  went  out  with  his  companions.  He  found  himself,  when 
on  his  way  to  Syria,  hard  pressed  by  the  Moors  of  Spain.  To 
animate  himself  to  supernatural  efforts,  that  he  might  break 
through  his  thronging  foes,  he  snatched  the  charge  intrusted  to 
him  from  his  neck,  and,  flinging  it  into  the  midst  of  his  ene- 
mies, exclaimed,  '  Forth,  Heart  of  Bruce !  as  them  wast  wont, 


'  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  171 

and  Douglas  will  follow  thee  or  die.'  And  so  he  perished,  in 
the  endeavor  to  reclaim  it  from  the  trampling  feet  of  the  infi- 
dels, and  to  force  his  way  out."  Your  Master's  heart  has 
flung  itself  in  advance  of  your  steps.  In  the  rushing  crowds 
that  withstand  you  in  your  work  of  the  ministry,  there  is  not 
one  whom  that  heart  has  not  cared  for  and  pitied,  however 
hostile  and  debased,  unlovely  and  vile.  It  is  your  business  to 
follow  the  leadings  of  his  heart,  and  to  pluck  it  from  beneath 
the  feet  of  those  who,  in  ignorance  and  enmity,  would  tread  it 
in  the  dust. 


MODERN  ISCARIOTS. 

And  he  that  betrayed  him  had  given  them  a  token,  saying,  Whomsoever  I 
shall  kiss,  that  same  is  he  ;  take  him,  and  lead  him  away  safely.  —  Mark  14  :  44. 

WE  do  great  injustice  to  Iscariot  in  thinking  him  wicked 
above  all  Avickedness.  lie  was  only  a  money-lover  ;  did 
not  understand  Christ ;  could  not  make  out  the  worth  of  him. 
He  did  not  want  him  to  be  killed.  He  was  horror-struck  when 
he  found  that  Christ  would  be  killed  ;  threw  his  money  away 
instantly,  and  hanged  himself.  How  many  of  our  present 
money-seekers,  think  you,  would  have  the  grace  to  hang  them- 
selves whenever  they  killed  ?  But  Judas  was  a  common,  selfish, 
muddle-headed  fellow,  his  hand  always  in  the  bag  of 'the  poor, 
but  not  caring  for  them.  He  didn't  understand  Christ,  yet  he 
believed  in  him  much  more  than  most  of  us  do ;  had  seen  him 
do  miracles,  thought  he  was  strong  enough  to  shift  for  himself, 
and  he  might  as  well  make  his  own  by-perquisites  out  of  the 
affair ;  Christ  would  come  out  of  it  well  enough,  and  he  have 
thirty  pieces. 

Now,  that  is  the  money-seeker's  idea  all  over  the  world. 
He  does  not  hate  Christ,  but  he  can't  understand  him ;  he  does 
not  care  for  him,  sees  no  good  in.  that  benevolent  business,  but 
takes  his  own  "  little  job  "  of  it  at  all  events,  come  what  may. 
And  thus,  out  of  every  class  of  men,  you  have  a  certain  amount 
of  bagmen  • — men  whose  main  object  is  to  make  money, 
and  they  do  make  it  in  all  sorts  of  unfair  ways,  chiefly  by 


172  NEW   TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

weight  and  force  of  money  itself,  or  what  is  called  capital ; 
that  is  to  say,  the  power  which  money  once  obtained  has  over 
the  labors  of  the  poor,  so  that  the  capitalist  can  take  all  the 
produce  to  himself  except  the  laborers'  feed.  That  is  the 
modern  Judas'  way  of  "  carrying  the  bag,"  and  bearing  what 
is  put  therein.  —  Ruskin. 


REPENTING  OF  APOSTASY. 

And  the  second  time  the  cock  crew.  And  Peter  called  to  mind  the  word 
that  Jesus  said  unto  him,  Before  the  cock  crow  twice,  thou  shalt  deny  me 
thrice.  And  when1  he  thought  thereon,  he  wept.  —  Mark  H  :  72. 

.  A  RCHBISHOP  CRANMER,  under  the  pressure  of  the  queen 
J\.  and  court,  was  induced  to  subscribe  to  the  errors  of  Rome. 
Of  this  he  soon  repented,  and  took  his  former  decided  posi- 
tion, which  brought  upon  him  the  wrath  of  Bloody  Mary. 
When  the  flames  of  martyrdom  were  kindled  around  him,  he 
thrust  the  hand  that  subscribed  to  his  shame  into  the  flames, 
and  held  it  until  consumed,  often  exclaiming,  "  That  unworthy 
hand." 


LEARN  TO  BE  SILENT. 

And  the  chief  priests  accused  him  of  many  things ;  but  he  answered  noth- 
ing. —  Mark  15  :  3. 

IT  is  a  great  art  in  the  Christian  life  to  learn  to  be  silent. 
Under  oppositions,  injuries,  still  be  silent.  It  is  better  to  say 
nothing,  than  to  say  it  in  an  excited  or  an  angry  manner,  even 
if  the  occasion  should  seem  to  justify  a  degree  of  anger.  By 
remaining  silent,  the  mind  is  enabled  to  collect  itself,  and  to 
call  upon  God  in  secret  aspirations  of  prayer.  And  thus  you 
will  speak  to  the  honor  of  your  holy  profession,  as  well  as  the 
good  of  those  who  have  injured,  when  you  speak  from  God. 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  173 


DOUBLE  SUFFERINGS  OF  CHRIST. 

And  at  the  ninth  hour  Jesus  cried  with  a  loud  voice,  saying,  Eloi,  Eloi, 
lama  sabachthani?  which  is,  being  interpreted,  My  God,  my  God,  why  hast 
thou  forsaken  me?  —  Mark  15  :  34. 

¥E  may  paint  the  outward  appearance  of  his  sufferings, 
but  not  the  inward  bitterness  or  invisible  causes  of  them. 
Men  can  paint  the  cursed  tree,  but  not  the  curse  of  the  law 
that  made  it  so.  Men  can  paint  Christ  bearing  the  cross  to 
Calvary,  but  not  Christ  bearing  the  sins  of  many.  We  may 
describe  the  nails  piercing  his  sacred  flesh,  but  who  can  de- 
scribe eternal  justice  piercing  both  flesh  and  spirit?  We  may 
describe  the  soldier's  spear,  but  not  the  arrows  of  the  Al- 
mighty ;  the  cup  of  vinegar  which  he  but  tasted,  but  not  the 
cup  of  wrath,  which  he  drank  out  to  the  lowest  dregs ;  the 
derision  of  the  Jews,  but  not  the  desertion  of  the  Almighty 
forsaking  his  Son,  that  he  might  never  forsake  us  who  were 
his  enemies.  —  J.  Madaurin. 


PRINCE  OF  EXCELLENCY. 

And  when  the  centurion  which  stood  over  against  him,  saw  that  he  so 
cried  out,  and  gave  up  the  ghost,  he  said,  Truly  this  man  was  the  Son  of  God.  — 
Mark  15  :  39. 

IF  you  go  to  weigh  Jesus,  his  sweetness,  excellency,  glory, 
and  beauty,  and  lay  opposite  to  him  your  ounces  or  drachms 
of  suffering  for  him,  you  will  be  straitened  in  two  wa}7s:  1. 
It  will  be  a  pain  to  make  the  comparison,  the  disproportion 
being  by  no  understanding  imaginable  ;  nay,  if  heaven's  arith- 
metic and  angels  were  set  to  work,  they  could  never  number 
the  degrees  of  difference.  2.  It  would  straiten  you  to  find  a 
scale  for  the  balance  to  lay  that  high  and  lofty  One,  that  ever- 
transcending  Prince  of  Excellency.  If  your  mind  could  fancy 
as  many  created  heavens  as  time  hath  minutes,  trees  have 
had  leaves,  clouds  have  had  rain  in  drops,  since  the  first  stone 
of  the  creation  was  laid,  they  would  not  make  half  a  scale  in 
which  to  weigh  boundless  excellency.  —  Rutherford. 


174  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 


CHANGE  OF  THE  SABBATH. 

And  very  early  in  the  morning,  the  first  day  of  the  week,  they  came  unto 
the  sepulchre  at  the  rising  of  the  sun.  —  Mark  1C  :  2. 

A  NOTHER  confirmation  of  the  doctrine  of  the  resurrection 
1A_  of  Christ,  is  the  establishment  of  the  first  day  of  the  week 
as  the  Lord's  day,  in  commemoration  of  this  great  event.  The 
apostles,  as  instructed  by  their  Lord,  and  taught  by  the  Holy 
Spirit,  enforced  upon  all  Christians  the  obligation  of  observing 
the  first  day  of  the  week  as  the  day  of  holy  rest  and  of  religious 
worship.  The  seventh  day  had  been  appointed  as  the  Sabbath 
in  Eden,  as  a  sign  of  the  completion  of  creation,  when  God 
did  rest  the  seventh  day  from  all  his  works.  But  Jesus,  as 
the  Lord  of  the  Sabbath,  exercised  his  prerogative  in  changing 
the  Sabbath  from  the  seventh  to  the  first  day  of  the  week,  as 
a  remembrance  to  the  end  of  time  that  a  greater  work  than 
that  of  creation  had  been  achieved  by  the  death  of  the  Son  of 
God,  and  by  his  resurrection  from  the  dead,  —  the  greater  work 
of  redemption  for  a  lost  world. 

The  New  Testament  records,  the  testimony  of  early  Christian 
writers,  and  of  contemporary  writers  who  were  not  Christians, 
all  go  to  show  that  it  was  an  established  ordinance  among 
Christians,  universally  observed,  to  keep  the  first  day  of  the 
week  as  the  Lord's  day,  in  commemoration  of  the  resurrection. 
It  is  fitting  that  a  work  vastly  more  glorious  than  that  of 
speaking  into  existence  a  world  from  nothing,  —  the  wondrous 
work  of  redemption,  —  and  the  declaration  of  its  completion 
and  of  the  triumph  of  the  Son  of  God  over  sin  and  death  and 
hell  by  his  resurrection  from  the  dead,  should  be  perpetually 
declared  by  the  sacred  observance  of  the  holy  day  of  the  Lord, 
and  that  his  people,  blending  into  one  the  world's  creation  and 
man's  redemption,  should  celebrate  both  on  the  Christian  Sab- 
bath. The  religious  observance  of  the  Lord's  day  was,  among 
primitive  Christians,  a  badge  of  the  Christian  profession ;  hence, 
says  Ignatius,  "  All  who  love  the  Lord  love  the  Lord's  day  as 
the  queen  and  chief  of  all  days." 


NEW   TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  175 

GO. 

And  he  said  unto  them,  Go  yc  into  all  the  world,  and  preach  the  gospel  to 
every  creature.  —  Mark  16  :  15. 

IT  is  with  Christian  work  just  as  with  all  other  work,  the 
chief  desideratum  is  persistent  application.  Arago  says,  in 
his  autobiography,  that  his  greatest  master  in  mathematics 
was  a  word  or  two  of  advice  which  he  found  in  the  binding  of 
one  of  his  text-books,  the  words  of  D'Alembert  to  a  discour- 
aged student :  "  Go  on,  sir,  go  on."  Those  two  little  words 
made  Arago  the  greatest  astronomical  mathematician  of  his 
age.  And  those  two  words  have  made  many  a  life  a  poem 
which  shall  sing  for  ever.  Christ  abbreviated  them  into  one, 
and  his  almighty  "  Go  "  (spoken  when  he  stood  on  the  extreme 
verge  of  this  world,  only  one  step  from  his  throne),  drove 
Paul  restlessly  around  Asia  and  Europe  with  the  message  of 
mercy,  and  has  been  sounding  in  the  ear  of  the  Church  ever 
since  as  its  unrepealed  and  unrepealable  marching  order. — • 
Rev.  C.  D.  Foss. 


THE  SALVATION  OF  ONE  SOUL. 

He  that  believeth  and  is  baptized,  shall  be  saved ;  but  he  that  believeth  not, 
shall  be  damned.  —  Mark  16  :  16. 

JOHN  ANGELL  JAMES,  in  the  preface  of  his  admirable 
book,  "  An  Earnest  Ministry,"  makes  this  observation, 
which  we  transcribe  to  set,  as  a  star,  in  sight  of  every  reader. 
"  There  is  a  time  coming  in  every  man's  history  when  the 
knowledge  of  having  been  the  instrument  to  pluck  a  single 
brand  from  eternal  burning,  will  yield  more  real  satisfaction 
than  the  certainty  of  having  accomplished  the  loftiest  objects 
of  literary  ambition." 

The  remark  is  specially  designed  for  the  ministry,  but  it  is 
pertinent  to  every  member  of  human  society.  It  has  a  truth 
in  it  that  should  dwell  in  every  heart,  and  rouse  to  energy  and 
zeal.  The  fact  is,  that  no  man  lives  without  influence,  and 
there  is  none  so  poor,  so  lowly,  so  obscure,  as  to  be  unable  to 


176  NEW   TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

do  something  for  the  salvation  of  men.  What  is  the  honor  of 
saving  men  compared  to  the  joy  of  saving  a  soul  from  death  ! 
"  0,"  said  an  eloquent  preacher,  who  loved  the  souls  of  men 
far  more  than  their  praise,  though  of  this  he  had  much,  "  God 
knows  I  do  not  want  their  applause  — I  want  their  salvation." 
"  The  time  coming,"  to  which  Mr.  James  alludes,  may  be  the 
hour  of  death,  or  of  judgment,  or  away  in  eternity  ;  but  it  will 
come,  and  the  truth  of  his  remark  will  be  felt  for  ever. 


ESSENTIAL  TO  ACCEPTABLE  PRAYER. 

But  the  angel  said  unto  him,  Fear  not,  Zacharias  :  for  thy  prayer  is  heard.  — 
Luke  1 :  13. 

SEE  here,  my  brother,  do  you  remember  how  often  it  has 
occurred  to  you,  when  you  warmed  up  in  prayer,  threw 
off  your  embarrassment,  and  had  an  easy,  happy  flow  of  lan- 
guage, that  you  were  now  doing  very  finely  in  your  petitions, 
and  that  God  was  giving  special  audience  to  your  unfettered 
utterance  ?  Now,  just  take  a  second  thought,  and  remember 
that  all  one's  easy,  happy  flow  of  language  usually  indicates 
but  little,  and  that  in  itself  it  is  nothing  in  the  hearing  of  God. 
Remember  that  it  is  the  honest  heart,  the  upright  and  obedi- 
ent life,  that  are  essential  to  acceptable  prayer.  If  your  heart 
and  life  are  right,  your  most  stammering  utterance  shall  pre- 
vail with  God.  If  your  heart  and  life  are  wrong  in  God's 
sight,  your  tongue  of  eloquence  will  be  only  babbling  and 
mockery  in  the  ears  of  the  Almighty.  Never,  then,  con- 
gratulate yourself  upon  liberty  in  prayer  till  you  are  convinced 
that  that  prayer  went  from  a  heart  honest,  sincere,  and  wholly 
given  up  to  love  and  serve  the  Lord. 


MY  MASTER'S  ERRAND. 

And  the  angel  answering,  said  unto  him,  I  am  Gabriel,  that  stand  in  the 
presence  of  God ;  and  am  sent  to  speak  unto  thce,  and  to  shew  thee  these  glad 
tidings.  —  Luke  1 :  19. 

CHRISTIAN  brother,  in  New  York,  on  entering  a  car, 
felt  it  his  duty  to  speak  to  a  gentleman  respecting  his 


A 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  177 

soul.  The  gentleman  seemed  restive,  and  soon  said,  "  Sir,  will 
you  cease  speaking  to  me  upon  that  subject  ?  "  "  As  soon,"  said 
the  devoted  brother,  "  as  I  have  done  my  Master's  errand  ;  " 
and  went  on  until  the  Holy  Spirit  assured  him  he  had. 
Months  after,  a  gentleman  grasped  his  hand  on  the  crowded 
street.  He  was  surprised. 

"  Do  you  not  recognize  me — the  man  to  whom  you  would 
do  your  f  Master's  errand  '  on  the  cars  ?  " 

"  0,  yes ;  now  I  do." 

"  Well,  that  conversation  was,  by  the  blessing  of  God,  the 
means  of  my  soul's  salvation,"  said  he,  with  tears  of  joy  j  and 
together,  in  Mammon's  thoroughfare,  they  gave  praise  to  God. 


WAITING  TO  BE  RELEASED. 

And  it  came  to  pass,  that  as  soon  as  the  days  of  his  ministration  were  ac- 
complished, he  departed  to  his  own  house.  —  Luke  1 :  23. 

PRESIDENT  HITCHCOCK  tells  an  incident. which  thrilled 
JL  his  soul  with  holy  emotions,  witnessed  by  him  in  one  of 
the  deep  coal  mines  of  Virginia,  where  he  was  more  than  a 
thousand  feet  below  the  surface  of  the  earth. 

He  says,  "  While  wandering  through  their  dark,  subter- 
ranean passages,  the  sound  of  music  broke  upon  my  ear.  It 
ceased  upon  my  approach,  and  I  caught  only  the  sweet  re- 
frain, <I  shall  be  in  heaven  in  the  morning.'  On  advancing 
with  our  lamps,  we  found  the  passage  closed  by  a  door,  in 
order  to  give  a  different  direction  to  a  current  of  air  for  the 
purpose  of  ventilation.  This  door  must  be  opened  to  allow  the 
tram-rail  cars  to  pass  with  their  loads  of  coal  to  the  shafts,  and 
closed  immediately.  To  do  this  work  sat  an  aged,  blind  slave, 
whose  eyes  had  been  entirely  destroyed  by  a  blast  of  gun- 
powder, many  years  before,  in  that  mine.  There  he  sat,  on  a 
seat  cut  in  the  coal,  from  morn  till  evening  —  his  only  busi- 
ness being  to  open  and  shut  this  door.  We  requested'  him  to 
sing  again  this  hymn,  which  he  did. 

"  I  have  heard  gigantic  intellects  pour  forth  enchanting  elo- 
quence, but  never  did  music  or  eloquence  so  overpower  my 
23 


178  NEW   TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

feelings  as  did  this  scene.  Never  before  did  I  witness  so 
grand  an  exhibition  of  sublimity.  0,  how  insignificant  did 
earth's  mightiest  warriors,  statesmen,  and  philosophers,  with- 
out piety,  appear  !  This  poor,  blind  slave  was  performing  his 
daily  task  —  waiting  <  for  the  morning.'  He  had  a  principle 
within  him  superior  to  princes  or  emperors,  who  live  without 
Christ ;  and  when  that  morning  shall  come  —  of  which  he  daily 
sings  —  he  will  hail  with  joy  the  light  of  that  eternal  day, 
leaving  behind,  and  forgetting  for  ever,  his  days  of  darkness 
and  toil.  That  bright  hope  of  a  resurrection  morning  shall 
not  deceive  him;  for  that  Saviour  in  whom  he  trusts  will 
come  and  manifest  himself  —  l  The  Mighty  to  Save'-— even 
to  one  down  deep  beneath  the  mountain  rocks.''* 


"CALL  HIS  NAME  JESUS." 

And  behold,  them  shalt  conceive  in  thy  womb,  and  bring  forth  a  son,  and 
shalt  call  his  name  JESUS.  —  Luke  1 :  31. 

'  "ITT HEX  a  person  is  dear,  everything  connected  with  him 
YV  becomes  dear  for  his  sake.  Thus,  so  precious  is  the 
person  of  the  Lord  Jesus  in  the  estimation  of  all  true  believers, 
that  everything  about  him  they  consider  to  be  inestimable 
beyond  all  price.  '  All  thy  garments  smell  of  myrrh,  and  aloes, 
and  cassia/  said  David,  as  if  the  very  vestments  of  the  Saviour 
were  so  sweetened  by  his  person  that  he  could  not  but  love 
them.  Certain  it  is  that  there  is  not  a  spot  where  that  "hal- 
lowed foot  hath  trodden  —  there  is  not  a  word  which  those 
Messed  lips  have  uttered  —  nor  a  thought  which  his  loving 
Word  has  revealed, -which  is  not  to  us  precious  beyond  all 
price.  And  this  is  true  of  the  names  of  Christ;  they  arc  all 
sweet  in  the  believer's  ear.  Whether  he  be  called  the  Husband 
of  the  Church,  her  Bridegroom,  her  Friend  ;  whether  he  be 
styled  the  Lamb  slain  from  the  foundation  of  the  world  —  the 
King,  the  Prophet,  or  the  Priest  —  every  title  of  our  Master  — 
Shiloh,  Emmanuel,  Wonderful,  the  Mighty  Counsellor — every 
name  is  like  the  honey-comb  dropping  with  honey,  and  lus- 
cious are  the  drops  that  distill  from  it.  But  if  there  be  one 
name  sweeter  than  another  in  the  believer's  ear,  it  is  the  name 


NEW   TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  179 

of  JESUS.  Jesus  !  it  is  tlie  name  which  moves  the  harps  of 
heaven  to  melody.  Jesus,  the  life  of  all  our  joys.  If  there  be 
one  name  more  charming,  more  precious  than  another,  it  is 
this  name.  It  is  woven  into  the  very  warp  and  woof  of  our 
psalmody.  Many  of  our  hymns  begin  with  it,  and  scarce  any, 
that  are  good  for  anything,  end  without  it.  It  is  the  sum  total 
of  all  delights.  It  is  the  music  with  which  the  bells  of  heaven 
ring  ;  a  song  in  a  word ;  an  ocean  for  comprehension,  although 
a  drop  for  brevity ;  a  matchless  oratorio  in  two  syllables ;  a 
gathering  up  of  the  hallelujahs  of  eternity  in  five  letters."  — 
Spurgeon. 


NAMED  BY  THE  ANGEL  "THE  SON  OF  GOD." 

And  the  angel  answered  and  said  unto  her,  The  Holy  Ghost  shall  come 
upon  thee,  and  the  power  of  the  Highest  shall  oversliadow  thee  :  therefore 
also  that  holy  thing  which  shall  be  born  of  thee,  shall  be  called  the  Son  of 
God.  —  Luke  1 :  35. 

fTTHE  most  important  biblical  truth  that  should  be  early 
J_  settled,  and  well  fixed  in  the  mind,  is  the  divinity  of  Christ. 
The  doctrine  of  our  Lord's  divine  nature  is  well  established 
in  the  Holy  Scriptures,  and  by  no  passages  more  clearly  than 
those  which  speak  of  his  nature  as  "  the  Son  of  God."  Son, 
implies  similarity  of  nature ;  that  is,  having  the  same  nature. 
Son  of  man,  is  man  in  nature,  though  he  may  be  only  an  infant 
in  days.  Drop  out  the  idea  of  time,  which  cannot  make  or 
unmake  the  nature  of  a  being,  and  an  infant  child  is  a  man, 
having  human  nature,  as  distinguished  from  the  nature  of 
some  other  creature.  So  concerning  "  the  Son  of  God."  The 
Scriptures  frequently  call  our  Saviour  "  The  Son  of  God." 
"Declared  to  be  the  Son  of  God  with  power."  (Rom.  1  :  4.) 
"  Of  a  truth  thou  art  the  Son  of  God."  (Matt.  14  :  33.)  Son- 
ship  was  understood  among  the  Jews  to  imply  similarity  of 
nature  ;  for,  on  one  occasion,  "  the  Jews  sought  to  kill  him, 
because  he  not  only  had  broken  the  Sabbath,  but  said  also 
that  God  was  his  Father,  making  himself  equal  with  God." 
(John  5:18.)  "Equal  with  God,"  in  the  estimation  of  the 
Jews,  came  of  his  being  "  the  Son  of  God."  And  this  term 
was  not  an  unwarrantable  assumption ;  for  the  angel  Gabriel, 


180  NEW  TESTA  ME  NT  ILL  USTRA  TIONS. 

who  appeared  unto  Mary  before  his  birth,  declared  the  child 
that  should  be  born,  should  be  called  "  The  Son  of  God." 
Some  person  may  say,  If  Son  of  God  means  equality  with 
God  in  nature  —  does  not  that  make  two  Gods  —  the  Father 
and  the  Son  ?  To  which  we  answer,  No  j  for.,  in  the  sense  in 
which  he  was  the  Son  of  God,  our  Lord  was  not  a  God  created 
as  a  separate  and  independent  being,  but  as  our  Saviour  said 
of  himself,  "  I  and  my  Father  are  one  "  (John  10  :  30) :  and 
as  St.  Paul  said,  "  God  was  manifest  in  the  flesh."  (1  Tim. 
3:16.)  Hence  Jesus  was  perfect  humanity  in  his  material 
nature,  by  the  creative  act  of  God;  and  in  essence  was  God 
himself. 

SALVATION,  THE  CENTRAL  IDEA  OF  THE  BIBLE. 

And  thou,  child,  shalt  be  called  the  Prophet  of  the  Highest,  for  thou  shalt 
go  before  the  face  of  the  Lord  to  prepare  his  ways ;  to  give  knowledge  of  sal- 
vation unto  his  people,  by  the  remission  of  their  sins.  — Luke  1 :  76,  77. 

THE  idea  pervading  the  Bible  is,  that  a  salvation  from  sin  is 
provided  for  man.  A  plan  of  salvation  for  sinners  is  the 
thread  running  through  the  whole,  from  the  record  of  the  fall 
to  the  final  words  of  the  Apocalypse.  They  who  have  failed 
to  discern  it,  have  studied  the  book  to  but  little  purpose.  The 
Bible  is  not  a  volume  of  history,  poetry,  philosophy,  or  ethics, 
but  a  volume  disclosing  God's  moral  government  of  the  world, 
or,  in  other  words,  the  development  of  his  plan  of  saving  sin- 
ners. It  contains  a  history  —  a  history  of  God  in  his  relations 
to  the  world  in  the  furtherance  of  this  plan,  and  therefore,  of 
necessity,  some  history  of  men  in  their  submission  to  or  rejec- 
tion of  it,  involving  more  or  less  particulars  of  their  relations 
to  one  another  as  individuals,  families,  or  nations.  Of  poetry, 
there  are  specimens  sweeter,  grander  than  can  be  found  else- 
where ;  but  its  loftiest  and  most  admired  strains  are  on  the 
line  of  the  great  plan.  The  Hebrew  mind  was  not  philo- 
sophic like  the  Greek ;  it  could  not  think  so  acutely,  or  dis- 
criminate so  sharply;  but  the  Bible  contains  a  philosophy 
based  upon  facts,  which  the  world  in  its  highest  wisdom  may 
well  heed.  Its  ethics,  whatever  be  the  age  in  which  they  were 
uttered,  are  perfect.  Nothing  can  be  added  to  them ;  nothing 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  181 

taken  away.     But  all  these  are  only  secondary  to  the  leading 
idea  :  they  are  chariots  of  the  king. 

All  religions  of  the  world  have  recognized  the  necessity  of 
some  means  of  salvation  for  sinners.  They  proceed  upon  the 
assumption  that  men  are  sinners,  that  God  is  angry  with  the 
wicked,  that  sin  is  somehow  to  be  expiated.  The  sacrifices 
offered  to  appease  the  divine  wrath,  whether  by  Jew,  Greek, 
Brito,  or  American  Indian,  are  in  proof  of  it.  It  is  claimed 
that  this  is  a  heathen  notion,  incorporated  into  the  Christian 
system ;  but  it  is  rather  a  notion  that  existed  before  heathen 
lived.  It  is  as  old  as  the  sacrifice  of  Abel,  which  God  accepted  ; 
as  old  as  the  day  of  the  fall,  when  Adam  presented  his  sin- 
offering  on  the  altar.  It  is  easy  to  see  where  heathen  nations 
obtained  the  idea.  But  is  it  not  strange  that  in  all  the  per- 
versions of  truth  delivered  by  tradition  after  the  deluge,  in  all 
the  forge tfulness  of  God  and  the  inventions  of  polytheism,  and 
in  all  the  systems  devised  to  meet  the  wants  or  fancies  of  men, 
this  idea  was  never  lost  sight  of,  and  that  we  find  prominent 
everywhere  the  practice  of  sacrifice  in  expiation  of  sin  ?  On 
the  infidel  theory,  it  is  amazing  and  unaccountable.  On  the 
Christian  theory,  the  easy  solution  is,  that  in  the  human  soul 
lies  the  conviction  that  men  are  sinners.  In  deep  moral 
corruption,  like  that  of  Pompeii,  whose  hideous  secrets  are 
brought  to  lignt  in  this  century  of  moral  purity  as  compared 
with  the  Sodomitish  iniquity  that  reveled  there,  or  like  that 
of  modern  China  and  India,  which  insists  that  the  first  chapter 
of  Romans  was  written  as  a  description  of  themselves  ;  in 
Asia,  in  Africa,  in  Europe,  in  America,  in  the  isles  of  the  sea ; 
in  the  days  of  Moses,  of  Tacitus,  and  of  ourselves,  we  find  this 
universal  conviction  that  men  are  sinners,  that  God  is  offended 
by  sin,  and  that  an  atonement  must  be  made. 


WELL  ANSWERED. 

To  give  light  to  them  that  sit  in  darkness  and  in  the  shadow  of  death,  to 
guide  our  feet  into  the  way  of  peace.  —  Luke  1 :  79. 

THE  following  anecdote  is  from  a  sermon  of  the  Rev.  S.  E. 
Dwight,  entitled,  "The   Gospel  its  own  Witness  to  the 
Conscience/'  recently  published  at  Portland :  — 


182  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

11  When  the  celebrated  Tennent  was  traveling  in  Virginia, 
he  lodged  one  night  at  the  house  of  a  planter,  who  informed 
him  that  one  of  his  slaves,  a  man  upwards  of  seventy,  who 
could  neither  read  nor  write,  was  yet  eminently  distinguished 
for  his  piety,  and  for  his  knowledge  of  the  Scriptures.  Having 
some  curiosity  to  learn  what  evidence  such  a  man  could  have 
of  their  divine  origin,  he  went  out  in  the  morning  alone,  and 
without  making  himself  known  as  a  clergyman,  entered  into 
conversation  with  him  on  the  subject.  After  starting  some 
of  the  common  objections  of  infidels  against  the  authenticity 
of  the  Scriptures,  in  a  way  calculated  to  confound  an  ignorant 
man,  he  said  to  him,  <  When  you  cannot  even  read  the  Bible, 
nor  examine  the  evidence  for  or  against  its  truth,  how  can  you 
know  that  it  is  the  word  of  God  ? '  After  reflecting  a  moment, 
the  negro  replied,  l  You  ask  me,  sir,  how  I  know  that  the 
Bible  is  the  word  of  God ;  I  know  it  by  its  effect  upon  my 
own  heart.7  " 


THE  GLORY  OF  THE  LORD. 

And,  lo,  the  angel  of  the  Lord  came  upon  them,  and  the  glory  of  the  Lord 
shone  round  about  them;  and  they  were  sore  afraid.  —  Luke  2  :  9. 


power  of  God  is  put  side  by  side  with  the  weakness 
JL  of  men,  not  that  he,  the  perfect,  may  glory  over  his  feeble 
children  ;  not  that  he  may  say  to  them,  "  Look,  how  mighty  I 
am,  and  go  down  on  your  knees  and  worship,"  -  —  for  power 
alone  was  never  yet  worthy  of  prayer,  —  but  that  he  may  say 
thus  :  "  Look,  my  children,  you  will  never  be  strong  but  with 
my  strength  ;  1  have  no  other  to  give  you  ;  and  that  you  can 
only  get  by  trusting  in  me.  I  cannot  give  it  you  in  any  other 
way.  There  is  no  other  way.  But  can  you  not  trust  in  me  ? 
Look,  how  strong  I  am  ;  you  wither  like  the  grass.  Do  not 
fear.  Let  the  grass  wither.  Lay  hold  of  my  word,  that  which 
I  say  to  you  out  of  my  truth,  and  that  will  be  life  in  you  that 
the  blowing  of  the  wind  that  withers  cannot  reach.  I  am 
coming  with  my  strong  hand  and  my  judging  arm  to  do  my 
work.  And  what  is  the  work  of  my  strong  hand  and  ruling 
arm  ?  To  feed  my  flock  like  a  shepherd,  to  gather  the  lambs 
with  my  arms,  and  carry  them  in  my  bosom,  and  gently  lead 


NEW   TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  183 

those  that  are  with  young.  I  have  measured  the  waters  in 
the  hollow  of  my  hand,  and  held  the  mountains  in  my  scales, 
to  give  each  his  due  weight,  and  all  the  nations,  so  strong  and 
fearful  in  your  eyes,  are  as  nothing  beside  my  strength  and 
what  I  can  do.  Do  not  think  of  me  as  of  an  image  that 
your  hands  can  make,  a  thing  you  can  choose  to  serve,  and  for 
which  you  can  do  things  to  win  its  favor.  I  am  before  and 
above  the  earth,  and  over  your  life,  and  your  oppressors  I  will 
wither  with  my  breath.  I  come  to  you  with  help ;  I  need  no' 
worship  from  you.  But  I  say,  Love  me,  for  love  is  life,  and  I 
love  you.  Look  at  the  stars  I  have  made  ;  I  know  every  one 
of  them.  Not  one  goes  wrong,  because  I  keep  him  right. 
Why  sayest  thou,  0  Jacob  !  and  speakest,  0  Israel !  my  way 
is  hid  from  the  Lord,  and  my  judgment  is  passed  over  from 
my  God  ;  I  give  power  to  the  faint,  and  to  them  that  have  no 
might,  plenty  of  strength/'  —  Rev.  George  McDonald. 


NOT  SATISFIED  WITH  A  PART. 

A  light  to  lighten  the  Gentiles,   and  the  glory  of  thy  people  Israel.  — 
Luke  2  :  32. 

A  ROMAN  CATHOLIC  priest  in  Ireland,  deeply  sympa- 
thizing with  the  moral  condition  of  his  parish,  contrived 
what  could  be  done,  consistent  with  his  own  religious  need,  to 
overtake  the  population  with  some  remedial  measures  ;  and  it 
struck  him  it  would  be  well  to  print  and  circulate  the  Epistles 
of  St.  Peter  by  themselves,  in  a  separate  tract.  He  did  so ; 
but  somehow  or  other  they  did  not  sell.  He  then  thought  he 
had  better  add  to  the  title,  "  The  Epistles  of  St.  Peter,  Head 
of  the  Church."  Still,  however,  nobody  bought  them.  At  last 
it  suggested  itself  to  his  mind  that  if  he  placed  between  the 
title-page  and  the  epistles  themselves  a  representation  of  St. 
Peter's  Cathedral  at  Rome,  they  would  sell.  He  did  so  ;  and 
now  the  whole  edition  was  soon  bought  up.  One  of  the  copies 
fell  into  the  hands  of  a  man,  who,  having. read  it,  went  to  the 
priest,  and  having  ascertained  that  he  had  put  them  in  circula- 
tion, said,  — 

"  I  have  not  got  all.     Are  there  not  the  epistles  of  some 
other  fellows  ?  " 


184  NEW   TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

"  What  makes  you  think  so  ?  "  said  the  priest. 

"  Because/'  replied  the  man,  "  I  find  it  is  written,  As  our 
beloved  brother  Paul  hath  said.  Now  where  are  the  Epistles 
of  St.  Paul  ?  " 

"  It  is  even  so,"  said  the  priest. 

The  man  never  rested  until  he  had  procured  a  copy  of 
the  New  Testament.  Having  read  this,  he  came  again  to 
the  priest. 

"  Ah !  I  have  not  got  it  all  yet,"  said  he. 

"  Why  not  ?  "  said  the  priest. 

"  Because  I  read,  As  it  is  written  in  the  book  of  Psalms  ; 
As  it  is  written  in  the  book  of  Hosea ;  As  saith  the  prophet 
Jeremy  ;  As  saith  the  prophet  Isaiah."  And  then,  with  all  the 
characteristic  ardor  of  an  Irishman,  he  pointed  out  to  the 
priest  the  numerous  array  of  finger-posts  and  landmarks  in  the 
New  Testament,  pointing  to  the  existence  of  the  Old. 

'•  Well,"  said  the  priest,  "  you  are  right  now  also ;  there  is 
another  book,  much  larger  than  that  which  you  have." 

"  0,  let  me  have  it,"  said  the  man  ;  and  he  never  rested  till 
he  was  possessed  of  a  perfect  copy  of  the  Scriptures.  Having 
then  penetrated,  as  it  were,  both  strata,  both  hemispheres,  and 
absorbed  the  light  of  both,  the  man  went  to  his  own  priest, 
and  applied  for  absolution,  which  was  refused  him,  among 
other  reasons,  because  he  was  a  Bible  reader,  and  that,  there- 
fore, there  was  no  absolution  for  him.  However,  he  urged  his 
suit  with  that  irresistible  Irish  force  to  which  there  was  no 
parallel  in  the  universe,  that  the  priest  agreed  to  let  him  have 
absolution  upon  payment  of  a  certain  sum  of  money.  The 
man  then  pulled  from  under  his  coat  the  Bible,  and  said  to 
the  priest,  "  I  come  to  you  for  absolution ;  you  say  I  must  not 
have  it,  because  I  am  a  Bible  reader  ;  at  last  you  agree  to  give 
me  absolution  if  I  pay  you  half  a  crown.  I~do  not  want  your 
absolution ;  "  and  opening  the  Bible  in  the  middle,  as  a  person 
in  his  condition  naturally  would  do,  he  read  (and  it  was  fit 
that  such  a  blessed  passage  should  be  found  in  the  center  of 
the  Bible),  "  Ho,  every  one  that  thirsteth,  come  ye  to  the  wa- 
ters, and  he  that  hath  no  money ;  come  ye,  buy  and  eat,  with- 
out money  and  without  price."  —  Richard  Dorikersley. 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  185 


JESUS  IN  HIS  CHILDHOOD. 

And  Jesus  increased  in  wisdom  and  stature,  and  in  favor  with  God  and 
man.  —  Luke  2  :  52. 

WHEN  we  thus  speak  of  the  Son  of  the  Most  High  God,  of 
the  Saviour  and  Redeemer  of  mankind,  it  is  with  im- 
pressions of  the  profoundest  reverence.  He  certainly  stood 
not  in  need  of  previous  culture  and  discipline  to  fit  him  for 
glory.  The  rays  of  divinity  shone  around  him  from  the  hour 
of  his  birth  with  a  native  original  lustre.  What  is  therefore 
recorded  of  his  life,  is  but  to  furnish  to  mankind  an  example 
and  pattern  for  their  imitation,  to  set  before  us  the  beauty  of 
holiness,  and  invite  us  to  pursue  the  same  path,  which  lie  has 
gone  before  us,  in  the  attainment  of  every  imitable  excel- 
lence. 

Other  creatures  arrive  at  that  perfection  of  stature  which 
Providence  allows  them  without  exertion ;  but  the  whole  of 
man's  existence  is  a  state  of  discipline  and  progression.  Youth 
is  his  preparation  for  maturer  years,  and  his  whole  life  a  prep- 
aration for  the  next.  The  soil  is  given  to  us,  but  the  cultiva- 
tion and  improvement  of  it  depends,  under  God,  on  our  own 
labor.  The  neglected  ground  will  be  certainly  overrun  with 
weeds.  Experience  teaches,  that  where  a  foundation  is  not 
laid  in  the  early  part  of  life,  little  proficiency  is  to  be  expected 
both  in  the  natural  and  the  moral  world  ;  a  plentiful  harvest 
depends  on  a  kindly  spring.  Autumn  blossoms  seldom  ripen 
into  fruit.  If  the  soil  is  not  softened  and  prepared  at  that 
critical  season,  if  the  fair  buds  and  blossoms  of  true  wisdom 
wither  and  decay,  there  is  but  feeble  hope  that  they  will  after- 
ward revive  and  flourish,  and  quicken  into  fruit. 

If,  therefore,  we  desire  that  our  children  should  copy  after 
the  pattern  of  Jesus,  who  increased  in  wisdom  and  stature,  and 
in  favor  with  God  and  man,  let  parents,  public  teachers,  and 
guardians  of  youth  unite  in  training  them  up  in  the  way  they 
should  go,  and  when  old  they  will  not  depart  from  it ;  and  their 
work  and  labor  of  love  shall  not  be  in  vain  in  the  Lord, 
24 


186  NEW   TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

GREAT  IS  THE  HOLY  BIBLE. 

The  word  of  God  came  unto  John  the  son  of  Zacharias  in  the  wilderness.  — 
Luke  3  :  2. 

0  FRIENDS,  if  there  is  one  great  thing  in  this  world,  it  is 
the  Bible  of  God  j  great  in  origin,  'great  in  thought,  great 
in  promise,  great  in  beauty,  great  in  purpose,  great  in  power, 
great  in  its  results  !  It  hangs  as  by  a  golden  cord  from  the 
throne  of  the  Highest,  and  all  heaven's  light,  life,  love,  and 
sweetness  come  down  into  it  for  us.  It  hangs  there  like  a 
celestial  harp ;  the  daughters  of  sorrow  tune  it,  and  awake  a 
strain  of  consolation.  The  hand  of  joy  strikes  it,  and  feels  a 
diviner  note  of  gladness.  The  sinner  comes  to  it,  and  it  dis- 
courses to  him  of  repentance  and  salvation.  The  saint  bends 
an  ear  to  it,  and  then  it  talks  to  him  of  an  intercessor  and  im- 
mortal kingdom.  The  dying  man  lays  his  trembling  hand  on 
it,  and  there  steals  thence  into  his  soul  the  promise,  "  Lo,  I  am 
with  you  alway,  even  unto  the  end  of  the  world."  "  When 
thou  passest  through  the  waters,  they  shall  not  overflow  thee, 
and  through  the  fires,  thou  shalt  not  be  burned."  "  Be  of  good 
cheer  ;  I  have  overcome  the  world  !  "  "  The  last  enemy  that 
shall  "be  destroyed  is  death."  "  This  mortal  shall  put  on  im- 
mortality, and  this  corruptible  shall  put  on  incorruption,  and 
death  shall  be  swallowed  up  in  victory."  Where  is  promise, 
whore  is  philosophy,  where  is  song  like  this  ?  Magnify  the 
Word  of  God  \-E.E.  Adams. 


CHRIST  OUR  CITY  OF  REFUGE. 

As  it  is  written  in  the  hook  of  the  words  of  Esaias  the  prophet,  saying, 
The  voice  of  one  crying  in  the  wilderness,  Prepare  ye  the  way  of  the  Lord, 
make  his  paths  straight.  —  Luke  3  :  4. 

THE  ancient  city  of  refuge  was  a  very  beautiful   type  of 
Christ.     Everything  was  done  to  render  the  city  easy  of 
access.     It  was  not  to  be  built  in  a  valley,  concealed  among 
trees,  but  set  on  a  hill,  that  it  might  be  seen  from  afar.     So 
"  Christ  is  exalted  to  be  a  Prince  and  a  Saviour,"  and  u  exalted 


NEW   TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  187 

to  show  mercy."  The  roads  leading  to  it  were  to  be  very  wide 
and  spacious.  Once  every  year  the  magistrates  sent  workmen 
to  clear  them,  and  put  them  in  complete  repair.  So  the  way 
to  Christ  is  plain ;  and  it  is  the  work  of  ministers  to  keep  it 
clear.  God  says  to  them,  "  Cast  up  the  highway,  take  up  the 
stumbling-block,  gather  out  the  stones,  prepare  the  way  of  my 
people."  Stones  were  set  up  on  the  road  at  every  crossway, 
for  fear  the  fugitive  should  go  astray.  The  word  Refuge  was 
written  on  the  stone  in  large  letters,  so  that  one  might  read  as 
he  ran.  Tims  do  faithful  preachers  and  teachers  direct  sinners 
to  the  Saviour,  and  cry,  "  Refuge  !  '  Flee  from  the  wrath  to 
come  ! ' '  The  gates  were  never  shut,  day  nor  night ;  so  that 
at  any  hour  the  manslayer  could  enter.  Christ  says,  "  Him 
that  cometh  to  me  I  will  in  no  wise  cast  out."  The  people  of 
the  city  were  to  receive  the  fugitive,  and  provide  him  with 
food  and  lodging,  and  everything  he  needed.  So  does  Christ 
feed  and  clothe  those  who  flee  to  him.  He  that  believeth 
shall  never  hunger  nor  thirst.  There  is  no  want  to  them  that 
fear  him.  This  city  was  for  all  strangers  as  well  as  for  Jews. 
So  Christ  is  offered  alike  to  all  of  every  kindred  and  people 
and  nation  and  tongue. 


SINS  ARE  LINKED  TOGETHER. 

But  Herod  the  tctrarch,  being  reproved  by  him  for  Herodias  his  brother 
Philip's  wife,  and  for  all  the  evils  which  Herod  had  done,  added  yet  this  above 
all,  that  he  shut  up  John  in  prison.  —  Luke  3  :  19,  20. 

ONE  sin  draws  after  itself  many  more.  Joseph's  brethren 
envied  him  —  that  was  a  great  sin ;  then  they  stripped  him 
of  his  beautiful  coat,  and  cast  him  into  a  pit  —  another  sin ; 
then  they  sold  him  to  the  Ishmaelites  —  still  another ;  then, 
to  hide  these  sins,  they  must  add  an  act  of  falsehood  and  cruel 
deception:  they  dipped  Joseph's  coat  in  the  blood  of  a  kid, 
and  carried  it  to  their  father,  pretending  that  they  had  found 
it  in  the  field.  At  the  sight  of  it  Jacob's  heart  died  within 
him.  "  An  evil  beast,"  said  he,  "  hath  devoured  him  :  Joseph 
is,  without  doubt,  rent  in  pieces."  Now  they  must  try  to 
comfort  him,  and  in  so  doing  they  were  obliged  to  play  the 
hypocrite.  Then  they  must  persist  in  their  falsehood  and 


188  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

deception  during  all  the  long  years  —  at  least  twenty-two  — 
that  passed  until  Joseph  made  himself  known  to  them  in 
Egypt.  What  a  chain  of  dreadful  sins  !  Yes,  what  a  chain  ; 
for  all  these  wicked  deeds  were  linked  together.  The  first 
drew  after  it  all  the  rest. 

So  Herod  first  did  an  unlawful  deed  in  marrying  Herodias, 
his  brother  Philip's  wife ;  then,  when  John  reproved  him  for 
this  sin,  he  u  added  yet  this  above  all,  that  he  shut  up  John  in 
prison."  The  first  sin  led  to  the  second.  But  that  was  not 
the  end.  This  same  Herodias,  whom  he  had  unlawfully  mar- 
ried, what  di<J  she  do  ?  When  her  daughter  Salome  danced 
before  Herod  and  his  lords,  he  was  greatly  delighted,  and 
promised,  with  an  oath,  to  give  her  whatsoever  she  should  ask. 
This  was  both  foolish  and  wicked.  And  now  see  how  these 
two  sins,  that  of  marrying  Herodias,  and  that  of  making  this 
oath  to  Salome  her  daughter,  united  in  producing  another 
dreadful  deed.  At  the  mother's  suggestion,  who  hated  John 
for  his  faithfulness  in  reproving  Herod,  the  daughter  asked 
for  the  head  of  John  the  Baptist,  and,  for  "  the  oath's  sake," 
Herod  sent  and  beheaded  John  in  prison. 

Take  a  case  from  modern  history.  General  Arnold  first 
indulged  in  an  expensive  and  showy  style  of  living,  by  which 
means  he  ran  himself  into  debt.  Then,  to  free  himself 
from  this,  he  practiced  extortion,  and  embezzled  the  public 
funds.  For  this  Washington  reproved  him  ;  then  he  attempt- 
ed to  sell  his  country  to  the  British ;  when  this  scheme  failed, 
he  must  join  their  side,  and  fight  against  his  own  country. 

Thus  has  it  ever  been,  and  thus  it  will  always  be.  One  sin 
leads  to  another,  and  that  to  another  still,  and  so  on  without 
end.  He  who  cheats  is  driven  into  lying,  and  he  who  tells 
one  lie,  must  tell  another  to  hide  the  first.  Sabbath-breaking, 
disobedience  to  parents,  and  keeping  company  with  the  wick- 
ed, are  all  sins,  and  they  lead  to  a  great  many  more  sins.  You 
are  never  safe  except  when  you  keep  all  God's  commands. 
When  you  take  one  wrong  step,  you  know  not  whither  it  will 
carry  you. 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  189 


THE  INESTIMABLE  BOOK. 

And  he  closed  the  book,  and  he  gave  it  again  to  the  minister,  and  sat  down. 
And  the  eyes  of  all  them  that  were  in  the  synagogue  were  fastened  on  him.  — 
Luke  4  :  20. 


Bible  is  a  book  of  inestimable  value,  containing  the 
JL  great  charter  of  grace,  by  which  the  Lord  God  has  grant- 
ed, under  his  hand  and  seal,  by  his  covenant  and  oath,  a  full 
discharge  from  sin  and  misery,  and  a  perfect  title  to  life  and 
glory  everlasting.  These  blessings  he  has  given  in  his  Son, 
and  he  applies  them  by  his  Spirit  ;  therefore  the  record  of 
God  concerning  his  Son  is  the  subject  of  the  whole  book  — 
What  he  was  in  his  person,  Emmanuel,  and  what  he  actually 
was,  God  manifest  in  the  flesh  ;  what  he  was  to  do,  and  has 
done  ;  what  he  was  to  suffer,  and  has  suffered  ;  his  resurrec- 
tion; his  complete  redemption,  his  prevailing  intercession; 
and  what  he  will  do  for  his  people  in  glory.  These  points  are 
treated  of  at  large.  And  because  we  are  dead  to  these  truths, 
we  cannot  understand  nor  believe  them,  nor  make  the  proper 
use  of  them  by  any  power  of  our  -own  ;  therefore  God  the 
Spirit,  who  inspired  the  book,  still  accompanies  the  hearing 
of  it,  and  renders  it  the  effectual  means  of  quickening  the 
dead,  of  working  the  saving  knowledge  of  Jesus,  and,  through 
faith  in  him,  of  manifesting  the  love  'of  the  Father."  Would 
you  grow  in  this  knowledge,  in  this  faith,  in  this  love  ?  Here 
is  the  ordinance  of  God.  His  almighty  power  still  accom- 
panies his  own  Word  ;  still  he  works  in  it  and  by  it  as  truly 
as  when  he  spake,  and  the  world  was  made  ;  when  he  com- 
manded, and  all  things  subsisted.  Hear,  read,  study,  medi- 
tate, mix  faith  with  it,  pray  over  it,  and  you  will  find  it  able 
to  make  you  wise  unto  salvation,  and  that  is  as  wise  as  you 
need  to  be.  —  Romaine. 

PREACHING  ACCOMPANIED  WITH  DIVINE  POWER. 

And  they  were  astonished  at  his  doctrine  :  for  his  word  was  with  power.  — 
Luke  4  :  32. 

JAMES   SHERMAN  often  preached  with  great  effect.     A 
brief  extract  from  his  biography  will  confirm  this  state- 
ment.    We  quote  his  own  words  :  — 


190  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

"  Occasionally  God  blessed  and  distinguished  the  preaching 
of  his  word  by  remarkable  manifestations  of  his  saving  power. 
In  the  early  part  of  the  year  1837,  I  preached  one  Sabbath 
evening  from  Mark  6:36,  'And  there  were  also  with  him 
other  little  ships.'  The  text  was  striking,  and  caught  the 
attention  of  the  congregation.  The  subject  was  the  earnest- 
ness witli  which  men  must  seek  for  Christ,  and  the  risks  they 
must  be  willing  to  run  to  find  him.  As  I  proceeded  in  the  illus- 
tration and  enforcement  of  the  principle  stated,  there  came 
from  heaven  a  celestial  breeze,  and  one  little  ship  after  another 
seemed  to  start  in  search  after  Christ,  until  they  became  a 
fleet.  The  feeling  upon  my  own  mind  was,  that  I  was  ready 
to  risk  all  to  go  with  Christ,  so  glorious  a  Saviour,  so  exalted 
a  Captain  did  he  appear.  And  this  feeling  was  apparently 
communicated  to  the  congregation.  They  were  melted  into 
penitence  and  tears.  Never  shall  I  forget  the  impression 
made,  when,  at  the  close  of  the  sermon,  I  gave  out  the 
hymn,  — 

'  Jesus,  at  thy  command, 
I  launch  into  the  deep.' 

"  Had  it  been  possible  and  decorous  then  and  there  to  have 
put  the  question,  and  to  have  asked  every  one  willing  to  em- 
bark for  the  celestial  country  to  hold  up  the  hand,  I  verily 
believe  "almost  every  one,  and  most  of  them  with  tears,  would 
have  uttered,  <  Here  am  I  —  take  me/  When  I  descended 
from  the  pulpit,  both  vestries  and  the  school-room  were  filled 
with  persons  anxious  to  converse  with  me.  I  began  to  talk 
with  them  one  at  a  time,  and  asked  a  few  elderly  persons  in 
the  church  to  distribute  themselves  among  those  in  the  school- 
room. In  the  midst  of  my  converse,  and  after  he  had  waited 
for  more  than  an  hour,  a  gentleman  of  some  position  knocked 
at  my  vestry  door,  and  said,  '  Sir,  here  are  enough  to  fill 
twenty  boats ;  what  will  you  do  with  us  ? '  Exhausted  be- 
yond measure,  I  kneeled  down  and  prayed  with  them.  The 
place  was  literally  a  Bochim. 

"  After  pronouncing  the  benediction,  I  begged  of  them  to 
retire,  and  to  come  and  see  me  on  the  morrow  or  Tuesday. 
The  greater  number  did  so;  but  some  wnv  afraid,  dear  souls, 
that  th««  impression  would  wear  away,  and  others  were  so  cir- 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  191 

cumstanced  that  that  was  the  only  time  they  had,  and  they 
begged  as  for  their  life  that  I  would  converse  with  them  for 
a  few  minutes.  I  remained  among  them  until  eleven  o'clock, 
listening  to  their  respective  vows  and  anxious  expressions  of 
faith  in  Christ.  The  excitement  sustained  me  for  the  time, 
and  a  night's  rest  recruited  me.  But,  0  !  it  was  worth  dying 
for  to  witness  such  a  scene.  After  suitable  examination,  many 
were  admitted  to  the  church,  eighty-four  of  whom  attributed 
their  conversion  to  Christ  to  that  sermon.  How  many  joined 
other  churches  is  known  only  to  God  alone.  The  larger 
number  remained  for  years ;  many  of  them  remain  to  this  day, 
among  the  most  active  and  devoted  members  of  the  church." 


AUTHORITY  OF  THE  BIBLE. 

And  they  were  all  amazed,  and  spake  among  themselves,  saying,  What  a 
word  is  this  !  for  with  authority  and  power  he  commandeth  the  unclean  spirits, 
and  they  come  out.  —  Luke  4  :  36. 

THE  Rev.  Adolphe  Monod  gives  the  following  illustration 
of  the  benefits  arising  from  the  reading  of  the  Bible  : 
"  The  mother  of  a  family  was  married  to  an  infidel,  who  made 
a  jest  of  religion  in  the  presence  of  his  own  children ;  yet  she 
succeeded  in  bringing  them  all  up  in  the  fear  of  the  Lord. 
I  one  day  asked  her  how  she  preserved  them  from  the  influ- 
ence of  a  father  whose  sentiments  were  so  openly  opposed  to 
her  own.  This  was  her  reply  :  l  Because  to  the  authority  of  a 
father  I  did  not  oppose  the  authority  of  a  mother,  but  that  of 
God.  From  their  earliest  years  my  children  have  always  seen 
the  Bible  upon  my  table.  This  holy  book  has  constituted  the 
whole  of  their  religious  instruction.  I  was  silent  that  I  might 
allow  it  to  speak.  Did  they  propose  a  question,  did  they 
commit  any  fault,  did  they  perform  any  good  action,  I  opened 
the  Bible,  and  the  Bible  answered,  reproved,  or  encouraged 
them.  The  constant  reading  of  the  Scriptures  has  alone 
wrought  the  prodigy  which  surprises  you.' ?1 


192  NEW   TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

A  TRUSTING  FAITH  THE  BEST. 

Now  when  he  had  left  speaking,  he  said  unto  Simon,  Launch  out  into  the 
deep,  and  let  down  your  nets  for  a  draught.  —  Luke  5  :  4. 

LOOK  how  it  is  with  two  watermen :  the  one  hauls  his  boat 
about  the  shore,  and  cannot  get  off,  but  tugs  and  pulls 
hard,  yet  never  puts  her  forth  to  the  tide ;  the  other,  having 
more  skill,  puts  off  presently,  sets  up  his  sail,  and  then  sits 
still,  committing  himself  to  wind  and  tide,  which  easily  carry 
him  whither  he  is  to  go.  Just  thus  it  is  with  a  faithful  soul, 
and  an  unbeliever ;  all  the  care  of  the  one  is  to  put  himself 
upon  the  stream  of  God's  providence,  to  set  up  the  sail  of 
hope,  to  take  the  gale  of  God's  mercy,  and  so  he  goes  on 
cheerfully.  And  why  ?  but  because  he  is  not  moved  by  any 
external  principle.  It  is  faith  in  Christ  Jesus  that  puts  him 
on ;  it  is  by  faith  that  he  has  got  a  skill  and  a  kind  of  flight  to 
put  over  all  cares  to  another ;  and  though  he  take  up  the 
cross,  yet  he  hurls  all  the  care  upon  Christ,  and  then  it  is  an 
easy  matter  to  lie  under  the  burden  when  another  bears  the 
weight.  But  the  unfaithful,  unbelieving  soul,  thinking  by  his 
own  wit  and  power  to  bring  things  about,  tugs  and  pulls  hard, 
yet  finds  neither  ease  nor  success,  but  sinks  under  the  press- 
ure of  every  carnal,  worldly  current  that  betides  him. 


POWER  OF  THE  LORD  TO  SAVE. 

And  it  came  to  pass  on  a  certain  day,  as  he  was  teaching,  that  there  were 
Pharisees  and  doctors  of  the  law  sitting  by,  which  were  come  out  of  every  town 
of  Galilee,  and  Judea,  and  Jerusalem :  and  the  power  of  the  Lord  was  pres- 
ent to  heal  them.  —  Luke  5:17. 

THE  Rev.  Mr.  Guthrie,  an  eminent  minister  in  Scotland  of 
the  olden  time,  was  one  evening  traveling  home  very  Lite. 
Having  lost  his  way  on  a  moor,  he  laid  the  reins  on  the  neck 
of  his  horse,  and  committed  himself  to  the  direction  of  Provi- 
dence. After  long  traveling  over  ditches  and  fields,  the  horse 
brought  him  to  a  farmer's  house,  into  which  he  went,  and 
requested  permission  to  sit  by  the  fire  till  morning,  which  was 
granted.  A  Popish  priest  was  administering  extreme  unction 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  193 

to  the  mistress  of  the  house,  who  was  dying.  Mr.  Guthrie 
said  nothing  till  the  priest  had  retired.  Then  he  went  forward 
to  the  dying  woman,  and  asked  her  if  she  enjoyed  peace  in 
the  prospect  of  death,  in  consequence  of  what  the  priest  had 
said  and  done  to  her.  She  answered  that  she  did  not ;  on 
which  he  spoke  to  her  of  salvation  through  the  atoning  blood 
of  the  Redeemer.  The  Lord  .taught  her  to  understand,  and 
enabled  her  to  believe  the  message  of  mercy,  and  she  died 
triumphing  in  Jesus  Christ  as  her  Saviour.  After  witnessing 
this  astonishing  scene,  Mr.  Guthrie  mounted  his  horse  and 
rode  home.  On  his  arrival,  he  told  Mrs.  Guthrie  he  had  seen 
a  great  wonder  during  the  night.  "  I  came,"  said  he,  "  to  a 
farm-house,  where  I  found  a  woman  in  a  state  of  nature ;  I  saw 
her  in  a  state  of  grace ;  and  I  left  her  in  a  state  of  glory. 


CONTINUED  ALL  NIGHT  IN  PRAYER. 

And  it  came  to  pass  in  those  days,  that  he  went  out  into  a  mountain  to  pray, 
and  continued  all  night  in  prayer  to  God.  —  Luke  6  :  12. 

A  MINISTER'S  wife,  in  the  public  congregation,  requested 
/1_  twelve  leading  men  of  the  place  to  meet  her  at  the  par- 
sonage on  a  certain  evening.  Her  husband  had  no  faith  that 
they  would  come ;  but  at  the  time  appointed  he  saw  them 
coming  to  his  house.  He  and  his  boy  of  a  dozen  years  were 
in  the  cook-room,  where  they  knelt  in  prayer,  while  she  re- 
ceived them  in  the  parlor.  After  a  short  interview  they 
returned  to  their  homes.  The  husband  looked  into  the  parlor 
and  saw  his  wife  on  her  knees,  and  at  the  proper  time  retired 
for  the  night.  He  came  down  at  midnight,  and  found  her  still 
praying ;  and  again  at  four  in  the  morning,  and  she  was  still 
wrestling  in  prayer.  She  then  spoke  to  her  husband,  and 
asked  him  to  bring  a  light,  as  she  wished  to  see  on  what  pas- 
sage in  the  Bible  her  finger  was  placed.  They  read,  "  Thy 
name  shall  be  called  no  more  Jacob,  but  Israel ;  for  as  a  prince 
hast  thou  power  with  God,  and  with  men,  and  hast  prevailed." 
She  had  continued  all  night  in  prayer  for  these  men.  Within 
three  weeks  nine  of  the  twelve  were  converted.  "  Call  unto 
me,  and  I  will  answer  thee." 
25 


194  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

"I  WILL  GIVE  NOTHING." 

Give  to  every  man  that  asketh  of  tliee ;  and  of  him  that  taketh  away  thy 
goods,  ask  them  not  again.  —  Luke  6  :  30. 

A  MINISTER,  soliciting  aid  toward  his  chapel,  waited  upon 
an  individual  distinguished  for  his  wealth  and  benevo- 
lence. Approving  the  case,  he  presented  to  the  minister  a 
handsome  donation,  and  turning  to  his  three  sons,  who  had 
witnessed  the  transaction,  he  advised  them  to  imitate  his 
example.  "  My  dear  boys,"  said  he,  "  you  have  heard  the 
case;  now  what  will  you  give?"  One  said,  "I  will  give  all 
that  my  pockets  will  furnish ;  "  another  observed,  "  I  will  give 
half  that  I  have  in  my  purse ; "  the  third  sternly  remarked, 
"  I  will  give  nothing."  Some  years  after  the  minister  had  occa- 
sion to  visit  the  same  place,  and,  recollecting  the  family  that 
he  had  called  upon,  he  inquired  into  the  actual  position  of  the 
parties.  He-was  informed  that  the  generous  father  was  dead  ; 
the  youth  who  had  cheerfully  given  all  his  store,  was  living  in 
affluence ;  the  son  who  had  divided  his  pocket-money,  was  in 
comfortable  circumstances  ;  but  the  third,  who  had  indignantly 
refused  to  assist,  and  haughtily  declared  he  would  give 
"  nothing/'  was  so  reduced  as  to  be  supported  by  the  two 
brothers. 

The  above  anecdote  is  a  striking  illustration  of  the  words 
of  Solomon.  Men  of  property  should  contribute  largely  ;  they 
should  recollect  that  they  are  responsible  to  God  for  the  use 
they  make  of  their  fortune,  and  that  he  will  hereafter  call 'for 
the  account. 


BE  MERCIFUL  TO  THE  POOR. 

Be  ye  therefore  merciful,  as  your  Father  also  is  merciful.  —  Luke  G  :  36. 

A  PIOUS  German  woman,  herself  an  invalid,  heard  that  her 
-iJL  neighbor  in  the  yard  below  was  yet  more  feeble.  The 
bottle  of  wine,  provided  for  her  at  the  doctor's  suggestion, 
would  surely  do  that  neighbor  good.  And  so  nimble  little  feet 
are  soon  at  the  widow's  door,  a  bright  face  looks  in,  and  with 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  195 

a  "  Mother  sent  you  this/'  the  little  flask  stands  upon  the 
table.  Wine  to  the  sick  woman  it  may  be,  but  the  divine 
chemistry,  which  years  ago  changed  water  into  wine,  can  show 
this  also  to  be  a  "  cup  of  cold  water." 

Late  one  Saturday  evening,  a  pious  widow,  in  humble  cir- 
cumstances, who  had  not  walked,  save  from  one  chamber  to 
another,  for  years,  sent  me  a  loaf  of  bread,  with  the  message, 
"  The  Lord  sent  it  to  me  for  some  poor  woman."  The  late- 
ness of  the  hour,  and  our  Lord's  saying,  that  it  was  lawful  to 
do  good  on  the  Sabbath  day,  determined  me  to  leave  it  until 
the  morning,  when  I  took  it  where  I  thought  it  would  be  wel- 
come. "  The  Lord  has  sent  you  a  loaf  of  bread,  'Mrs.  S.,"  I 
remarked,  as  I  went  in.  Lifting  up  her  hands  toward  heaven, 
her  eyes  filling  with  tears,  she  exclaimed,  "  The  Lord  be 
praised  !  "  Then,  pointing  to  the  neatly-spread  table,  with  its 
scanty  breakfast,  she  said,  "  There  is  all  we  had  for  to-day." 
Was  it  strange  that  the  ringing  of  the  church  bells  made  glad 
music  in  my  ear  that  morning  ?  And  may  we  not  believe 
notes  of  joy  were  heard  above,  as  the  heavenly  chronicler 
noted  down,  in  that  wondrous  book,  another  fl  cup  of  cold  water 
in  the  name  of  a  disciple  ?  " 

And  so  streams  of  refreshing  flow  through  the  parched 
desert.  So  to  fainting  lips  is  pressed,  by  loving  hands,  the 
overflowing  "  cup."  —  Life  of  Susan  M.  Underwood. 


HOW  COULD  YOU   SAY  THE  LORD'S  PRAYER? 

Judge  not,  and  ye  shall  not  be  judged :  condemn  not,  and  ye  shall  not  be 
condemned  :  forgive,  and  ye  shall  be  forgiven.  —  Luke  6  :  37. 

A  SIMILAR  question  was  put  to  an  eminent  clergyman  by 
one  of  his  own  children,  after  being  punished  for  an  act 
of  disobedience.  It  happened  one  day  that  little  Frank  was 
sent  into  the  garden  to  play  with  the  other  children,  and,  in  a 
short  time,  fixed  his  longing  eyes  upon  a  favorite  cherry  tree 
of  his  papa's,  the  fruit  of  which  all  the  little  ones  had  been 
forbidden  to  touch  ;  but  the  temptation  was  too  strong  for 
poor  Frank.  He  looked  again,  then  tasted,  after  which  he 
returned  to  his  companions  ;  and  in  a  few  minutes  after,  his 


196  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

father  entered  the  garden.  Seeing  what  had  been  done,  he 
called  the  children  around  him,  and  inquired  what  had  become 
of  the  missing  cherries  ?  For  a  moment  all  was  silent,  when 
little  Frank  looked  up  and  said,  "  Papa,  I  cannot  tell  a  lie  ;  / 
did  it."  "  How  many  have  you  taken  ?  "  was  the  next  ques- 
tion asked  by  his  father.  "  Three,"  replied  Frank.  "  Then," 
said  Mr.  C.,  "  for  the  next  three  days,  sir,  you  will  live  on 
bread  and  water,  as  a  punishment  for  your  disobedience." 
For  two  days  the  plate  of  dry  bread  and  cup  of  cold  water 
waited  for  poor  Frank  at  meal  times,  instead  of  his  usual  fare ; 
and  on  the  morning  of  the  third  day,  while  standing  at  the 
breakfast  table,  his  father  asked  him  how  he  liked  his  fare  ? 
The  child  answered,  "  I  can  eat  it  very  well,  papa,  but  I  don't 
much  like  it ;  "  and,  after  standing  in  silence  for  a  few  minutes, 
looked  up  and  said,  "  Can't  you  forgive  me,  papa?  "  "  No,  sir, 
I  cannot ;  my  word  has  passed,  and  you  must  take  your  three 
days,  as  I  told  you."  The  question  was  again  asked,  "  But 
can't  you  really  forgive  me,  papa?"  u  No,"  was  the  answer, 
"  I  cannot  break  my  word."  Frank  instantly  said,  "  Then, 
papa,  how  could  you  say  the  Lord's  Prayer  this  morning?" 
Mr.  C.  was  much  struck  with  the  child's  reproof,  ordered 
the  bread  and  water  to  be  removed,  and  turning  to  his  little 
one,  said,  with  evident  pleasure,  "My  boy,  you  have  preached 
me  a  better  sermon  than  ever  /  preached  in  my  life." 


NATHANIEL  R.  COBB'S  COVENANT  AGAINST  RICHES. 

Give,  and  it  shall  be  given  unto  you ;  good  measure,  pressed  down,  and 
shaken  together,  and  running  over,  shall  men  give  into  your  bosom.  For  with 
the  same  measure  that  ye  mete  withal,  it  shall  be  measured  to  you  again.  — 
Luke  6 :  38. 

MR.  NATHANIEL  R.  COBB,  of  Boston,  a  beneficent  Chris- 
tian gentleman,  was  one  of  the  few  who  recognized  God  as 
the  Giver  of  wealth,  and  who  believed  in  the  duty  of  using 
that  wealth  for  the  glory  of  God.  Having  seen  the  evils  that 
come  of  setting  the  heart  on  property,  and  making  a  god  of  this 
world,  Mr.  Cobb,  in  early  business  life,  drew  up  a  covenant  to 
bind  himself  to  a  proper  distribution  of  his  gains,  before  large 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  197 

fortunes  should  blind  his  eyes,  or  corrupt  his  principles.  In 
the  year  1821  he  executed  the  following  document,  which  was 
faithfully  adhered  to  :  — 

"  By  the  grace  of  God,  I  will  never  be  worth  more  than  fifty 
thousand  dollars. 

"  By  the  grace  of  God,  I  will  give  one  fourth  of  the  net 
profits  of  my  business  to  charitable  and  religious  uses. 

"  If  I  am  ever  worth  twenty  thousand  dollars,  I  will  give 
one  half  of  my  net  profits,  and  if  ever  I  am  worth  thirty 
thousand,  I  will  give  three  fourths ;  and  the  whole  profits  after 
fifty  thousand,  so  help  me  God,  or  give  to  a  more  faithful 
steward,  and  set  me  aside. 

(Signed)  "  N.  R.  COBB." 

NOVEMBER,  1821. 

Thus,  at  the  age  of  twenty-three,  this  Christian  man,  and 
worthy  member  of  the  Baptist  church,  guarded  his  soul  against 
the  corrupting  influences  of  wealth,  and  set  an  example  that 
was  not  lost  on  others.  At  one  time,  finding  his  property  had 
increased  beyond  fifty  thousand  dollars,  he  at  once  devoted 
the  surplus  of  seven  thousand  five  hundred  as  a  foundation 
for  a  professorship  in  the  Newton  Institute,  for  the  education 
of  Christian  ministers,  to  which  he  gave,  on  other  occasions, 
at  least  twice  that  amount.  Though  he  died  at  the  early  age 
of  thirty-six  years,  by  the  blessing  of  God,  on  his  systema- 
tized plan  of  beneficence,  he  had  given  to  the  cause  of  God 
over  forty  thousand  ($40,000)  dollars,  besides  having  acquired 
the  utmost  limit  of  wealth  which  his  resolutions  allowed  him 
to  possess.  The  blessedness  he  found  in  giving  was  only  sur- 
passed by  the  glorious  presence  of  God  when  near  to  death. 
His  dying  words  were  worthy  of  the  man  who  would  not  be 
rich.  On  his  death-bed  he  said,  "  Within  the  last  few  days 
I  have  had  some  glorious  views  of  heaven.  It  is,  indeed,  a 
glorious  thing  to  die.  Nothing  can  equal  my  enjoyment  in 
the  near  prospect  of  heaven.  My  hope  in  Christ  is  worth 
infinitely  more  than  all  other  things.  The  blood  of  Christ. 
The  blood  of  Christ ;  none  but  Christ."  —  Arvine's  Cyclopaedia. 


198  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

HARMONY  OF  VOICE  AND  LIFE. 

And  blessed  is  he,  whosoever  shall  not  be  offended  in  me.  —  Luke  7  :  23. 

A  GERMAN,  whose  sense  of  sound  was  exceedingly  acute, 
J\.  was  passing  by  a  church  a  day  or  two  after  he  had  landed 
in  this  country,  and  the  sound  of  music  attracted  him  to  enter, 
though  he  had  no  knowledge  of  our  language.  The  music 
proved  to  be  a  piece  of  nasal  psalmody,  sung  in  the  most  dis- 
cordant fashion,  and  the  sensitive  German  would  fain  have 
covered  his  ears.  As  this  was  scarcely  civil,  and  might  appear 
like  insanity,,  his  next  impulse  was  to  rush  into  the  open  air, 
and  leave  the  hated  sounds  behind  him.  "  But  -this,  too,  I 
feared  to  do,"  said  he,  "  lest  offense  might  be  given ;  so  I 
resolved  to  endure  the  torment  with  the  best  fortitude  I 
could  assume  ;  when,  lo  !  I  distinguished  amid  the  din  the  soft, 
clear  voice  of  a  woman  singing  in  perfect  tune.  She  made  no 
effort  to  drown  the  voices  of  her  companions,  neither  was  she 
disturbed  by  their  noisy  discord,  but  patiently  and  sweetly 
she  sang  in  full,  rich  tones ;  one  after  another  yielded  to  the 
gentle  influence,  and  before  the  tune  was  finished  all  were  in 
perfect  harmony." 

It  is  in  this  way  a  quiet  and  pure  life  brings  other  lives 
under  its  gentle  sway.  It  uses  no  words  of  protest  against 
prevailing  discord,  but  sings  on  its  own  sweet  song  of  obedi- 
ence, and  faith,  and  joy,  until  others  feel  and  thrill  with  its 
power.  It  is  better,  by  far,  to  be  charmed  by  the  good,  than 
be  offended  by  the  .e1  vil.  Forget  the  discords  in  life,  by  lis- 
tening to  the  harmony. 

HOW  AN  IGNORANT  COBBLER  KNEW  CHRIST  TO 

BE  GOD. 

And  he  said  unto  her,  Thy  sins  are  forgiven.  And  they  that  sat  at  meat 
with  him  began  to  say  within  themselves,  Who  is  this  that  forgiveth  sins  also?  — 
Luke  7  :  48,  49. 

A  POOR  man,  unable  to  read,  who  obtained  his  livelihood  by 
•  mending  old  shoes,  was  asked  by  an  Arian  minister,  how 
he  knew  that  Jesus  Christ  was  the  Son  of  God  ?     "  Sir/'  he 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS*  199 

replied,  "  I  am  sorry  you  have  put  such  a  question  to  me 
before  my  children,  although  I  think  I  can  give  you  a  satis- 
factory answer.  You  know,  sir,  when  I  first  became  concerned 
about  my  soul,  and  unhappy  on  account  of  my  sins,  I  called 
upon  you  to  ask  for  your .  advice,  and  you  told  me  to  get  into 
company,  and  spend  my  time  as  merrily  as  I  could,  but  not  to 
go  to  hear  the  Methodists."  "  I  did  so,"  answered  the  ungodly 
minister.  "  I  followed  your  advice,"  continued  the  illiterate 
cobbler,  "  for  some  time  ;  but  the  more  I  trifled,  the  more  my 
misery  increased;  and  at  last  I  was  persuaded  to  hear  one  of 
those  Methodist  ministers  who  came  into  our  neighborhood 
and  preached  Jesus  Christ  as  the  Saviour.  In  the  greatest 
agony  of  mind,  I  prayed  to  him  to  save  me,  and  to  forgive  my 
sins  ;  and  now  I  feel  that  he  has  freely  forgiven  them  !  and 
by  this  I  know  that  he  is  the  Son  of  God." 


HEARING  AND  RETAINING. 

But  that  on  the  good  ground  are  they,  which  in  an  honest  and  good  heart, 
having  heard  the  word,  keep  it,  and  bring  forth  fruit  with  patience.  —  Luke  8  :  15. 

C\  OTTHOLD  had,  for  some  purpose,  taken  from  a  cupboard 
vT  a  vial  of  rose-water,  and  after  using  it,  had  inconsider- 
ately left  it  unstopped.  Observing  it  some  time  after,  he  found 
that  all  the  strength  and  sweetness  of  the  perfume  had  evapo- 
rated. This,  thought  he  with  himself,  is  a  striking  emblem  of 
a  heart  fond  of  the  world,  and  open  to  the  impressions  of  out- 
ward objects.  How  vain  it  is  to  take  such  a  heart  to  'the 
house  of  God,  and  fill  it  with  the  precious  essence  of  the  roses 
of  Paradise,  which  are  the  truths  of  Scripture,  or  raise  in  it  a 
glow  of  devotion,  if  we  afterward  neglect  to  close  the  outlet 
that  is  to  keep  the  word  in  an  honest  and  good  heart !  (Luke 
8:15.)  How  vain  to  hear  much,  but  to  retain  little,  and  practice 
less  !  How  vain  to  excite  in  our  heart  sacred  and  holy  emo- 
tions unless  we  are  afterward  careful  to  close  the  outlet  by 
diligent  reflection  and  prayer,  and  so  preserve  it  unspotted 
from  the  world.  Neglect  this,  and  the  strength  and  spirit  of 
devotion  evaporates,  and  leaves  only  a  lifeless  froth  behind. 


200  -NEW   TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

Lord  Jesus,  enable  me  to  keep  thy  word  like  a  lively  cordial 
in  my  heart.  Quicken  it  there  by  thy  Spirit  and  grace.  See 
it  also  in  my  soul,  that  it  may  preserve  for  ever  its  freshness 
and  power.  —  Illustrative  Gatherings. 


HUGH  LATIMER'S  CONVERSION. 

And  he  went  his  way,  and  published  throughout  the  whole  city  how  great 
things  Jesus  had  done  unto  him.  —  Luke  8  :  39. 

HUGH  LATIMER,  the  great  and  eloquent  preacher,  and 
Bishop  of  Worcester  in  the  reign  of  Henry  VIII.,  became 
a  champion  of  the  Reformation  in  a  most  singular  manner. 
We  extract  from  the  "  History  of  the  Great  Reformation  " 
the  following :  — 

"  Latimer  was  a  zealous  Romanist,  and  preached,  on  receiv- 
ing his  degree  in  the  university,  a  stirring  sermon  against  the 
doctrines  of  Luther.  Thomas  Bilney,  a  fellow-student  who 
had  embraced  the  doctrines,  heard  it,  and  thought  if  so  eloquent 
a  man  could  be  won  to  the  truth,  the  amount  of  good  he  might 
perform  would  be  incalculable.  How  could  it  be  done  ?  A 
difficult  task,  but  he  would  try. 

"  He  went  to  Latimer's  study,  and  told  him  he  wished  to 
confess.  And  there,  in  the  privacy  of  that  solitary  chamber, 
he  poured  upon  his  heart  the  burning  story  of  his  own  con- 
version. He  told  him  of  the  load  which  he  had  once  felt  upon 
his  soul.  He  told  him  of  the  struggles  which  he  had  made  to 
remove  it.  He  told  him  how  carefully  he  had  observed  the 
precepts  of  the  church,  and  how  vain  it  had  been  to  him. 
And  when  he  came  to  describe  how  he  looked  to  Jesus,  and 
believed,  trusted  in  him,  relied  upon  him,  and  loved  him,  there 
was  something  in  his  voice  which  went  to  the  very  depths  of 
Latimer's  heart.  The  same  Jesus  who  had  said,  '  Lo,  I  am 
with  you  alway ! '  was  helping  him.  But  when  he  came  to 
describe  the  joy  which  he  felt,  and  the  witness  which  he  lia<l 
received  that  God  had  taken  away  his  sins,  the  heart  of  Lati- 
mer burned  with  new  sensations,  and  there  the  Holy  Spirit 
imparted  to  him  the  same  peace,  the  same  joy,  the  same  wit- 
ness which  Bilney  had  described.  From  that  hour  the  course 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  201 

of  his  life  was  changed,  and  his  talents,  his  piety,  his  eloquence 
were  consecrated  to  the  cause  of  the  Reformation. 

"  He  lived  to  be  about  eighty-five  years  of  age,  and  died  at 
the  stake  in  the  reign  of  Queen  Mary.  As  the  flames  rose 
around  him,  the  aged  saint  rubbed  his  hands  in  them  and  put 
them  on  his  face.  Before  he  expired  he  made  that  memorable 
remark  to  a  fellow-sufferer:  '  Be  of  good  comfort,  Master  Ridley, 
and  play  the  man.  We  shall  this  day  light  such  a  candle,  by 
God's  grace,  in  England,  as  I  trust  shall  never  be  put  out.  " 


BRILLIANT  BUT  NOT  SUCCESSFUL. 

And  they  departed,  and  went  through  the  towns,  preaching  the  gospel,  and 
healing  everywhere.  —  Luke  9  :  6. 

LORD,  save  ministers  of  the  gospel  from  believing  there  is 
honor  or  praise  in  a  ministry  that  does  not  have  "  its  fruits 
unto  holiness,"  in  saving  souls  from  hell.  Not  the  skill  of  the 
operator,  but  the  result  of  the  operation,  is  the  thing  to  be 
kept  in  mind.  Sir  Ashley  Cooper,  on  visiting  Paris,  was  asked 
by  the  surgeon-in-chief  of  the  empire  how  many  times  he  had 
performed  a  certain  wonderful  feat  of  surgery.  He  replied 
he  had  performed  the  operation  thirteen  times.  "  Ah,  but, 
monsieur,  I  have  done  him  one  hundred  and  sixty  times.  — 
How  many  times  did  you  save  life  ?  "  continued  the  French- 
man, after  he  had  looked  into  the  blank  amazement  of  Sir 
Ashley's  face.  "  I,"  said  the  Englishman,  u  saved  eleven  of 
the  thirteen.  —  How  many,"  said  the  English  surgeon,  "did 
you  save  out  of  your  one  hundred  and  sixty  ?  "  "  Ah,  monsieur, 
I  lose  them  all ;  but  the  operation  was  very  brilliant."  Of 
too  many  popular  ministers  might  this  same  verdict  be  given. 
Souls  are  not  saved,  but  the  preaching  is  very  brilliant. 
Thousands  are  attracted  and  operated  on  by  the  rhetorician's 
art,  but  what  if  he  be  compelled  to  say,  as  the  French  surgeon 
did,  "  I  lose  them  all,"  but  the  sermons  were  very  brilliant  ? 
What  is  preaching  good  for  if  it  does  not  wake  up  the  sinner, 
and  start  him  off  in  the  way  to  heaven  ?  Results  !  0,  man  of 
God,  not  the  admiration  of  the  hearer,  is  what  you  are  most 
deeply  concerned  in.  Preach  for  results  that  will  show  well 
in  eternity.  —  W.  J, 
26 


202  NEW   TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

MARTIUS,  THE  YOUNG  MARTYR. 

For  whosoever  will  save  his  life  shall  lose  it :  but  whosoever  will  lose  his 
life  for  my  sake,  the  same  shall  save  it.  —  Luke  9  :  24. 

LONG  years  ago,  in  the  early  times  of  the  Christian  Church, 
a  Christian  soldier,  named  Martius,  served  in  the  Roman 
army.  This  was  no  uncommon  circumstance  then,  for  it  was 
not  a  time  of  violent  persecution  ;  and  as  the  faithful  servants 
of  Jesus  were  doubtless  found  also  the  most  faithful  to  an 
earthly  master,  the  old  laws  against  them  were  not  much 
regarded. 

Martius  was  young,  of  a  good  and  wealthy  family,  and  much 
respected  in  his  profession.  The  office  of  centurion  becom- 
ing vacant,  he  Avas  chosen  as  a  suitable  person  to  hold  it.  But 
another  soldier,  of  a  jealous  and  ambitious  disposition,  came 
forward,  and  declared  that  Martius,  being  a  Christian,  was 
legally  unfit  for  the  post ;  and  that  he  himself,  being  next  in 
rank,  ought  to  be  preferred. 

Martius,  being  questioned,  at  once  confessed  his  religion  : 
but  the  governor,  knowing  the  terrible  consequences  which 
must  follow  if  the  point  were  to  be  seriously  taken  up,  said 
he  might  have  three  hours  for  consideration,  after  which  the 
question  would  be  repeated. 

Theotechnes,  Bishop  of  Cesarea,  heard  what  was  going  on. 
He  came  to  the  tribunal,  and  taking  the  arm  of  Martius,  led 
him  into  the  nearest  church.  Then,  taking  a  soldier's  sword, 
he  laid  it  down  beside  a  New  Testament.  li  And  now,"  he 
said,  "  choose,  my  son,  between  these  two." 

Martius  did  not  hesitate ;  he  laid  hold  at  once  of  the  Word 
of  God. 

"  You  have  done  well,  my-  son/'  said  the  faithful  pastor. 
"  Hold  fast  by  him  whom  you  have  chosen,  and  you  shall  soon 
enjoy  him  for  ever.  He  will  strengthen  you  for  all  that  re- 
mains, and  you  shall  depart  in  peace." 

The  remaining  time  was  spent,  we  may  believe,  in  earnest 
exhortation  and  solemn  prayer.  When  the  three  hours  were 
past,  he  was  again  summoned  to.  the  bar.  He  boldly  con- 
fessed his  faith  in  Christ,  was  condemned,  and  beheaded.  His 
name  will  ever  be  remembered  with  honor  as  one  of  "  the  noble 
army  of  martyrs  "  who  sealed  their  testimony  with  their  blood. 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  203 

WHAT  IT  COST  HIM. 

For  what  is  a  man  advantaged,  if  he  gain  the  whole  world,  and  lose  him- 
self, or  be  cast  away?  —  Luke  9  :  25. 

'  "TT7HAT  is  the  value  of  this  estate  ?  "  said  a  gentleman  to 

T  V  another,  with  whom  he  was  riding,  as  they  passed  a 
fine  mansion,  surrounded  by  fair  and  fertile  fields. 

"  I  don't  know  what  it  is  valued  at ;  I  know  .what  it  cost 
its  late  possessor." 

"  How  much  ?  " 

"  His  soul !  " 

A  solemn  pause  followed  this  brief  answer,  for  the  in- 
quirer had  not  sought  first  the  kingdom  of  God  and  his  right- 
eousness. 

The  person  referred  to  was  the  son  of  a  pious  laboring  man. 
Early  in  life  he  professed  faith  in  Christ,  and  he  soon  obtained 
a  subordinate  position  in  a  mercantile  establishment  in  the 
city.  He  continued  to  maintain  a  reputable  religious  pro- 
fession till  he  became  a  partner  in  the  firm.  Labor  then  in- 
creased. He  gave  less  attention  to  religion,  and  more  and 
more  to  his  business,  and  the  cares  of  the  world  choked  the 
word.  Ere  he  became  old,  he  was  exceedingly  rich  in  money, 
but  so  poor  and  miserly  in  soul,  that  none  who  knew  him  would 
have  suspected  that  he  had  ever  borne  the  sacred  name  of 
Him,  who  said,  "  It  is  more  blessed  to  give  than  to  receive." 

At  length  he  purchased  the  large  landed  estate  referred  to, 
built  him  a  costly  mansion,  sickened,  and  died.  Just  before 
he  died,  he  remarked,  "  My  prosperity  has  been  my  ruin." 

0,  what  a  price  for  which  to  barter  away  immortal  joy  and 
everlasting  life  !  yet  how  many  do  it.  "  When  I  have  finished 
this  house,"  said  one  man,  "  then  I  will  seek  the  Lord." 
"  Years  afterward,"  said  the  narrator,  "  I  passed  that  way ; 
the  house  was  not  finished,  but  the  man  was  dead  !  " 

"  What,  shall  it  profit  a  man,  if  he  shall  gain  the  whole 
world,  and  lose  his  own  soul  ?  Or  what  shall  a  man  give  in 
exchange  for  his  soul?"  (Mark  8  :  36,  37.) 


204  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS, 

HONOR  TO  CHRIST  NOT  TO  BE  DIVIDED. 

And  there  came  a  voice  out  of  the  cloud,  saying,  This  is  my  beloved  Son  : 
hear  him.  —  Luke  9  :  35. 

ONE  says,  "  I  have  religion,  and  there  is  a  Christ  in  it ;  for  I 
worship  Nature,  and  he  is  the  God  of  Nature."  This  kind 
of  worship  is  too  much  mixed  ;  there  should  be  no  Nature  in 
it.  Another  says,  "  I  have  religion ;  I  bow  before  great  and 
good  men,"  and  places  Jesus  beside  Aristotle  and  Confucius. 
That  will  not  do ;  Jesus  must  be  alone.  No  glorified  being 
can  stand  beside  him.  Peter  was  ambitious  for  the  Master's 
comfort  on  the  mount  of  transfiguration ;  he  said,  "  Let  us 
make  three  tabernacles  ;  one  for  thee,  one  for  Moses,  and  one 
for  Elias/'  But  hear  the  rebuke  from  the  clouds :  "  This  is 
my  beloved  Son,  in  whom  I  am  well  pleased.  Hear  ye  him.'7 
Nothing  said  about  Moses  and  Elias.  Hear  my  Son  ;  attend 
to  Jesus  ;  he  is  all  in  all.  Ask  the  man  of  this  world  what  he 
thinks  of  Christ,  and  he  will  answer  the  question  according  to 
his  age  in  sin ;  varying  all  the  way  from  veneration  to  blas- 
phemy. Ask  the  humblest  saint  a  similar  question,  and  he 
begins  to  meditate.  He  can  hardly  give  an  answer  ;  there  is 
so  much  implied  in  the  inquiry  that  his  best  chosen  words 
were  a  puerile  means  of  conveying  his  thoughts.  He  may 
weep,  and  think  of  the  time  when 

"  Darkly  the  pall  of  sin  was  cast 
Around  me,  faint  with  terror; 
In  that  dread  hour  how  did  my  groans 
Ascend  for  deeds  of  error !  " 

Eev.  Wilson  Gray. 
VALUE  OF  A  SINGLE  TRACT. 

And  they  were  all  amazed  at  the  mighty  power  of  God.  —  Luke  9  :  43. 

IN  attempting  to  cross  a  river  in  America,  Dr.  Coke  missed 
the  ford,  and  got  into  deep  water;  but  by  catching  hold  of 
a  bough,  reached  dry  land  in  safety.     After  drying  his  clothes 
in  the  sun,  he  met  a  man  who  directed  him  to  the  nearest  vil- 
lage, telling  him  to  inquire  for  a  good  lady's  house,  where  he 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  205 

received  all  the  kindness  and  attention  she  could  show  him. 
The  next  morning  the  doctor  took  leave  of  his  kind  hostess, 
and  proceeded  on  his  journey.  After  a  lapse  of  five  years,  he 
happened  to  be  in  America  again.  As  he  was  on  his  way  to 
one  of  the  provincial  conferences,  in  company  with  about  thirty 
other  persons,  a  young  man  requested  the  favor  of  being 
allowed  to  converse  with  him ;  and  on  asking  him  if  he  recol- 
lected being  in  such  a  part  of  America  about  five  years  ago, 
he  replied  in  the  affirmative.  "  And  do  you  recollect,  sir,  in 
attempting  to  cross  the  river,  being  nearly  drowned  ?  "  "I  re- 
member it  quite  well."  "  And  do  you  recollect  going  to  the 
house  of  a  widow  lady  at  such  a  village ?  "  "I  remember  it 
well,"  said  the  doctor;  "  and  never  shall  I  forget  the  kindness 
which  she  showed  me."  "  And  do  you  remember,  when  you 
loft,  leaving  a  tract  at  that  lady's  house  ?  "  "I  do  not  recollect 
that,"  said  the  doctor ;  "  but  it  is  very  possible  I  might  do  so." 
"  Yes,  sir,"  said  the  young  man,  "you  did  leave  there  a  tract, 
which  that  lady  read,  and  the  Lord  blessed  the  reading  of  it 
to  the  conversion  of  her  soul ;  it  was  also  the  means  of  the 
conversion  of  several  of  her  children  and  neighbors,  and  there 
is  now  in  that  village  a  little  flourishing  society." 

The  tears  of  the  good  doctor  showed  something  of  the  feel- 
ings of  his  heart.  The  young  man  resumed  :  "  I  have  not,  sir, 
quite  told  you  all.-  I  am  one  of  that  lady's  children,  and  owe 
my  conversion  to  God  to  the  gracious  influence  with  which 
he  accompanied  the  reading  of  that  tract  to  my  mind,  and  I 
am  now,  Dr.  Coke,  on  my  way  to  conference  as  a  traveling 
preacher." 


HUMILITY  AND  TRUTH. 

In  that  hour  Jesus  rejoiced  in  spirit,  and  said,  I  thank  thee,  O  Father,  Lord 
of  heaven  and  earth,  that  thou  hast  hid  these  things  from  the  wise  and  prudent, 
and  hast  revealed  them  unto  babes  :  even  so,  Father ;  for  so  it  seemed  .good 
in  thy  sight.  —  Luke  10  :  21. 

"  ITIHERE  are  some  truths,"  says  Dr.  Tayler  Lewis,  "  which 
JL     only  a  very  low  position  will   enable  us  to  see  at  all. 

Among  these  is  the  very  sublimity  of  the  declaration  that  most 


206  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

emphatically  announces  it  to  man :  *  I  thank  thee,  0  Father, 
Lord  of  heaven  and  earth,  that  thou  hast  hid  these  things  from 
the  wise  and  prudent,  and  hast  revealed  them  unto  babes  : 
even  so,  Father,  for  so  it  seemed  good  in  thy  sight.'  All  boast- 
ing here,  all  proud  talk  of  '  high  views/  and  '  wide  views,' 
and  l  lofty  culture,'  —  all  that  babbling  of  'sweetness  and 
light '  we  hear  from  men  whose  style  and  language  show  that 
they  have  never  known  anything  of  a  humbling  Christian 
experience,  are  more  blinding  than  the  densest  physical  or 
mental  darkness.  To  this  region  of  contemplation  belongs  the 
true  knowledge  of  the  human  soul  in  its  relation  to  a  divine 
law  •  the  awful  conclusions  that  inevitably  follow  from  the  bare 
thought  that  the  infinite  God  is  not  indifferent  to  human  moral 
action:  the  immeasurable  difference  between  a  moral  and  re- 
ligious theism  and  one  that  is  merely  theoretical ;  all,  in  short, 
that  pertains  to  sin  and  holiness  —  those  two  words  of  dread 
significance  so  utterly  unknown  to  any  systems  of  science  or 
philosophy.  To  the  student  in  this  department  of  truth,  the 
first  and  indispensable  sfep  is  humility.  We  only  follow  the 
highest  authority  in  saying  that  here  the  first  duty  of  man  is 
to  look  down,  to  look  to  the  deep  world  within,  if  he  can  bear 
1  to  cast  his  dizzy  eyes  so  low,'  — '  to  turn  away  his  eyes  from 
beholding  vanities,'  and,  as  Christ  commands  him,  become  as  a 
little  child,  that  he  may  '  enter  into  the  kingdom  of  heaven.' 

"  There  is  now  prevalent,  even  in  the  church,  a  style  of 
literature  and  literary  oratory  full  of  ideas  the  very  reverse 
of  this.  Its  talk  is  of '  high  views,'  and  <  wide  views,'  and  '  en- 
larged conceptions,'  and  <  lofty  aspirations.'  Our  leading  peri- 
odicals are  full  of  it.  Especially  at  our  collegiate  anniversaries 
is  this  language  heard  :  '  Aim  high,'  '  strike  out,'  'keep  in  ad- 
vance of  this  rapidly  advancing  age.'  Many  of  the  addresses 
to  our  young  men  on  such  occasions  are  but  endless  repetitions 
of  these  cant  phrases,  with  variations  and  modulations  into 
every  conceivable  key.  But  should  we  not  have  aims  and 
loft}-  aspirations?  Is  it  not  right  to  tell  our  young  men  to 
'  Orient  themselves,'  as  some  of  our  Eastern  sages  are  fond  of 
saying?  There  may  be  truth  in  such  language  —  there  is 
truth  in  it  —  but  turned  to  the  direst  falsehood  by  its  sad  mis- 
timing. There  may  be  a  time  to  say,  '  Look  up,'  l  aim  high,' 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  207 

( make  your  mark/  '  strike  out  loftily ; '  but  our  social  and 
political  experience,  to  say  nothing  of  anything  religious, 
should  be  sufficient  to  convince  us  that  some  other  instruction, 
and  of  a  very  different  style,  is  first  needed." 


INFIDELITY  DOES  NOT  KNOW. 

All  things  are  delivered  to  me  of  my  Father :  and  no  man  knoweth  who  the 
Son  is,  but  the  Father ;  and  who  the  Father  is,  hut  the  Son,  and  he  to  whom 
the  Son  will  reveal  him.  —  Luke  10  :  22. 

WALKING  one  day  in  the  village  where  I  was  laboring,  I 
met  a  man  who  1  knew  openly  avowed  himself  an  infi- 
del. After  the  usual  salutations,  I  said  to  him,— 

"  Well,  Mr.  B.,  what  is  the  condition  of  your  soul  this  morn- 
ing ?" 

His  answer  was,  — 

"  0  !  I  am  an  infidel." 

"  I  know  that,  Mr.  B. ;  but  as  a  man  of  reflection,  who  un- 
derstands what  infidelity  is,  you  will  not  pretend  to  me  that 
you  know  the  Bible  is  not  the  Word  of  God." 

After  a  few  moments'  reflection,  he  replied, — 

"  I  acknowledge  that  I  do  not  know  that  it  is  not,  but  I  do 
not  believe  it  is." 

"  Well,  Mr.  B.,  if  the  Bible  should  not  be  the  Word  of  God, 
can  you  be  sure  that  there  will  not  be  just  such  a  state  of  retri- 
bution beyond  the  grave  as  the  Bible  describes?" 

"  No,  I  am  sure  of  nothing  beyond  the  grave,  but  I  do  not 
believe  there  will  be  any  retribution." 

"  Then,  Mr.  B.,  your  reason  compels  you  to  admit  that  you 
cannot  know,  but,  living  and  dying  as  you  are,  you  will  go  to 
hell,  and  be  as  miserable  there  to  all  eternity,  as  the  Saviour 
represented  the  rich  man  to  be." 

"  It  is  true,  I  can  be  certain  of  nothing  beyond  the  grave, 
whether  I  shall  exist  at  all  there,  or'if  I  do,  what  will  be  my 
condition  is  a  mere,  matter  of  conjecture." 

"  Keep  this  in  mind,  Mr.  B.,  when  you  lie  down  and  when 
you  rise  up,  that  you  do  not  know  but  you  shall  go  to  hell 
when  you  die ;  and  if  you  can  rest  with  the  possibility  of  sucli 


208  NEW   TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

a  dreadful  end,  your  mind  is  differently  constituted  from 
mine/' 

We  parted,  and  he  went  about  his  business ;  but,  as  I  after- 
ward learned,  never  enjoyed  any  peace  until  he  indulged  a 
hope  in  Christ. 

In  a  few  weeks  he  united  with  the  Baptist  church. 

Infidels  do  not  reflect  how  baseless  their  scheme  is.  It 
keeps  them  from  the  consolations  of  a  hope  of  a  blessed  im- 
mortality, and  gives  them  nothing  in  return.  Surely  their 
rock  is  not  our  rock,  our  enemies  themselves  being  judges.  — 
Wisner's  "Incidents." 

DO-NOTHING  RELIGION. 

And  he  said  unto  him,  Thou  hast  answered  right :  this  do,  and  thou  shalt 
live.  —  Luke  10  :  28. 

IN  these  latter  days  of  ease  from  persecution,  a  profession  of 
religion  may  be  made,  and  a  decent  outside  may  be  pre- 
served, without  much  cost.  There  is  one  class  of  professors, 
and  that  by  no  means  a  small  one,  made  up  of  those  who  have 
received  a  religious  education,  have  been  trained  up  to  an 
outward  conformity  to  the  precepts  of  the  gospel,  who  ab- 
stain from  the  open  follies  and  corruptions  of  the  world,  but 
remain  quite  satisfied  with  a  negative  religion. 

They  do  not  profane  the  Sabbath. 

They  do  not  neglect  the  ordinances  of  God's  house. 

They  do  not  live  without  a  form  of  prayer. 

They  do  not  take  the  holy  name  of  God  in  vain. 

They  do  not  defraud  their  neighbor. 

They  do  not  neglect  the  poor  and  needy. 

They  do  not  run  a  round  of  gayety  and  folly. 

They  are  not  seen  on  the  race-ground. 

They  do  not  frequent  the  theatre. 

They  do  not  take  their  place  at  the  card-table. 

They  do  not  appear  in-  scenes  of  riot  and  dissipation. 

They  are  not  drunkards. 

They  are  not  swearers. 

They  do  not  bring  up  their  children  without  some  regard  to 
religion. 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  209 

They  do  not  cast  off  the  fear  of  God. 

But  they  do  not  love  him. 

They  do  not  experience  his  love  shed  abroad  in  the  heart. 

They  do  not  enjoy  vital,  heartfelt  religion. 

They  do  not  give  God  their  hearts. 

They  do  not  delight  themselves  in  him. 

They  do  not  esteem  his  Word  more  than  their  necessary 
food. 

They  do  not  love  his  habitation,  and  the  place  where  his 
honor  dwelleth,  though  they  attend  it. 

They  do  not  enjoy  the  peace  of  God  which  passeth  all  under- 
standing. 

They  are  not  the  temples  of  the  Holy  Ghost. 

They  are  not  habitations  of  God  through  the  Spirit. 

They  have  not  passed  from  death  unto  life. 

They  are  not  new  creatures  in  Christ  Jesus. 

They  have  not  been  translated  from  the  kingdom  of  dark- 
ness. 

They  are  not  born  again ;  consequently  cannot  enter  into 
the  kingdom  of  God. 

0,  that  such  would  now  stop  and  examine  their  hearts  and 
their  hopes ;  and  let  them  seek  the  Lord  while  he  may  be 
found,  and  call  upon  him  while  he  is  near. 


NEW  TESTAMENT  PARABLES. 

And  Jesus  answering  said,  A  certain  man  went  down  from  Jerusalem  to 
Jericho,  and  fell  among  thieves,  which  stripped  him  of  his  raiment,  and 
wounded  him,  and  departed,  leaving  him  half  dead.  —  Luke  10 :  30. 

A  LATE  traveler,  Mr.  Stanley,  draws  attention  to  one*  im- 
1JL  portant  consideration  commonly  overlooked  in  the  study 
of  the  gospel  history ;  that,  whereas  the  first  three  Gospek 
turn  almost  exclusively  upon  the  ministry  of  our  Lord  in 
Galilee,  that  of  St.  John  turns  almost  entirely  upon  his  minis- 
trations in  Judea.  The  consideration  is  important,  not  only 
as  explaining  some  of  the  divergences  between  the  two  sets 
of  narratives  ;  as,  for  instance,  the  omission  in  what  we  may  call 
the  "  Galilean  "  Gospels  of  the  miracle  of  the  raising  of  Lazarus, 
27 


210  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

which  took  place  in  Judea,  and  on  the  other  side,  the  omission 
in  the  "  Judean  "  gospel  of  St.  John  of  the  histories  of  the 
demoniacs,  whose  peculiar  habitat  was  around  the  shores  of 
the  Lake  of  Galilee ;  but  also  as  illustrating  many  of  the  cir- 
cumstances, and  even  somewhat  of  the  character,  of  the  teach- 
ing recorded  in  each.  And  this  is  peculiarly  observable  in 
the  two  classes  into  which  the  parables  of  the  gospel  are  dis- 
tinctly divisible.  Some  parables,  it  is  true,  contain  no  dis- 
tinctive allusions  proper  to  any  locality ;  but  certain  of  them 
are  plainly  Judean ;  certain  others  are  as  clearly  referable  to 
Galilee.  Thus,  to  take  the  beautiful  parable  of  the  Good 
Samaritan,  which  appears  to  have  been  spoken  on  the  way  to 
Bethany,  we  are  forcibly  reminded  of  its  appropriateness  by 
the  still  traceable  characteristics  of  the  locality.  We  still  see 
the  "  long  descent  of  three  thousand  feet  by  which  the  traveler 
went  down  from  Jerusalem,  on  its  high  table-land,  to  Jericho 
in  the  Jordan  valley."  From  this  valley  we  might  even  still 
expect  to  see  issuing  the  Bedouin  "  robbers,"  who  to  this  day 
make  it  impossible  for  the  pilgrim  to  pass  without  a  Turkish 
guard,  and  who  still,  as  in  the  days  of  the  parable,  fall  upon 
the  traveler,  strip  him  naked,  beat  him  severely,  and  leave 
him  to  die.  To  this  day  it  is  only  "  by  chance  "  that,  on  that 
unfrequented  road,  the  aid  of  a  passing  traveler  could  be 
hoped  for;  and  of  the  three  "  passers  by  "  of  the  parable,  two 
at  least  were  just  those  whose  presence  would  be  most  natural 
in  that  locality  —  the  priest  and  the  Levite  going  or  return- 
ing between  the  two  sacerdotal  cities  of  Jericho  and  Jerusa- 
lem, —  while  the  solitary  Samaritan  might  also  be  expected, 
if  at  all  within  the  Jewish  border,  upon  the  great  thorough- 
fare between  two  such  stations.  The  "  inn  "  of  the  gospel 
might  still  be  almost  identified  in  a  rude  hospice  which  stands 
on  the  mountain  side,  about  half  way  between  Jerusalem  and 
Jericho. 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  211 


GO  YE  AND  DO  LIKEWISE. 

Which  now  of  those  throe,  thinkest  thou,  was  neighbor  unto  him  that  fell 
among  the  thieves?  And  lie  said,  He  that  shewed  mercy  on  him.  Then  said 
Jesus  unto  him,  Go,  and  do  thou  likewise.  —  Luke  10  :  36,  37. 

WE  commend  the  following  to  those  wives  and  sisters  who 
are  anxious  to  do  work  for  the  Master.  None  can  do 
such  work  so  well  as  they. 

"  A  lady  of  good  social  position  in  Cleveland,  Ohio,  while  on 
her  way  to  a  meeting  of  the  Young  Men's  Christian  Associa- 
tion, saw,  as  she  passed  a  beer  saloon,  a  young  man  about  to 
raise  a  glass  of  liquor  to  his  lips.  Following  instantly  the  mo- 
tion of  the  Spirit  —  would  that  Christians  always  did  this  !  — 
she  left  her  companion  at  the  entrance,  and  stepping  in,  said 
to  the  youth,  — 

"  l  0,  my  friend,  stop  ;  don't  touch  it !  " 

"  Startled  by  the  appearance  of  a  well-dressed  lady  in  such 
a  place,  he  turned,  and  asked, — 

"  '  What  brings  you  here  ? ' 

"  l  To  save  you  from  ruin/  she  replied. 

"  '  What  do  you  want  of  me  ? '  he  again  asked,  confused  by 
the  unexpectedness  of  the  scene. 

"  1 1  want  you  to  let  me  take  your  arm,  and  go  with  you 
to  the  Young  Men's  Christian  Association  meeting,"  she 
answered. 

"  '  But  you  will  be  ashamed  to  walk  with  me,'  he  said. 

" '  Not  in  the  least ;  I  would  be  rejoiced  to  go  there  with 
you,'  she  replied. 

"  Unable  to  resist  her  persuasive  manner  and  heartfelt 
interest  in  his  welfare,  the  young  man  left  the  untouched 
glass,  and  went  to  the  meeting.  Here  prayer  was  specially 
made  for  him,  and  her  act  of  immediate  obedience  resulted  in 
his  conversion.  He  became  not  only  a  Christian,  but  one  of 
the  most  active  workers  for  the  gospel  in  Cleveland." 


212  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

THE  ONE  THING  NEEDFUL. 

But  one  thing  is  needful ;  and  Mary  hath  chosen  that  good  part,  which 
shall  not  be  taken  .away  from  her.  —  Luke  10  :  42. 

"  T  REMEMBER/'  says  the  Rev.  George  Burder,  "  a  woman 
JL  whose  house  was  on  fire.  She  was  very  active  in  re- 
moving her  goods,  but  forgot  her  child  who  was  sleeping  in 
the  cradle.  At  length  she  remembered  the  babe,  and  ran 
with  earnest  desire  to  save  it.  But,  alas  !  it  was  too  late,  the 
suffocating  smoke  and  roaring  flames  forced  her  back :  and  in 
agony,  which  none  but  a  bereaved  mother  knows,  she  ex- 
claimed, i  0,  my  child,  my  child  !  I  have  saved  my  goods,  but 
I  have  lost  my  child  ! ' ! 

So  it  will  be  with  many  a  one  at  the  last,  who,  "  careful  and 
troubled  about  many  things,"  has  forgotten  his  soul. 

I  got  a  good  trade,  will  one  say,  but  lost  my  soul ;  I  got 
office,  will  another  say,  but  lost  my  soul ;  I  got  friends,  but 
God  is  mine  enemy  ;  I  got  pleasure,  but  now  I  am  in  pain ;  I 
got  the  world,  but,  alas !  I  am  now  in  hell,  too  poor,  too  help- 
less to  obtain  a  drop  of  water  to  cool  my  parched  tongue ! 

The  loss,  of  the  soul  is  a  loss  irreparable.  Other  losses  may 
be  repaired,  but  there  is  no  second  soul  for  him  who  has  lost 
one.  Reader,  take  care  of  thy  soul  first,  other  matters  after- 
ward ;  for  though  the  body  dies,  the  soul  lives.  And  now, 
if  ever,  it  must  be  saved.  "  Now/7  emphatically,  "  is  the  ac- 
cepted time/'  and  "  now  is  the  day  of  salvation." 


ST,  CHRYSOSTOM'S  VIEW  OF  PRAYER. 

And  it  came  to  pass,  that  as  he  was  praying  in  a  certain  place,  when  he 
ceased,  one  of  his  disciples  said  unto  him,  Lord,  teach  us  to  pray,  as  John 
also  taught  his  disciples.  —  Luke  11:1. 

T)RAYER  is  an  all-efficient  panoply;  a  treasure  undimin- 
JL  ished ;  a  mine  which  never  is  exhausted  ;  a  sky  unob- 
scured  by  clouds  ;  a  haven  unruffled  by  the  storm  ;  it  is  the 
root,  the  fountain,  and  the  mother  of  a  thousand  blessings.  I 
speak  not  of  the  prayer  which  is  cold  and  feeble,  and  devoid 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  213 

of  energy  ;  I  speak  of  that  which  is  the  child  of  a  contrite 
spirit,  the  offspring  of  a  soul  converted,  born  in  a  blaze  of 
unutterable  inspiration,  and  winged,  like  lightning,  for  the 
skies. 

The  potency  of  prayer  hath  subdued  the  strength  of  fire  ;  it 
hath  bridled  the  rage  of  lions  ;  hushed  anarchy  to  rest ;  ex- 
tinguished wars ;  appeased  the  elements  ;  expelled  demons  j 
burst  the  chains  of  death  ;  expanded  the  gates  of  heaven  ;  as- 
suaged diseases  ;  repelled  frauds  ;  rescued  cities  from  destruc- 
tion ;  it  hath  stayed  the  sun  in  its  course,  and  arrested  the 
progress  of  the  thunderbolt ;  in  a  word,  it  hath  destroyed 
whatever  is  an  enemy  to  man.  I  again  repeat,  that  I  speak 
not  of  the  prayer  engendered  by  the  lips  ;  but  of  that  which 
ascends  from  the  recesses  of  the  heart.  Assuredly,  there  is 
nothing  more  potent  than  it ;  yea,  there  is  nothing  comparable 
to  it.  A  monarch  vested  in  gorgeous  habiliments  is  far  less 
illustrious  than  a  kneeling  suppliant  ennobled  and  adorned 
by  communion  with  his  God.  Consider  how  august  a  privi- 
lege it  is,  when  angels  are  present,  and  archangels  throng 
around ;  when  cherubim  and  seraphim  encircle  with  their , 
blaze  the  throne  ;  that  a  mortal  may  approach  with  unre- 
strained confidence,  and  converse  with  heaven's  dread  Sov- 
ereign !  0,  what  honor  was  ever  conferred  like  this  !  When 
a  Christian  stretches  forth  his  hands  and  invokes  his  God,  in 
that  moment  he  leaves  behind  him  all  terrestrial  pursuits,  and 
traverses  on  the  wings  of  intellect  the  realms  of  life  !  he  con- 
templates celestial  objects  only,  and  knows  not  of  the  present 
state  of  things  during  the  period  of  his  prayer ;  provided  that 
prayer  be  breathed  with  fervency.  Could  we  but  pray  with 
fervency  ;  could  we  pray  with  a  soul  resuscitated,  a  mind 
awakened,  an  understanding  quickened,  then  were  Satan  to 
appear,  he  would  instantaneously  fly ;  were  the  gates  of  hell  to 
yawn  upon  us,  they  would  close  again. 

Prayer  at  once  secures  the  continuance  of  our  blessings, 
and  dissipates  the  cloud  of  our  calamities.  0,  prayer  !  0, 
blessed  prayer  !  Thou  art  the  unwearied  conqueror  of  human 
woes  ;  the  firm  foundation  of  human  happiness  ;  the  source  of 
ever-during  joy  ;  the  mother  of  philosophy  !  The  man  who 
can  pray  truly,  though  languishing  in  extremest  indigence,  is 


214  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

richer  than  all  beside  j  while  the  wretch  who  never  bowed  the 
knee,  though  proudly  seated  as  monarch  of  the  nations,  is  of 
all  men  most  destitute. 

Let  us,  then,  direct  our  thoughts  to  Him  that  was  poor,  yet 
rich ;  rich  because  he  was  poor.  Let  us  overlook  the  enjoy- 
ments of  the  present,  and  desire  the  blessing  of  the  future  ; 
for  so  shall  we  obtain  the  blessings  of  the  present  and  the 
future.  0  !  may  we  all  obtain  them  through  the  grace  and 
beneficence  of  Christ  our  Lord  ;  to  whom,  with  the  Father  and 
the  Holy  Spirit,  be  ascribed  all  glory,  now  and  for  evermore  ! 
Amen. 

"DELIVER  US  FROM  EVIL." 

And  forgive  us  our  sins ;  for  we  also  forgive  every  one  that  is  indebted  to 
us.  And  lead  us  not  into  temptation ;  but  deliver  us  from  evil.  —  Luke  11:4. 

SOME  years  ago,  a  good  missionary  in  the  Island  of  Jamaica, 
went  a  long  journey  to  visit  a  sick  friend,  and  staid  so 
late  that  it  was  nearly  dark  when  he  set  out  on  his  way  home. 
He  knew  that  the  road  was  very  dangerous,  with  frightful 
precipices  at  the  side.  How  could  he  escape  falling  over 
them  in  the  dark  ?  His  friend  offered  him  a  pony,  but  he 
thought  he  had  better  go  on  foot.  And  how  do  you  think 
God  protected  and  delivered  him?  He  did  not  send  an  angel, 
as  we  often  read  of  in  the  Bible,  but  a  little  insect,  which  he 
made  answer  the  purpose  as  well.  A  beautiful  fly  in  that 
country,  called  the  Candle  Fly,  shines  at  night  almost  as 
brightly  as  a  lamp.  One  of  these  small  creatures  kept  hover- 
ing close  to  the  missionary  during  all  the  bad  part  of  the  road, 
arid  gave  him  light  till  he  had  got  past  the  danger.  And  often 
afterward,  he  says,  he  has  taken  hope  and  courage  in  other 
times  of  trouble,  by  recollecting  how  God  protected  him  by 
the  candle  fly. 

Keep  us  in  thy  holy  keeping, 

Day  by  day  our  goings  guide  ; 
Guard  in  school,  at  home,  or  sleeping, 

Let  no  evil  e'er  betide. 
Friend  of  children ! 

Still  in  Thee  we  will  confide. 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  215 

IMPORTUNITY  IN  PRAYER. 

I  say  unto  you,  Though  he  will  not  rise  and  give  him,  because  he  is  his 
friend,  yet  because  of  his  importunity  lie  will  rise  and  give  him  as  many  as  he 
needcth.  —  Luke  11:8. 

/CAPTAIN  L.,in  one  of  his  journeys  across  the  Isthmus  from 
\J  the  Gulf  of  Nicoyo  in  the  Pacific  to  the  Atlantic,  took  up 
his  lodging  for  a  night  in  a  venta,  or  country  house  on  a 
mountain,  midway  between  the  two  seas.  The  house  had  a 
good  door  to  it,  which  is  not  very  usual  in  that  part  of  the 
country,  and  which  after  dark  was  closed  and  barred.  About 
midnight  a  severe  knocking  was  heard,  and  the  landlord  de- 
manded a  reason  from  the  intruder,  who  requested  to  be  ac- 
commodated with  a  lodging  and  food  for  himself  and  cattle. 
He  was  stoutly  refused,  and  as  stoutly  did  he  persist  in  knock- 
ing ;  but  was  again  told  that  it  could  not  be  afforded. 

Captain  L.,  a  very  consistent  Christian,  lying  in  his  bed  and 
listening  to  what  was  going  on,  secretly  wished  that  the  party 
outside  would  continue  their  knocking;  and  sure  enough,  it 
was  not  only  continued,  but  with  increased  earnestness,  and 
a  strong  appeal  in  behalf  of  the  exhausted  state  of  himself  and 
his  cattle,  declaring  that  they  must  die  if  they  could  get  no 
nourishment  before  morning.  The  landlord  declared  he  could 
not  open  to  him,  for  that  he  and  his  family  were  all  in  bed. 
Now  the  traveler  became  more  boldly  importunate  in  his 
knocking  and  appeals,  when  the  landlord  .rose,  and  said,  "  For 
you  and  your  cattle  I  do  not  care  ;  yet  if  I  do  not  let  you  in,  I 
shall  get  no  rest,  nor  will  my  family."  Thus  the  exhausted 
travelers  were  accommodated  and  nourished ;  the  whole  cir- 
cumstance affording  an  admirable  comment  on  the  parable  in 
which  our  Lord  teaches  the  advantage  to  be  obtained  by  a  holy 
importunate  prayer. 

PIGALLE'S  ALMS-GIVING. 

But  rather  give  alms  of  such  things  as  ye  have ;  and,  behold,  all  things  are 
clean  unto  you.  —  Luke  11 :  41. 

T)IGALLE,  the  celebrated  artist,  was  a  man  of  great  hu- 
jL  inanity.  Intending,  on  a  particular  occasion,  to  make  a 


216  NEW   TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

journey,  he  laid  by  twelve  pounds  to  defray  his  expenses. 
But  a  little  before  the  time  proposed  for  his  setting  out,  he 
observed  a  man  walking  with  strong  marks  of  deep-felt  sor- 
row in  his  countenance  and  deportment.  Pigalle,  impelled 
by  the  feelings  of  a  benevolent  heart,  accosted  him,  and  in- 
quired, with  much  tenderness,  whether  it  was  in  his  power 
to  afford  him  any  relief.  The  stranger,  impressed  with  the 
manner  of  this  friendly  address,  did  not  hesitate  to  lay  open 
his  distressed  situation. 

"  For  want  of  ten  pounds,"  said  he,  "  I  must  be  dragged  this 
evening  to  a  prison,  and  be  separated  from  a  tender  wife  and 
a  numerous  family." 

"  Do  you  want  no  more  ?  "  exclaimed  the  humane  artist. 
"  Come  along  with  me :  I  have  twelve  pounds  in  my  trunk, 
and  they  are  all  at  your  service." 

The  next  day  a  friend  of  PigahVs  met  him,  and  inquired 
whether  it  was  true  that  he  had,  as  publicly  reported,  very 
opportunely  relieved  a  poor  man  and  his  family  from  the  great- 
est distress. 

"  Ah,  my  friend  !  "  said  Pigalle,  "  what  a  delicious  supper  did 
I  make  last  night,  upon  bread  and  cheese,  with  a  family  whose 
tears  of  -gratitude  marked  the  goodness  of  their  hearts,  and 
who  blessed  me  at  every  mouthful  they  ate  ! " 


FEAR  THE  SEXTON. 

And  I  say  unto  you,  my  friends,  Be  not  afraid  of  them  that  kill  the  body, 
and  after  that,  have  no  more  that  they  can  do.  But  I  will  forewarn  you  whom 
ye  shall  fear :  Fear  him,  which  after  he  hath  killed,  hath  power  to  cast  into 
hell;  yea,  I  say  unto  you,  Fear  him.  —  Luke  12:4,  5. 

NOT  many  years  ago,  a  clergyman  on  a  journey  stopped  to 
spend  a  Sabbath  in  a  small  village,  where  there  was  no 
church  edifice,  but  where  he  soon  found  that  the  Universalists 
had  been  preaching  in  the  school-house  for  some  time  past. 
Two  or  three  preachers  of  that  persuasion  were  still  in  the 
village,  some  public  meeting  connected  with  their  cause  hav- 
ing called  them  there. 

The  traveling  clergyman  succeeded  in  obtaining  the  use 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  217 

of  the  house  for  a  part  of  the  day,  and  gave  out  word  that  he 
would  preach.  The  people  came  together,  not  knowing  what 
they  should  hear,  but  most  of  them  being  inclined  to  Uni- 
versalism. 

He  took  his  text,  Luke  12  :  4,  5  :  - 

"  And  I  say  unto  you,  my  friends,  Be  not  afraid  of  them  that 
kill  the  body,  and  after  that,  have  no  more  that  they  can  do  ; 
but  I  will  forewarn  you  whom  ye  shall  fear :  Fear  him,  which 
after  he  hath  killed,  hath  power  to  cast  into  hell ;  yea,  I  say 
unto  you,  Fear  him." 

He  then  went  on  to  say  that  there  were  two  opinions  as  to 
the  meaning  of  the  word  "  hell "  in  this  passage.  One  opinion 
i.s,  that  it  means  a  place  of  torment  into  which  the  wicked  will 
be  cast  after  the  death  of  the  body.  But  the  other  opinion  is, 
that  the  word  means  the  grave.  On  this  latter  opinion  it  is 
very  evident,  he  said,  whom  we  are  warned  in  these  words 
to  fear:  "  Be  not  afraid  of  them  that  kill  the  body,  and  have 
no  more  that  they  can  do.  But  I  forewarn  you  whom  you 
shall  fear :  Fear  him,  which,  after  he  hath  killed,  hath  power 
to  cast  into  the  grave  ;  yea,  I  say  unto  you,  fear  him  !  "  Fear 
not  the  assassin,  who  comes  armed  with  a  deadly  weapon ;  he 
can  only  kill  the  body ;  but,  0,  my  friends,  I  warn  you  whom 
to  fear :  fear  him  who  has  power  to  cast  your  murdered  body 
into  the  grave ;  yea,  I  say  unto  you,  fear  the  Sexton ! 

He  then  proceeded  with  a  very  simple  but  pointed  dis- 
course in  defense  of  the  gospel,  and  in  opposition  to  the  doc- 
trines of  the  false  teachers  that  were  misleading  the  people, 
and  showed  them  that  the  Bible  must  be  full  of  just  such  non- 
sense as  he  had  made  of  this  passage,  if  there  were  any  truth 
in  Universalism. 

A  plain  man,  one  of  his  hearers,  remarked  on  coming  out, 
that  this  unknown  preacher  by  a  single  stroke  had  demolished 
all  that  the  Universalists  had  done  in  all  their  previous  labors 
in  that  vicinity.  —  Abednego. 
28 


218  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

0 

A  BEAUTIFUL  INCIDENT. 

But  even  the  very  hairs  of  your  head  are  all  numbered.  Fear  not  there- 
fore :  ye  are  of  more  value  than  many  sparrows.  —  Luke  12  :  7. 

T  ET  the  world  imagine  to  itself  a  magnificent  deity,  whose 
Jj  government  is  only  general.  We  adhere  to  the  Lord  God 
of  Elijah,  and  rejoice  in  his  providential  superintendence  of  the 
smallest  affairs. 

And  this  God  still  liveth,  a  living  Saviour,  who  is  always 
to  be  found  of  them  that  seek  him,  and  is  nigh  unto  them  that 
call  upon  him.  Mighty  hosts  are  encamped  about  his  servants, 
and  when  he  saith,  "  Come,'7  they  come,  or  "  Go,"  they  go.  And 
there  has  been  no  end  to  his  wonderful  providence,  even  to  the 
present  day.  Who  else  was  it  but  the  Lord  God  of  Elijah, 
who,  but  a  short  time  since,  in  our  very  midst,  so  kindly  de- 
livered a  poor  man  out  of  his  distress,  not,  indeed,  by  a  raven, 
but  a  poor  little  fugitive  singing  bird  ?  •  You  are  all  well  ac- 
quainted with  the  circumstance.  The  poor  man  Avas  sitting 
at  his  front  door  early  in  the  morning,  his  eyes  red  with  weep- 
ing, and  his  heart  crying  to  heaven ;  for  he  was  expecting  an 
officer,  that  very  day.  to  come  and  sell  his  property  for  a  small 
debt  which  he  could  not  pay.  While  sitting  thus,  with  a 
heavy  heart,  a  little  bird  flew  through  the  street,  fluttering 
up  and  down  as  if  in  distress,  until  at  length,  quick  as  an 
arrow,  it  flew  over  the  good  man's  head  into  his  cottage,  and 
perched  itself  upon  an  empty  cupboard.  The  good  man,  little 
imagining  who  had  sent  him  the  bird,  closed  the  door,  caught 
the  bird  and  put  it  in  a  cage,  where  it  immediately  began  to 
sing  very  sweetly,  and  it  seemed  to  him  as  if  it  were  singing 
the  tune  of  a  favorite  hymn,  namely,  "  Fear  thou  not  when 
darkness  reigns ;  "  and  as  he  listened  to  it,  he  found  himself 
much  soothed  and  comforted  by  its  melody. 

Suddenly  a  knock  is  heard  at  the  door.  "Ah,  it  is  the 
officer,"  thought  the  poor  man,  and  arose  to  open  it  with  fear 
and  trembling.  But  no,  it  was  the  servant  of  a  respectable 
lady.  He  said  that  the  neighbors  had  seen  a  bird  fly.  into  his 
house,  and  he  wished  to  know  if  he  had  caught  it. 

"  0,  yes,"  answered  the  poor  man,  "  and  here  it  is." 

In  a  few  minutes  the  servant  returned,  and  said,  "  You  have 


NEW   TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  219 

done  my  mistress  a  great  service,  for  she  sets  a  high  value 
upon  this  bird.  She  is  much  obliged  to  you,  and  requests  you 
to  accept  this  trifle  with  her  thanks." 

The  poor  man  received  it  thankfully,  and  it  proved  to  be 
neither  more  nor  less  than  the  very  sum  for  which  he  was 
sued. 

Soon  after  the  officer  came ;  the  poor  man  handed  him  the 
money,  saying,  u  Here  is  your  money,  God  has  sent  it ;  now 
leave  me  in  peace."  —  Dr.  F.  W.  Krummacher. 


THE  SIN  OF  COVETOUSNESS. 

And  he  said  unto  them,  Take  heed,  and  beware  of  covetousncss  :  for  a 
man's  life  consisteth  not  in  the  abundance  of  the  things  which  he  possesseth.  — 
Luke  12:  15. 

nOVETOUSNESS  was  the  first  sin  of  the  Jewish  church  in 
\J  Canaan,  and  the  first  sin  of  the  Christian  church  also.  The 
heinousness  of  the  sin  may  be  inferred  from  the  quick  and 
awful  penalty  visited  upon  the  offenders,  Achan  in  the  one 
case,  and  Ananias  and  Sapphira  in  the  other.  At  the  bidding 
of  Mammon  the  temple  was  profaned,  so  that  Christ  had  to 
drive  out  the  buyers  and  sellers  from  its  sacred  precincts ; 
and  the  same  imperious  master  impelled  Judas  to.  sell  his  and 
all  men's  only  rightful  Master  for  thirty  pieces  of  silver.  All 
along  the  ages  the  love  of  money  has  been  enervating  and  cor- 
rupting the  church.  "  Each  one,"  says  Cyprian,  as  early  as 
the  middle  of  the  third  century,  "  each  one  studies  to  increase 
his  patrimony ;  and  forgetting  what  the  faithful  did  in  apos- 
tolic times,  or  what  they  ought  always  to  do,  their  great  pas- 
sion is  an  insatiable  desire  of  enlarging  their  fortunes."  For 
money  the  Romish  church  gave  dispensations  from  sins  com- 
mitted, and  indulgences  for  sins  intended ;  and  even  resorted 
to  the  shrewd  expedient  of  creating  an  imaginary  purgatory, 
from  which  the  jingle  of  sufficient  gold  dropped  into  her 
strong  box  can  release  the  souls  of  the  departed.  For  money 
the  "  livings  "  in  the  Church  of  England  are  recklessly  bar- 
tered, and  "  the  cure  of  souls "  turned  into  a  farce.  And 
everywhere  the  church  is  hampered  in  its  beneficent  work  by 
the  spirit  of  Mammon.  —  Rev.  C.  D.  Foss. 


220  NEW   TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 


THE  MISER. 

But  God  said  unto  him,  Thou  fool,  this  night  thy  soul  shall  be  required  of 
thee:  then  whose  shall  those  things  be  which  thou  hast  provided?  — 
Luke  12  :  20. 


are  but  few  examples  of  ruined  and  lost  men  worse 
J_  than  that  of  the  miser.  He  is  lost  to  personal  happiness 
and  noble  enjoyment.  He  is  lost  to  usefulness  in  the  world 
where  he  has  accumulated  his  riches  ;  for,  whether  much 
or  little,  he  holds  them  with  the  grasp  of  a  dying  man.  Ho 
is  lost  for  the  world  to  come,  for,  like  that  New  Testament 
miser,  called  by  the  Lord  "  Thou  fool,"  he  is  "  not  rich  toward 
God."  Having  made  a  god  of  this  world,  he  will  appear  at 
the  judgment  day  an  idolater  of  the  basest  sort.  He  is  an 
offender  against  God  and  the  highest  law  of  the  universe  -  —  the 
law  of  love.  A  worldly  avariciousness  leads  on  to  covetous- 
ness,  and  covetousness  produces  such  a,  morbid  condition  of 
the  soul,  that  miserliness  comes  on  as  an  advanced  stage  of 
the  disease  of  selfishness  ;  a  moral  disease,  self-induced.  The 
miser  cannot  shield  himself,  in  the  day  of  final  account,  by 
claiming  that  he  was  honest  in  getting  his  riches  ;  for  the  law 
which  says,  "  Thou  shalt  not  steal,"  says  also,  in  a  later  en- 
actment, "Give,  and  it  shall  be  given  unto  you."  (St.  Luke 
6  :  38.)  This  later  command  for  acts  of  beneficence  is  as 
binding  as  that  earlier  prohibitive  command  of  the  decalogue. 
The  brotherhood  of  mankind  disallows  any  one  to  live  only 
for  self.  Talk  of  a  miser  being  honest,  when  the  poor  and  needy 
about  him  suffer  for  food  and  shelter  !  'Tis  false  ;  he  only  is 
honest,  who  obeys  the  law  of  God  in  distributing  as  well  as  in 
accumulating.  The  personal  wretchedness  of  the  miser  is 
part  punishment  for  the  wickedness  of  a  life  wholly  given  up 
to  getting  and  keeping.  Rowland  Hill,  that  faithful  servant 
of  God,  once  said  in  a  sermon,  "  Had  I  my  way  I  would  hang 
all  misers,  but  the  reverse  of  the  common  mode.  1  would 
hang  them  up  by  the  heels,  that  their  money  might  run  out  of 
their  pockets,  and  make  a  famous  scramble  for  you  to  pick  up 
and  put  in  the  plates." 

There  was  a  certain  nobleman  who  kept  a  fool,  or  merry- 
man,  to  whom  he  one  day  gave  a  staff,  with  a  charge  to  keep 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  221 

it  till  he  should  meet  with  one  who  was  a  greater  fool  than 
himself.  Not  many  years  after  the  nobleman  fell  sick,  even 
unto  death,  when  the  fool  came  to  see  him.  The  sick  lord  said 
to  him,  "  I  must  shortly  leave  you/' 

"  And  whither  are  you  going?  "  said  the  fool. 

"  Into  another  world,"  replied  his  lordship. 

"  And  when  will  you  come  again  ?     Within  a  month  ?  " 

"  No." 

"Within  a  year?" 

"  No." 

"  When  then  ?  " 

"  Never." 

"  Never ! "  said  the  fool ;  "  and  what  provision  hast  thou 
made  for  thy  entertainment  whither  thou  goest  ?  " 

"  None  at  all." 

"  No  !  "  said  the  fool,  "  none  at  all  ?  Here,  then,  take  my 
staff;  for,  with  all  my  folly,  I  am  not  guilty  of  such  folly  as 
this."  —  Bishop  Nail 


DEATH-BED  TESTIMONY  AGAINST  AVARICIOUSNESS. 

» 

So  is  he  that  layeth  up  treasure  for  himself,  and  is  not  rich  toward  God.  — 
Luke  12  :  21. 

THE  New  York  Daily  Star  says  that  the  following  occurred 
in  New  York  recently  :  — 

"  A  gentleman  died  last  week,  at  his  residence  in  one  of  our 
lip-town  fashionable  streets,  leaving  eleven  million  dollars. 
He  was  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian  church,  in  excellent 
standing,  a  good  husband  and  father,  and  a  thrifty  citizen.  On 
his  death-bed,  lingering  long,  he  suffered  great  agony  of  mind, 
and  gave  continued  expression  to  his  remorse  for  what  his 
conscience  told  him  had  been  an  ill-spent  life.  <0!T  he  ex- 
claimed, and  his  weeping  friends  and  relations  gathered  about 
his  bed  —  <  0  !  if  I  could  only  live  my  years  over  again.  0  !  if 
I  could  only  be  spared  for  a  few  years,  I  would  give  all  the 
wealth  I  have  amassed  in  a  lifetime.  It  is  a  life  devoted  to 
money-getting  that  I  regret.  It  is  this  which  weighs  me  down, 
and  makes  me  despair  of  the  life  hereafter  ! '  His  clergyman 


222  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

endeavored  to  soothe  him,  but  he  turned  his  face  to  the  wall. 
1  You  have  never  reproved  my  avaricious  spirit/  he  said  to  the 
minister.  '  You  have  called  it  a  wise  economy  and  forethought, 
but  I  now  know  that  riches  have  been  only  a  snare  for  my 
poor  soul !  I  would  give  all  I  possess  to  have  hope  for  my 
poor  soul ! '  In  this  sad  state  of  mind,  refusing  to  be  con- 
soled, this  poor  rich  man  bewailed  a  life  devoted  to  the  mere 
acquisition  of  riches.  Many  came  away  from  the  bedside  im- 
pressed with  the  uselessness  of  such  an  existence  as  the 
wealthy  man  had  spent,  adding  house  to  house,  and  dollar  to 
dollar,  until  he  became  a  millionaire.  He  would  have  given 
all  his  wealth  for  a  single  hope  of  heaven." 
A  smaller  sum  may  prove  the  ruin  of  others. 


TRUSTING  IN  GOD'S  PROVIDENCE. 

Consider  the  ravens  :  for  they  neither  sow  nor  reap  :  which  neither  have 
store-house,  nor  barn ;  and  God  fcedeth  them.  How  much  more  are  ye  better 
than  the  fowls?  —  Luke  12  :  24. 

MR.  JOHN  NOSWORTH Y,  M.  A.,  a  Non-conformist  minister, 
ejected  from  Ippleden,  in  Devonshire,  was  several  times 
reduced  to  great  straits  ;  but  he  encouraged  himself  in  the 
Lord  his  God,  and  exhorted  his  wife  to  do  the  same.  Nor  was 
it  in  vain.  Once,  when  he  and  his  family  had  breakfasted,  and 
had  nothing  left  for  another  meal,  his  wife  lamented  their  con- 
dition, and  said,  "  What  shall  I  do  with  my  poor  children  ?  " 
He  persuaded  her  to  walk  abroad  with  them ;  and,  seeing  a 
little  bird,  said  to  her,  "  Take  notice  how  that  bird  sits  and 
chirps,  though  we  cannot  tell  whether  it  has  been  at  breakfast ; 
and  if  it  has,  it  certainly  knows  not  whither  to  go  for  a  dinner. 
Therefore,  be  of  good  cheer,  and  do  not  distrust  the  provi- 
dence of  God  ;  for,  are  we  not  better  than  many  sparrows  ?  " 
Before  dinner-time  they  had  plenty  of  provision  brought 
them. 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  223 

UNCLE  JOHNSON  BOUND  FOR  CANAAN. 

Let  your  loins  be  girded  about,  and  your  lights  burning ;  and  ye  yourselves 
like  unto  men  that  wait  for  their  lord,  when  he  will  return  from  the  wedding : 
that,  when  he  cometh  and  knocketh,  they  may  open  unto  him  immediately.  — 
Luke  12  :  35,  36. 

UNCLE  JOHNSON  was  a  pious  old  slave  of  the  family  of 
President  Harrison,  who  was  made  free  at  the  age  of  one 
hundred  years.  A  friend  of  his  for  many  years  gives  the  fol- 
lowing account :  "  One  day,  while  at  work  in  his  garden, 
singing  and  shouting,  I  said,  '  You  seem  happy  to-day.'  l  Yes, 
massa  ;  I'se  jus'  thinking  '  —  and  then  his  emotions  prevented 
further  utterance — '  I'se  jus'  thinking  dat  if  de  crumbs  dat 
fell  from  de  Master's  table  in  dis  world  am  so  good,  what  will 
de  great  loaf  in  glory  be  ?  I  tells  ye,  massa,  dar  will  be  'nuflf 
an'  to  spare  dere.'  At  another  time,  when  he  seemed  very 
happy,  and  I  heard  him  shout,  '  Lord  Jesus,  will  dere  be  one 
for  me?'  I  said,  (  You  are  having  a  good  time  to-day?'  He 
answered,  •'  0  massa !  I  was  meditatin'  'bout  Jesus  bein'  de 
carpenter ;  an'  so  he  can  make  mansions  for  his  people  in 
glory.'  And  then,  with  uplifted  face,  and  with  tears,  he  cried 
out,  4  0  Jesus!  will  dere  be  one  for  me?'  Once,  after  he 
had  been  ill  for  a  few  days,  I  said,  *  Uncle  Johnson,  I  thought 
your  appointed  time  had  about  come.'  '  0,  yes,  massa !  one 
day  I  fought  I  could  see  de  dust  ob  de  chariot  comin'  ober  de 
mountains  ;  and  den  '  something  said,  "  Hold  on,  Johnson,  a 
little  longer;  I'll  come  around  directly."  Yes;  an'  I  will 
hold  on  another  hundred  years,  for  I'm  bound  for  Canaan.' 
One  day  Rev.  Dr.  H.  called  on  him.  At  parting,  the  doctor 
said,  '  Well,  Uncle  Johnson,  I  must  go  ; '  and  then,  taking  him 
by  the  hand,  said,  i  Good  by :  I  shall  probably  hear  soon  that 
you  have  gone  over  Jordan,  but  we  will  follow  on.'  The  old 
man  replied,  l  Yes,  massa ;  a  great  many  years  ago,  young 
men  like  you  tell  me  dat ;  an'  'den,  after  a  bit,  I'd  hear  dey  ha' 
gone,  an'  I'm  a  pilgrim  yet ;  but  I  always  manages  to  send 
word.'  *  Well,  if  I  should  die  first,  what  word  would  you 
send?'  said  Dr.  H.  ''0,  massa!  if  you  get  home  to  glory 
afore  I  do'  (weeping),  'tell  'em  to  keep  de  table  standing  for 
Johnson  is  holding  on  his  way.' "  A  true  faith  and  a  rich 
experience. 


224  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

MAKING  MOCK  OF  DIVINE  THINGS. 

I  tell  you,  Nay :   but,  except  ye  repent,  ye  shall  all  likewise  perish.  — 
Luke  13 : 3. 

IN  the  days  of  Whitefield,  Thorpe,  one  of  his  most  violent 
opponents,  and  three  others,  laid  a  wager  who  could  best 
imitate  and  ridicule  Whitefield's  preaching.  Each  was  to  open 
the  Bible  at  random,  and  preach  an  extempore  sermon  from 
the  first  verse  that  presented  itself.  Thorpe's  three  com- 
petitors each  went  through  the  game  with  impious  buffoonery. 
Then,  stepping  upon  the  table,  Thorpe  exclaimed,  "  I  shall 
beat  you  all."  They  gave  him  the  Bible,  and  by  God's  inscru- 
table providence  his  eye  fell  first  upon  this  verse,  "  Except  ye 
repent,  ye  shall  all  likewise  perish"  He  read  the  words,  but 
the  sword  of  the  Spirit  went  through  his  soul  in  a  moment, 
and  lie  preached  as  one  who  scarce  knew  what  he  said.  The 
hand  of  God  laid  hold  upon  him,  and  intending  to  mock,  he 
could  only  fear  and  tremble.  When  he  descended  from  the 
table,  a  profound  silence  reigned  in  the  company,  and  not  one 
word  was  said  concerning  the  wager.  Thorpe  instantly  with- 
drew, and  after  a  season  of  the  deepest  distress,  passed  into 
the  full  light  of  the  gospel,  and  became  a  most  successful 
preacher  of  its  grace.  —  Illustrative  Gatherings. 


CHRIST'S  TEACHING  ON  UNIVERSALISM. 

Then  said  one  unto  liim,  Lord,  are  there  few  that  be  saved?  And  he  said 
unto  them,  Strive  to  enter  in  at  the  strait  gate  :  for  many,  I  say  unto  you,  will 
seek  to  enter  in,  and  shall  not  be  able.  —  Luke  13 :  23,  24. 

ON  one  occasion  during  our  Saviour's  ministry,  the  question 
was  put  to  him,  "  Lord,  are  there  few  that  be  saved  ?  " 
If  Christ  had  been  preaching  the  final  salvation  of  all  men,  it 
is  strange  that  such  a  question  should  have  been  proposed  to 
him.  Yet  he  manifested  no  surprise  at  it.  He  did  not 
reprove  or  correct  the  inquirer  for  having  dishonored  the 
goodness  of  God  by  the  supposition  that  any  would  be  finally 
lost.  He  did  not  refer  him  to  his  past  teachings  to  learn  that 


NEW   TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  225 

all  would  be  saved.  Nor  did  Christ  then  advance  the  doctrine 
of  universal  salvation.  Never  had  he  a  better  opportunity. 
The  question  was  directly  to  that  point,  Are  there  few  that 
be  saved?  What  did  he  answer?  Did  he  say,  all  men  shall 
be  saved  ?  Did  he  even  say,  many  —  the  great  majority  of 
mankind —  shall  be  saved  ?  Did  he  say,  a  just  and  benevolent 
God  will  never  punish  any  after  this  life  ?  His  answer  was, 
"  Strive  to  enter  in  at  the  strait  gate,"  —  that  is,  agonize  to 
enter  heaven  by  an  incessant  warfare  with  sin,  —  "  for  many,  I 
say  unto  you,  will  seek  to  enter  in,  and  shall  not  be  able.'7 
Whoever  may  preach  universal  salvation,  and  upon  whatever 
authority,  certain  it  is  that  Christ  preached  no  such  doctrine. 


THOMAS  PAINE  SILENCED. 

And  they  could  not  answer  him  again  to  these  things.  —  Luke  14  :  6. 

ONE  very  warm  evening,  about  twenty  years  ago,  passing 
the  house  where  Thomas  boarded,  the  lower  window  was 
open,  and  seeing  him  sitting  close  by,  and  being  on  speakable 
terms,  I  stepped  in  for  a  half  hour's  chat ;  seven  or  eight  of 
his  friends  were  also  present,  whose  doubts,  and  his  own,  he 
was  laboring  to  remove  by  a  long  talk  about  the  story  of 
Joshua  commanding  the  sun  and  moon  to  stand  still,  &c.,  and 
concluded  by  denouncing  the  Bible  as  the  worst  of  books,  and 
that  it  had  occasioned  more  mischief  and  bloodshed  than  any 
book  ever  printed,  and  was  believed  only  by  fools  and  de- 
signing knaves,  &c.  Here  he  paused,  and  while  he  was 
replenishing  the  tumbler  with  his  favorite  brandy  and  water, 
a  person,  who  I  afterwards  found  was  an  intruder  like  myself, 
asked  Mr.  Paine  if  he  ever  was  in  Scotland  ?  The  answer 
was,  yes.  So  have  I  been,  continues  the  speaker ;  arid  the  Scotch 
are  the  greatest  bigots  with  the  Bible  I  ever  met;  it  is  their 
school-book  ;  their  houses  and  churches  are  furnished  with 
Bibles,  and  if  they  travel  but  a  few  miles  from  home,  their 
Bible  is  always  their  companion ;  yet,  continued  the  speaker, 
in  no  country  where  I  have  traveled  have  I  seen  the  people 
so  comfortable  and  happy  ;  their  poor  are  not  in  such  abject 
poverty  as  I  have  seen  in  other  countries ;  by  their  bigoted 
29 


226  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

custom  of  going  to  church  on  Sundays,  they  save  the  wages 
which  they  earn  through  the  week,  which  in  other  countries 
that  I  have  visited  is  generally  spent  by  mechanics  and  other 
young  men  in  taverns  and  frolics  on  Sundays  ;  and  of  all  the 
foreigners  who  land  on  our  shores,  none  are  so  much  sought 
after  for  servants,  and  to  fill  places  where  trust  is  reposed,  as 
the  Scotch ;  you  rarel}7  find  them  in  taverns,  the  watch-house, 
almshouse,  bridewell,  or  state  prison.  Now,  says  he,  if  the 
Bible  is  so  bad  a  book,  those  who  use  it  most  would  be  the 
worst  of  people ;  but  the  reverse  is  the  case.  This  was  a 
sort  of  argument  Paine  was  not  prepared  to  answer,  and  an 
historical  fact  which  could  not  be  denied,  so,  without  saying 
a  word,  he  lifted  a  candle  from  the  table,  and  walked  up  stairs  ; 
his  disciples  slipped  out  one  by  one,  and  left  the  speaker  and 
T.  to  enjoy  the  scene. 


COME  KOW. 

And  sent  his  servant  at  supper-time,  to  say  to  them  that  were  bidden,  Come, 
for  all  things  are  now  ready.  —  Luke  14  :  17. 


"  /^|OME  now,  and  let  us  reason  together,  saith  the  Lord." 
\J  Come  now;  you  have  sinned  long  enough;  why  should 
you  harden  your  hearts  by  longer  delay?  Come  now;  no 
season  can  be  better.  If  ye  tarry  till  you  are  better,  ye  will 
never  come  at  all.  Come  now  ;  you  may  never  have  another 
warning  ;  the  heart  may  never  be  so  tender  as  it  is  to-day. 
Come  now  ;  no  other  eyes  may  ever  weep  over  you  ;  no  other 
heart  may  ever  agonize  for  your  salvation.  Come  now,  now, 
noiv,  for  to-morrow  you  may  never  know  in  this  world.  Death 
may  have  sealed  your  fate,  and  the  once  filthy  may  be  made 
filthy  still.  Come  now  ;  for  to-morrow  thy  heart  may  become 
harder  than  stone,  and  God  may  give  thee  up.  Come  now  ; 
it  is  God's  time  ;  to-morrow  is  the  devil's  time.  "  To-day,  if 
ye  will  hear  his  voice,  harden  not  your  hearts,  as  in  the 
provocation,  when  your  fathers  tempted  me  and  proved  me  in 
the  wilderness,,  and  saw  my  works."  Come  now.  Why  delay 
to  be  happy  ?  Would  you  put  off  your  wedding-day  ?  Will 
you  postpone  the  hour  when  you  are  pardoned  and  delivered? 


TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  227 

Come  now  ;  the  bowels  of  Jehovah  yearn  for  you.  The  eye  of 
your  Father  sees  you  afar  off,  and  he  runs  to  meet  you.  Come 
now  ;  the  church  is  praying  for  you  ;  these  are  revival  times ; 
ministers  are  more  in  earnest.  Come  now.  Is  heaven  a  trifle, 
that  thou  must  needs  lose  it  ?  What !  is  the  wrath  of  God 
which  abideth  on  thee  no  reason  why  thou  shouldst  labor  to 
escape  ?  What !  is  not  a  perfect  pardon  worth  the  having  ? 
Is  the  precious  blood  of  Christ  worthless  ?  Is  it  nothing  to 
thee  that  the  Saviour  should  die  ?  Man,  art  thou  a  fool?  Art 
thou  mad  ?  If  thou  must  needs  play  the  fool,  go  and  sport 
with  thy  gold  and  silver,  but  not  with  thy  soul.  Dress  thy- 
self like  a  madman,  wear  a  mask,  paint  thy  cheeks,  walk 
through  the  street  in  shame,  and  make  a  mockery  of  thyself, 
if  thou  must  needs  play  the  fool ;  but  why  cast  thy  soul  into 
hell  for  a  joke  ?  Why  lose  thy  eternal  interests  for  a  little 
ease  ?  Be  wise,  man. 


CONVERTED  LATE  IN  LIFE. 

And  the  servant  said,  Lord,  it  is  done  as  thou  hast  commanded,  and  yet 
there  is  room.  —  Luke  14  :  22. 

MR.  FLAYEL,  on  one  occasion,  preached  from  the  following 
passage  :  "  If  any  man  love  not  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  let 
him  be  anathema  maranatha."  The  discourse  was  unusually 
solemn,  particularly  the  explanation  of  the  words  anathema 
maranatha —  "cursed  with  a  curse,  cursed  of. God  with  a 
bitter  and  grievous  curse."  At  the  conclusion  of  the  service, 
when  Mr.  Flavel  arose  to  pronounce  the  benediction,  he  paused, 
and  said,  "  How  shall  I  bless  this  whole  assembly,  when  every 
person  in  it  who  loveth  not  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ  is  anathema 
maranatha  ?  " 

The  solemnity  of  this  address  affected  the  audience,  and  one 
gentleman,  a  person  of  rank,  was  so  overcome  by  his  feelings', 
that  he  fell  senseless  to  the  floor.  In  the  congregation  was 
a  lad  named  Luke  Short,  then  about  fifteen  years  old,  and  a 
native  of  Dartmouth,  England.  Soon  after  he  went  to  America, 
where  he  passed  the  rest  of  his  life,  first  at  Marblehead,  and 
afterwards  at  Middleboro',  Mass. 


228  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

Mr.  Short's  life  was  lengthened  much  beyond  the  usual 
time.  When  a  hundred  years  old,  he  had  sufficient  strength 
to  work  on  his  farm,  and  his  mental  faculties  were  very  little 
impaired.  Hitherto  he  had  lived  in  carelessness  and  sin ;  he 
was  "  now  a  sinner,  an  hundred  years  old,"  and  apparently 
ready  to  "  die  accursed."  But  one  day,  as  he  sat  in  the  field, 
he  busied  himself  in  reflecting  on  his  past  life.  Recurring  to 
the  events  of  his  youth,  his  memory  fixed  upon  Mr.  Flavel's 
discourse  above  alluded  to,  a  considerable  part  of  which  he 
was  able  to  recollect.  The  affectionate  earnestness  of  the 
preacher's  manner,  the  important  truth  he  delivered,  and  the 
effects  produced  on  the  congregation,  were  brought  fresh  to 
his  mind.  The  blessing  of  God  accompanied  his  meditation  ; 
he  felt  that  he  had  not  "  loved  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ ;  "  he 
feared  the  dreadful  "  anathema ;  "  conviction  was  followed  by 
repentance,  and  at  length  this  aged  sinner  obtained  peace 
through  the  blood  of  atonement,  and  was  il  found  in  the  way 
of  righteousness."  He  joined  the  Congregational  church  in 
Midctleboro',  and  to  the  day  of  his  death,  which  took  place  in 
his  one  hundred  and  sixteenth  year,  gave  pleasing  evidences 
o"f  piety. 


AN  INCIDENT  WITH  A  LESSON. 

And  the  lord  said  unto  the  servant,  Go  out  into  the  highways  and  hedges, 
and  compel  them  to  come  in,  that  my  house  may  be  filled.  —  Luke  14  :  23. 

A  YOUNG  man,  with  a  warm  heart,  a  few  weeks  since 
went  to  the  weekly  prayer  meeting  in  one  of  our  large 
cities.  He  saw  but  a  few  present  —  the  deacon  and  his  wife, 
and  here  and  there  another,  and  it  looked  cold  and  forbidding, 
and  he  thought  to  himself,  "  This  is  too  bad,"  and  said  to  a 
young  brother,  "  Let  us  go  out  and  find  somebody  to  come  in." 
It  was  a  little  early  —  and  they  went  into  the  street,  and  saw 
two  young  men  standing  near,  and  they  went  directly  to  them, 
arid  saluted  them  in  a  kind  and  gentlemanly  manner,  saying  to 
them,  u  We  have  a  prayer  meeting  right  here  in  the  church ; 
will  you  not  go  in  ? "  They  began  to  excuse  themselves. 
"  But  have  you  other  engagements  ? "  it  was  asked.  They 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  229 

said  no,  but  further  objected.  Finally  they  went  in,  and  after 
the  meeting  closed,  the  young  men  asked  them  if  they  had 
enjoyed  the  meeting.  They  had,  "  one  of  them  in  particular." 
"But  are  you  a  Christian?"  "No;  but  I  ought  to  be." 
Some  kind  advice  was  given  to  him,  and  they  parted ;  and  our 
young  Christian  brother  had  nearly  forgotten  it,  when  one  day 
a  }Toungman  came  to  him,  and  asked  him  for  his  picture.  Sur- 
prised, he  inquired,  "  Why  do  you  want  my  picture  ?  "  "  Don't 
you  remember,"  said  the  other,  "  you  invited  two  young  men 
at  such  a  time  to  the  prayer  meeting  ?  "  He  did  remember  it. 
"  Well,"  said  the  other,  "  I  was  one  of  them  ;  and  I  went  home 
and  thought  of  it,  and  it  weighed  upon  me,  and  I  thought  over 
it,  and  hope  I  have  found  peace  in  believing."  And  now  that 
young  man  is  himself  doing  the  very  work  which  brought  him 
in,  going  into  the  streets  and  asking  others  to  come  to  the 
prayer  meeting ;  and  who  can  tell  the  results  of  that  one  en- 
deavor to  fill  up  the  prayer  meeting  ? 

Now,  the  lesson  is  first  to  Christians.  How  seldom  do  they 
try  to  induce  others  to  go  to  the  prayer  meeting  !  They  com- 
plain of  the  few  there ;  they  feel  disheartened  at  it ;  but  do 
they  try  to  remedy  it  ?  Should  they  make  the  effort,  that  of 
itself,  if  done  sincerely  and  prayerfully,  will  kindle  their  own 
hearts,  would  fill  their  minds  with  thought,  would  prompt 
them  to  prayer,  and  would  bring  them  into  sympathy  with  the 
Holy  Spirit. 


LOVE  TO  CHRIST  STRONGER  THAN  FILIAL 
RELATIONS. 

If  any  man  come  to  me,  and  hate  not  his  father,  and  mother,  and  wife,  and 
children,  and  brethren,  and  sisters,  yea,  and  his  own  life  also,  he  can  not  be 
my  disciple.  —  Luke  14  :  26. 

IT  was  a  true  Christian-like  speech  of  St.  Jerome,  "  If  my 
father  should  stand  before  me,  my  mother  should  hang 
upon  me,  my  brethren  should  press  about  me,  I  would  break 
through  my  brethren,  throw  down  my  mother,  tread  under 
feet  my  father,  that  I  might  the  faster  cleave  unto  Christ  my 
Saviour.  0,  the  surpassing  love  to  Christ  that  is  in  a  true 


230  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

disciple  of  Christ !  Let  money  perish,  and  friends  fail,  the  world 
frown,  yea,  life  itself  vanish,  Christ  is  better  than  them  all. 
If  Christ  should  say  to  him,  Take  thy  fill  of  sinful  delights, 
eat,  drink,  and  be  merry,  solace  thyself  in  the  midst  of  all  thy 
abundance,  thou  shalt  not  perish,  only  thou  shalt  not  be  with 
me.  Not  with  thee,  Lord  Jesus  ?  Where  then  ?  Then  farewell 
delights,  farewell  pomp  and  plenty,  farewell  all :  I  will  follow 
thee  whithersoever  thou  goest,  for  it  will  certainly-  be  hell 
where  thou  art  not."  —  Daniel  Featly's  Sermons. 


THE  VALUE  OF  CHURCHES. 

Salt  is  good :  but  if  the  salt  have  lost  his  savor,  wherewith  shall  it  be  sea- 
soned?— Luke  14:  34. 

THE  value  of  a  church  is  not  determined  by  the  number  of 
its  membership,  nor  the  wealth  or  fashionableness  of  its 
worshipers,  but  by  what  it  does  for  Christ  in  saving  souls. 
God  is  every  day  estimating  churches.  He  puts  a  great 
church  into  the  scales.  He  puts  the  minister,  and  the  choir, 
and  the  grand  structure  that  cost  hundreds  of  thousands  of 
dollars  on  the  same  side.  On  the  other  side  of  the  scales  he 
puts  the  idea  of  spiritual  life  that  the  church  ought  to  possess, 
or  brotherly  love,  or  faith, -or  sympathy  for  the  poor.  Up  goes 
the  grand  meeting-house,  with  its  minister  and  choir.  God 
says  that  a  church  is  of  much  worth  only  as  it  saves  souls  ;  and 
if,  with  all  your  magnificent  machinery,  you  save  but  a  hand- 
ful of  men  when  you  might  save  a  multitude,  he  will  spew  you 
out  of  his  mouth.  Weighed  and  found  wanting  ! 


HE  RECEIVETH  SINNERS. 

And  the  Pharisees  and  scribes  murmured,  saying,  This  man  receiveth  sin- 
ners, and  eateth  with  them.  —  Luke  15  :  2. 

YES,  this  intercourse  with  the  Lord  Jesus  requires  us  con- 
tinually to  recur  to  the  gospel  terms,  on  which  alone  we 
can  acquaint  ourselves  with  God,  and  be  at  peace ;  or  our 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  231 

spirit,  especially  when  tried  and  harassed,  will  faint  and  shrink 
back  from  the  divine  glory  of  this  society.  "  This  man  re- 
ceiveth  sinners."  Sinners  —  no  other  recommendation  needed. 
He  came  into  the  world  to  call  and  to  save  sinners  —  weary, 
woful,  weeping  sinners  ;  these  are  the  invited  ones.  Re- 
ceived—  everything  is  contained  in  that;  if  received,  then 
chosen,  called,  pardoned,  robed,  renewed,  smiled  upon,  wel- 
comed, embraced,  admitted  to  fellowship.  By  a  Man,  "  the 
man  Christ  Jesus ;  "  that  secures  fellow-feeling,  power  of 
sympathy,  acquaintance  with  human  wants  and  woes.  By 
this  Man;  "the  Word  was  made  flesh."  Here  is  the  sum  of 
consolation,  received  by  Emmanuel,  the  Mighty  God,  the 
Everlasting  Father,  the  Prince  of  Peace,  the  Good  Physician, 
the  Saviour  of  the  lost.  Search  and  look  if  in  the  whole  com- 
pass of  human  distress  you  can  find  one  grief  this  fellowship 
will  not  assuage.  "  This  man  receiveth  sinners."  0,  muse 
on  this  ;  ruminate  on  this  for  hours,  for  you  will  find  exhaust- 
less  nourishment  herein. 


JOY  IN  HEAVEN. 

Likewise,  I  say  unto  you,  there  is  joy  in  the  presence  of  the  angels  of  God 
over  one  sinner  that  repenteth.  —  Luke  15  :  10. 

YOU  remember  the  occasion  when  the  Lord  met  with  thee. 
0,  little  didst  thou  think  what  a  commotion  was  in 
heaven.  If  the  queen  had  ordered  out  all  her  soldiers,  the 
angels  of  heaven  would  not  have  stopped  to  notice  them.  If 
all  the  princes  of  earth  had  marched  through  the  streets,  with 
all  their  jewelry,  and  robes,  and  crowns,  and  all  their  regalia, 
their  chariots,  and  their  horsemen ;  if  the  pomp  of  ancient 
monarchs  had  risen  from  the  tomb  ;  if  all  the  mighty  of  Baby- 
lon, and  Tyre,  and  Greece  had  been  concentrated  in  one  great 
parade  ;  yet  not  an  angel  would  have  stopped  in  his  course  to 
smile  at  these  poor,  tawdry  things ;  but  over  you,  the  vilest 
of  the  vile,  the  poorest  of  the  poor,  over  you  angelic  wings 
were  hovering,  and  concerning  you  it  was  said  on  earth  and 
sung  in  heaven,  Hallelujah,  for  a  child  is  born  to  God  to-day  ! . — 
Spurgeon. 


232  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

REASONS  FOR  SERVING  THE  LORD. 

And  when  he  came  to  himself,  he  said,  How  many  hired  servants  of  my 
fathers  have  bread  enough  and  to  spare,  and  I  perish  with  hunger  I  — 
Luke  15  :  17. 

A  YOUNG  lady,  a  lover  of  pleasure,  was  aroused  to  think 
of  her  eternal  interests.  She  knew  that  the  life  she  had 
led  was  unworthy  an  heir  of  immortality ;  but  the  pleasures 
of  the  world  were  alluring,  and  the  path  marked  out  for  the 
Christian  seemed  to  her  indeed  narrow  and  unattractive. 
Thinking  of  these  things  one  night  in  the  solitude  of  her 
chamber,  she  said  to  herself,  "  I  will  decide  this  matter.  Why 
should  I  longer  halt  between  two  opinions."  Taking  from  her 
desk  a  sheet  of  paper,  she  wrote  on  one  side,  "  Reasons  why 
I  should  serve  the  world ;  "  on  the  other,  "  Reasons  why  I 
should  serve  the  Lord  ;  "  trying  to  give  a  fair  statement  in  both 
cases:  When  all  was  done,  she  made  comparison,  and  so 
paltry  seemed  the  reasons  for  continuing  in  the  service  of  the 
world,  and  so  momentous  the  reasons  why  she  should  give  God 
her  heart,  that,  flinging  the  paper  impatiently  from  her,  she 
threw  herself  upon  her  knees,  and  in  earnest  supplication  en- 
treated God  to  accept  the  heart  so  long  withheld  from  him. 
She  had  fed  upon  husks  until  her  soul  loathed  them.  Now 
she  pleaded  for  the  bread  of  life  for  her  famishing  soul.  That 
night  she  broke  away  from  the  bondage  in  which  she  had  so 
long  been  held  a  willing  captive,  and  was  made  free  in 
Christ. 

Reader,  have  you  ever,  like  this  young  lady,  sat  down  seri- 
ously to  count  the  cost  of  serving  this  world  ?  "  What  shall 
it  profit  a  man  if  he  shall  gain  the  whole  world,  and  lose  his 
own  soul  ?  " 


"PUT  A  RING  ON  HIS  HAND." 

But  the  father  said  to  his  servants,  Bring  forth  the  hest  rohe,  and  put  it  on 
him  ;  and  put  a  ring  on  his  hand,  and  shoes  on  his  feet.  —  Luke  15  :  22. 


may  seem  a  small  thing  for  Jesus  to  mention  in  so 
JL   thrilling  a  description  of  the  welcome  home  of  the  wayward 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  233 

but  penitent  son.  And  if  it  were  to  be  estimated  merely  as 
it  is  used  for  ornament,  by  its  costly  jewels  and  cunning  work- 
manship, it  would  be  trifling  with  a  solemn  occasion.  But  the 
ring,  from  time  immemorial,  lias  been  employed  as  a  signal  or 
token  of  precious  things.  Did  you  ever  have  a  wife  or  sister 
die,  and,  as  she  passed  away,  take  a  ring  from  her  finger,  and 
give  it  to  you,  saying,  "  Wear  that  for  me  "  ?  If  so,  you  have 
some  appreciation  of  its  value.  "  Put  a  ring  on  his  finger," 
says  Jesus.  Let  him  know  that  he  is  not  only  forgiven,  but 
loved.  So  with  the  forgiven  sinner ;  all  that  has  ever  been 
symbolized  is  given  to  him.  It  is  the  emblem  of  an  inviolable 
covenant  of  love.  So  God  declares,  "  I  have  made  an  ever- 
lasting covenant  with  you".  I  have  loved  you  with  an  ever- 
lasting love."  If  the  poor,  self-condemned  sinner  ever  doubts 
the  love  of  God,  let  him  think  of  the  rin-g  on  his  hand.  It  is 
also  an  emblem  of  delegated  power.  When  Joseph  inter- 
preted the  dreams  of  the  Egyptian  king,  and  was  appointed 
his  deputy,  Pharaoh  drew  a  ring  from  his  finger,  and  placed 
it  on  Joseph's  finger ;  then  whoever  touched  Joseph  touched 
Pharaoh.  So  with  Ahasuerus  and  Mordecai.  So  with  Jesus : 
"  Whosoever  receiveth  you  receiveth  me,  and  whoso  rejecteth 
you  rejecteth  me."  The  ring  of  divine  protection  is  on  the 
finger. 


MODERN  DANCING  AND  THE  BIBLE. 

Now  his  elder  son  was  in  the  field  :  and  as  he  came  and  drew  nigh  to  the 
house,  he  heard  music  and  dancing.  —  Luke  15  :  25. 

HAYING  carefully  examined  every  text  in  the  Old  and 
New  Testaments,  says  Rev.  Dr.  Patton,  in  which  the  word 
dancing  occurs,  we  are  led  to  the  following  conclusions :  - 

1.  That  dancing  was  a  religious  act  among  idolaters  as  well 
as  worshipers  of  the  true  God. 

2.  That  it  was  practiced  as  the  demonstration  of  joy  for  vic- 
tories and  other  mercies. 

3.  That  the  dances  were  in  the  daytime. 

4.  That  the  women  danced  by  themselves ;  that  the  dancing 
was  mostly  done  by  them. 

30 


234  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

5.  No  instance  is  recorded  in  which  promiscuous  dancing 
by  the  two  sexes  took  place. 

6.  That  when  the   dance  was  perverted  from  a  religious 
service  to  mere  amusement,  it  was  regarded  disreputable,  and 
was  performed  by  the  "  vain  fellows." 

7.  The  only  instances  of  dancing  for  amusement  mentioned 
are  of  the  worldly  families  described  by  Job  —  the  daughter 
of  Herodias,  and  the  "  vain  fellows."     Neither  of  these  had 
any  tendency  to  promote  piety. 

8.  That  the  Bible  furnishes  not  the  slightest  sanction  for 
promiscuous  dancing  as  an  amusement,  as  practiced  at  the 
present  time.     The   dancing  professor  of  religion  must  not 
deceive  himself  with  the  impression  that  he  is  justified  by 
the  Word  of  God.     If  he  still  holds  on  to  the  practice,  let  him 
find  his  justification  from  other  sources,  and  say  frankly,  I  love 
the  dance,  and  am  determined  to  practice  it,  Bible  or  no  Bible. 


CAN  YOU  SETTLE  YOUR  ACCOUNT? 

And  he  called  him,  and  said  unto  him,  How  is  it  that  I  hear  this  of  thee? 
give  an  account  of  thy  stewardship ;  for  thou  mayest  be  no  longer  steward.  — 
Luke  16:  2. 

A  STARTLING  question !  The  bankrupt  looks  at  his  ac- 
counts—  "What  have  I,"  he  says,  "  wherewith  to  meet 
my  liabilities  ? "  Sometimes  the  investigation  makes  him 
turn  pale.  The  prison  looms  up  before  him;  or  at  least  a 
ruined  business  reputation.  But  what  is  this  compared  with 
his  indebtedness  to  God  ? 

Reader,  look  into  the  account  which  has  been  running  on 
with  God  ever  since  you  drew  the  breath  of  life.  He  giving 
—  you  receiving :  he  claiming  recognition,  gratitude,  the 
proper  use  of  his  gifts  —  you  never  recognizing  his  hand, 
showing  no  gratitude,  abusing  his  gifts  to  purposes  of  sinful 
indulgence.  0,  what  a  debt !  But  more.  God  has  put  a 
price  into  your  hand  to  "  buy  the  truth  "  —  to  obtain  "  the 
pearl  of  great  price;"  but  you  have  flung  it  away,  or  trampled 
it  under  your  feet.  Heavy  is  the  debt  thus  rolled  up  year 
after  year  against  you.  How  can  you  meet  it?  All  the 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  235 

wealth  of  the  Astors  could  not  buy  you  off.     You  must  face 
this  account  with  God  j  and  what  then  will  you  have  to  say  ? 

But  there  is  one.  and  only  one,  who,  in  your  behalf,  can  pay 
this  tremendous  debt.  And  he  does  it,  "  not  with  silver  and 
gold,  "  but  with  his  own  precious  blood.  Weighed  down  with 
your  soul's  burden,  go  to  him,  and  say,  "  Jesus,  thou  Son  of 
David,  have  mercy  on  me  1 "  There  is -no  other  security  —  no 
other  hope.  —  J.  B.  W. 


HOW  MUCH  DO  YOU  OWE  THE  LORD  ? 

So  he  called  every  one  of  his  lord's  debtors  unto  him,  and  said  unto  the 
first,  How  much  owest  thou  unto  my  lord?  —  Luke  16  :  5. 

'  T  N  reading  the  biography  of  the  most  eminently  pious  and 
J-  useful  in  different  ages,"  says  a  London  paper,  "  we  have 
often  been  struck  with  the  fact,  that  almost  all  of  them  devoted 
a  regular  proportion  of  their  income  to  pious  and  charitable 
uses.  We  will  mention  a  few  whose  names  are  familiar,  whose 
writings  are  venerated,  and  whose  memory  is  precious.  Among 
those  who  made  a  tenth  the  fixed  proportion  of  their  almsgiv- 
ing was  Lord  Chief  Justice  Hale,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Hammond,  and 
the  Rev.  Dr.  Annesley.  Baxter  informs  us,  that  he  long  ad- 
hered to  this,  until,  for  himself,  he  found  it  too  little,  and  ob- 
serves, *  I  think,  however,  that  it  is  as  likely  a  proportion  as 
can  be  prescribed ;  and  that  devoting  a  tenth  part  ordinarily 
to  God,  is  a  matter  that  we  have  more  than  human  direction 
for.'  Doddridge  was  another  instance  of  this  kind  :  1 1  make  a 
solemn  dedication  of  one  tenth  of  my  estate,  salary,  and  income, 
to  charitable  uses  j  and  I  also  devote  to  such  uses  an  eighth  of 
everything  I  receive  by  gift  or  present.'  A  fifth  part  was  the 
fixed  proportion  of  Archbishop  Tillotson  and  Dr.  Watts.  A 
fourth  part  was  the  proportion  constantly  given  by  Mrs.  Bury, 
the  wife  of  the  eminently  pious  and  useful  Rev.  Mr.  Bury.  Her 
husband,  in  his  account  of  her  life,  says,  l  She  thought  it  was 
reasonable  that  such  as  had  no  children  should  appropriate  a 
fourth  part  of  their  net  profits  to  charitable  purposes.'  Mrs. 
Elizabeth  Rowe  gave  even  more  than  this.  ( I  consecrate,' 
says  that  excellent  female,  t  half  of  my  yearly  income  to 


236  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

charitable  uses ;  yea,  all  that  I  have  beyond  the  bare  con- 
veniences and  necessities  of  life  shall  surely  be  the  Lord's.' 
Such,  too,  was  the  constant  practice  of  the  Hon.  Robert 
Boyle,  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Brand,  and  of  the  Rev.  Thomas  Gouge. 
Of  the  latter,  Archbishop  Tillotson  says,  in  his  funeral  sermon, 
1  All  things  considered,  there  have  not  been,  since  the  primi- 
tive times  of  Christianity,  many  among  the  sons  of  men  to 
whom  that  glorious  character  of  the  Son  of  God  might  be 
better  applied,  that  he  went  about  doing  good.' " 


WISE  FOR  THE  WORLD  TO  COME. 

And  the  lord  commended  the  unjust  steward,  because  he  had  done  wisely : 
for  the  children  of  this  world  are  in  their  generation  wiser  than  the  children 
of  light.  —  Luke  1C  :  8. 

IF  two  men,  one  civilized,  the  other  savage,  were  cast  upon 
an  island  in  the  midst  of  the  ocean,  the  savage  might  for 
the  time  appear  the  better  man.  He  can  out- swim,  out-hunt, 
and  out-fish  his  companion.  Where  the  civilized  man  would 
starve,  or  be  torn  in  pieces  by  wild  beasts,  the  savage  would 
live  in  plenty  and  sleep  secure.  The  man  of  culture  would  be 
despised  for  his  ignorance,  and  forced  to  toil  as  a  slave. 

But  let  them  cross  the  sea  together,  and  come  upon  the 
shores  of  a  civilized  country  —  into  the  society  of  the  refined 
and  cultivated.  The  despised  one  would  now  be  at  home,  and 
at  once  appreciate  the  society  in  which  he  is  placed.  The 
other,  whose  skill  is  only  brute  force,  appears  in  his  true  char- 
acter —  a  mere  savage.  Such  are  saints  and  sinners  in  this 
world,  in  their  relation  to  the  world  to  come.  Here  the  man 
of  this  world  boasts  his  superior  knowledge  in  the  arts  and 
tricks,  in  the  practices  and  usages,  the  ways  and  works,  of 
ungodly  men.  He  can  get  more  fame,  more  money,  more 
honor,  and  more  praise  out  of  this  world  than  his  more  con- 
scientious companion. 

But  let  them  both  step  over  "  the  stream,  the  narrow  stream 
of  death."  They  now  appear  in  their  true  character.  The 
child  of  God,  once  despised  and  abused,  now  rises  to  com- 
panionship with  that  holy  company,  in  preparation  for  which 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  237 

lie  had  been  spending  his  life  here.  The  crosses  he  bore,  the 
self-denial  he  practiced,  the  faith  he  exercised,  the  labor  he 
performed  for  the  Master,  now  tell  to  his  credit  as  he,  rises 
honored,  blessed,  happy,  and  glorified  for  ever.  But  what  of 
that  fellow-companion  who  only  lived  for  the  base  pleasures 
of  this  life  ?  In  yonder  world  he  will  find  no  place  to  prac- 
tice the  arts  and  schemes  that  made  him  great  in  this  world. 
By  a  low  standard  he  was  considered  high  ;  now  by  a  high 
standard  he  is  seen  to  be  low,  too  low,  too  base,  for  a  place 
among  the  blessed.  He  lived  a  moral  savage,  and  such  he  must 
remain  for  ever.  Estimate  human  worth  by  the  standard  that 
shall  judge  us  at  the  last  day.  Be  wise  for  another  world. 


WHAT  I  HAVE  SEEN. 

No  servant  can  serve  two  masters  :  for  either  he  will  hate  the  one,  and  love 

0 

the  other ;   or  else  he  will  hold  to  the  one,  and  despise  the  other.     Ye  can  not 
serve  God  and  mammon.  —  Luke  16  :  13. 

I  HAVE  seen  a  woman,  professing  to  love  Christ  more  than 
the  world,  clad  in  a  silk  dress  costing  seventy-five  dollars ; 
making  up  and  trimmings  of  same,  forty  dollars ;  bonnet  (or 
.apology  for  one),  thirty-five  dollars;  velvet  mantle,  one  hun- 
dred and  fifty  dollars;  diamond  ring,  five  hundred  dollars; 
watch,  chain,  pin,  and  trappings,  three  hundred  dollars ;  total, 
one  thousand  one  hundred  dollars ;  all  hung  upon  one  frail, 
dying  worm.  I  have  seen  her  at  a  meeting  in  behalf  of  home- 
less wanderers  in  New  York  wipe  her  eyes  upon  an  expensive 
embroidered  handkerchief  at  the  story  of  their  sufferings,  and, 
when  the  contribution-box  came  round,  take  from  a  well-filled 
portemonnaie  of  costly  workmanship  twenty-five  cents  to  aid 
the  society  formed  to  promote  their  welfare.  "  Ah,77  thought 
I,  "  dollars  for  ribbons,  and  pennies  for  Christ.77 

I  have  seen  a  man  who  had  long  been  a  member  of  the 
visible  church  rush  to  his  business  after  a  hastily-swallowed 
breakfast,  without  a  prayer  in  his  family  for  God's  blessing 
through  the  day,  spend  hours  in  the  eager  pursuit  of  that 
which  perishes  Avith  the  using,  speaking  not  a  word  save  of 
stocks,  of  bonds,  and  mortgages,  and,  when  business  hours 


238  NEW   TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

were  over,  return  to  his  home  exhausted  and  petulant,  to 
turn  away  from  a  sad  story  of  want  and  suffering  with,  "  I  am 
tired,  and  cannot  hear  it ! "  I  have  seen  him  sleep  away  his 
evening  without  a  pleasant  word  for  wife  or  children,  and 
retire  to  rest  with  no  more  apparent  thought  of  God,  his 
Maker,  than  if  his  meeting  him  at  the  last  great  day  were  an 
idle  tale.  "  Ah,"  thought  I,  "  days  and  years  for  Mammori,  but 
not  a  moment  for  Christ." 


FINAL  DESTINATION  OF  THE  COVETOUS. 

And  the  Pharisees  also,  who  were  covetous,  heard  all  these  things :  and 
they  derided  him.  —  Luke  16 :  14. 

1  TN  a  popular  sense,  the  covetous  man  may  have  been  moral, 
JL  and  occasionally  generous ;  but  he  had  '  made  gold  his 
hope,  and  had  said  to  the  fine  gold,  Thou  art  my  confidence.' 
His  wealth  had  been  his  strong  tower,  but  that  tower  shall 
attract  the  bolt  of  heaven.  His  very  armor  shall  draw  the 
lightning  down.  The  exposure  of  his  trust  shall  excite  the 
.scorn  and  derision  of  the  universe.  He  shall  be  an  object  of 
wonder  and  aversion  to  all  the  righteous.  '  Men  shall  clap 
their  hands  at  him,  and  shall  hiss  him  out  of  his  place.'  That- 
he  should  have  thought  to  extract  happiness  from  a  clod  of 
earth  ;  that  he  should  have  reckoned  a  little  gold  an  equivalent 
for  God ;  that  a  rational  and  immortal  being  should  have  been 
guilty  of  such  an  enormity,  will  suspend  all  pity  in  the  minds 
of  the  righteoUvS.  The  unhappy  being  will  behold  every  finger 
pointed  at  him  in  scorn ;  will  hear  himself  mocked  at  as  a 
prodigy  of  folly ;  will  be  scoffed  and  chased  beyond  the  limits 
of  God's  happy  dominions.  l  He  shall  not  inherit  the  kingdom 
of  God.'  In  the  classifications  of  this  world,  the  Christian 
mammonist  may  stand  among  the  excellent  of  the  earth ;  but 
in  the  final  arrangements  of  the  judgment  day  he  will  have  a 
n<-\v  place  assigned  to  him.  As  soon  as  his  character  becomes 
known,  the  righteous  will  no  longer  be  burdened  and  dis- 
graced with  his  presence ;  they  will  give  their  amen  to  his 
being  cast  forth  as  an  alien  from  their  community.  And  the 
very  same  act  which  removes  him  from  their  community  shall 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  239 

transfer  him  '  to  his  own  place/  —  to  the  congenial  society  of 
the  drunkard,  the  unbeliever,  the  idolater,  and  of  all  who,  like 
himself,  made  not  God  their  trust.  The  final  destination  of 
the  covetous  is  hell." 


A  STRAIGHT  ROAD  TO  HEAVEN. 

And  it  came  to  pass,  that  the  beggar  died,  and  was  carried  by  the  angels 
into  Abraham's  bosom  :  the  rich  man  also  died,  and  was  buried.  —  Luke  16  :  22. 

TJRESIDENT  NOTT  once  preached  a  discourse  near  Sche- 
X  nectady,  in  which  he  set  forth  the  intense  and  eternal  tor- 
ments of  the  finally  impenitent.  One  of  our  modern  restora- 
tionists  heard  the  discourse  ;  and,  having  "  an  itching  palm  " 
to  show  his  knowledge  of  futurity  and  divine  dispositions,  he 
followed  the  president  to  the  house  where  he  took  tea  after 
the  exercises  of  the  day  were  closed,  and  introduced  himself 
by  saying  to  Mr.  Nott,  "  Well,  sir,  I  have  been  to  hear  you 
preach,  and  have  come  here  to  request  you  to  prove  your 
doctrine."  "  I  thought  I  had  proved  it ;  for  I  took  the  Bible 
for  testimony,"  was  the  reply.  "  Well,  I  do  not  find  anything 
in  my  Bible  to  prove  that  the  sinner  is  eternally  damned,  and  I 
do  not  believe  any  such  thing."  "  What  do  you  believe  ?  " 
"  Why,  I  believe  that  mankind  will  be  judged  according  to  the 
deeds  done  in  the  body,  and  those  that  deserve  punishment  will 
be  sent  to  hell,  and  remain  there  until  the  debt  is  paid,"  &c. 
Says  Mr.  Nott,  "  I  have  but  a  word  to  say  to  you  j  and  first, 
for  what  did  Christ  die?  And  lastly,  there  is  a  straight  road 
to  heaven ;  but  if  you  are  determined  to  go  round  through 
hell  to  get  there,  I  cannot  help  it."  The  man  took  his  leave, 
but  his  mind  was  "  ill  at  ease."  There  is  a  straight  road  to 
heaven,  still  rang  in  his  ears:  he  went  home,  read  -his  Bible 
attentively,  and  was  soon  convinced  of,  and  acknowledged  his 
error,  and  after  a  suitable  time  united  with  the  followers  of 
the  Lamb. 


2iO  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 


FORGIVENESS  AMONG  NEIGHBORS. 

Take  heed  to  yourselves  :  If  thy  brother  trespass  against  thee,  rebuke 
him  ;  and  if  he  repent,  forgive  him.  —  Luke  17  :  3. 

IN  a  small  country  town  in  Massachusetts  there  lived  two 
wealthy  farmers,  whose  lands  joined  each  other.  On  some 
account  or  other  they  became  involved  in  a  lawsuit,  which 
both  lessened  their  money  and  promoted  a  spirit  of  rancor 
toward  each  other.  After  a  time,  one  of  these  men  was  con- 
vinced of  the  sinfulness  of  his  past  conduct,  when,  yielding  to 
the  influences  of  the  gospel,  he  became  desirous  of  reconcilia- 
tion and  friendship  with  his  neighbor.  With  a  trembling 
heart,  he  rapped  at  the  door  of  the  man  he  had  offended, 
which  he  had  not  before  entered  for  six  years.  Not  suspect- 
ing who  it  was,  his  neighbor  invited  him  in.  He  went  in,  took 
his  seat,  acknowledged  that  he  had  in  the  affair  been  much  to 
blame,  and  entreated  forgiveness.  The  other  was  much  as- 
tonished, but  maintained  his  high  ground.  "  I  always  knew 
you  were  to  blame,  and  I  never  shall  forgive  you,"  with  much 
more  to  the  same  purpose,  was  the  reply  given  to  him.  He 
again  confessed  his  wrong,  asked  the  pardon  of  his  neighbor, 
expressed  a  hope  that  the  Divine  T3eing  would  forgive  him  ; 
and  added,  "Wo  have  been  actuated  by  a  wrong  spirit;  and 
we  shall  be  afraid  to  meet  each  other  at  the  bar  of  God,  where 
we  must  soon  appear.'7  The  other  became  a  little  softened, 
and  they  parted! 

The  family,  Avhen  left  to  themselves,  were  filled  with  as- 
tonishment. But  the  mystery  was  solved  when  they  learned 
that  their  neighbor  had  .become  a  follower  of  Christ.  'k  What ! " 
said  the  farmer,  "  has  S.  become  a  Christian?  Why  should  he 
come  and  ask  my  forgiveness?  If  religion  will  humble  such 
a  man,  it  is  surely  a  great  thing.  He  said,  '  We  shall  be  afraid 
to  meet  each  other  at  the  bar  of  God.'  "  Such  reflections  as 
these,  with  a  consciousness  of  his  own  ill-conduct,  occasioned 
him  great  distress  for  several  days.  At  length  he  could 
smother  his  feelings  no  longer ;  he  took  his  hat,  and  went  to 
see  his  once  hated  neighbor.  As  he  entered  the  door,  he  re- 
ceived a  cordial  welcome  ;  they  took  each  other  by  the  hand, 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  241 

and  burst  into  tears.  He  said,  "  You  came  to  ask  my  forgive- 
ness the  other  day,  but  I  find  I  have  been  a  thousand  times 
worse  than  you."  They  retired  and  prayed  together.  They 
became  members  of  the  same  church,  and  lived  many  years 
in  uninterrupted  harmony.  Such  are  the  triumphs  of  Chris- 
tianity, compared  with  which 

"  The  laurels  that  a  Caesar  reaps  are  weeds." 


"GOD  AND  TWO  CENTS  ARE  EVERYTHING." 

And  the  apostles  said  unto  the  Lord,  Increase  our  faith.  —  Luke  17:5. 

PRESIDENT  EDWARDS  taught  that  love  is.  the  choice  of 
JL  the  good  of  all  sentient  being,  and  that  it  chooses  the 
blessedness  of  God  supremely,  because  there  is  more  being 
in  God  than  in  all  the  universe  besides.  From  this  doctrine 
of  religious  philosophy,  that  God  is  the  majority  of  the  uni- 
verse, has  come  the  saying,  now  repeated  as  a  commonplace 
by  all  unpopular  reformers,  that  "  God  and  one  man  constitute 
a  majority."  The  Roman  Catholic,  St.  Theresa,  uttered  a 
parallel  thought,  full  of  heroic  faith  and  truth,  when  com- 
mencing the  erection  of  a  great  temple  with  but  two  coppers 
in  her  purse.  She  exclaimed,  "  Two  cents  and  Theresa  are 
nothing ;  but  two  cents  and  God  are  everything."  It  would 
be  hard  to  find  a  sentiment  more  true  or  beautiful  anywhere. 
We  are  nothing,  our  money  is  nothing,  without  God,  but  with 
him  we  are  all  things. 

THE  LEPERS  OF  JERUSALEM. 

And  as  he  entered  into  a  certain  village,  there  met  him  ten  men  that  were 
lepers,  which  stood  afar  off.  —  Luke  17  :  12. 

TUST  within  Zion's  gate,  and  close  to  the  wall  of  the  city, 
U  we  saw  a  row  of  wretched  hovels,  called  "  houses  of  the 
miserable  ones,"  because  occupied  by  a  colony  of  men,  women, 
and  children  suffering  from  the  terrible  malady  of  leprosy. 
Though,  as  in  ancient  times,  they  are  compelled  to  "  dwell 
alone/1  they  are  not  confined  to  their  houses,  but  are  permit- 
31 


242  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

ted  to  sit  "  at  the  entering  in  of  the  gate/'  to  ask  alms.  (Lev. 
13 :  45,  46 ;  2  Kings  7:3;  Luke  17  : 12,  13.) 

Never  can  we  forget  a  company  of  miserable  lepers  sitting 
in  a  row  by  the  wayside  as  we  entered  the  Jaffa  gate.  More 
disgusting  objects  in  human  flesh  can  hardly  be  imagined. 
The  hair  and  eyebrows  had  fallen  off;  the  faces  were  livid, 
bloated,  and  covered  with  festering  ulcers ;  and  the  eyes 
bloodshot  or  blincf.  The  nose  of  one  was  half  eaten  off,  the 
upper  lip  of  another  entirely  gone.  The  hands  of  one  were 
fingerless,  the  arms  of  another  handless.  As  we  passed  them, 
they  extended  their  diseased  hands  toward  us,  and  in  a  dry, 
husky,  gasping  voice,  cried,  "  Howadji,  Allah,  backsheesh ;" 
that  is,  Traveler,  in  the  name  of  God,  money.  0,  how  vividly 
did  those  pitiable  objects  bring  to  mind  the  expression,  lt  the 
leprosy  of  sin ; "  and  what  an  illustration  were  they  of  the 
power  of  that  Jesus  who  could  say  to  a  leper,  "  I  will ;  be 
thou  clean ! " 

This  malady  is  beyond  the  reach  of  medical  skill.  Some 
years  ago  a  French  physician,  supposing  he  had  found  a 
cure,  went  to  Jerusalem  to  try  the  value  of  his  discovery ; 
but  instead  of  helping  the  lepers,  he  became  a  victim  of  the 
dreadful  disease,  and  died,  within  three  months.  It  is  not, 
however,  generally  considered  contagious,  but  is  transmitted 
from  parent  to  child.  It  is  common  to  see  a  frightfully  dis- 
eased mother  with  a  bright  healthy  child  in  her  arms  ;  but  the 
little  one  inherits  the  curse,  and  Jn  a  few  years  is  sure  to  be 
a  leper.  Strange  that  marriages  among  them  are  not  prohib- 
ited. —  8.  W.  Brown. 

NOAH  DID  NOT  CLOSE  THE  DOOR. 

Andtis  it  was  in  the  days  of  Noe,  so  shall  it  he  also  in  the  days  of  the  Son 
of  man.  They  did  eat,  they  drank,  they  married  wives,  they  were  given  in 
marriage,  until  the  day  that  Noe  entered  into  the  ark,  and  the  flood  came,  and 
destroyed  them  all.  —  Luke  17  :  20,  27. 

IN  the  Life  of  the  late  Hugh  Miller  we  find  the  following  pas- 
sage from  Stewart,  of  Cromarty,  whom  Miller  considered 
one  of  the  very  best  and  ablest  of  Scotland's  ministers,  of  the 
generation  which  has  just  passed  away  :  — 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  243 

"  Noah  did  not  close  the  door.  There  are  works  that  God 
keeps  for  himself.  The  burden  is  too  heavy  for  the  back  of 
man.  To  shut  the  door  on  a  world  about  to  perish  would 
have  been  too  great  a  responsibility  for  a  son  of  Adam ;  the 
stress  of  it  would  have  borne  too  heavily  on  a  human  heart. 
Another  moment,  and  another,  and  another,  might  have  been 
granted  by  the  patriarch,  and  the  door  might  never  have  been 
shut.  And  would  he  have  done  the  work  conclusively,  even 
if  he  had  in  the  first  instance  closed  the  door  ?  Who  knows 
but  that,  when  the  waters  rose,  and  he  heard  the  wailing 
around,  and  friends  whom  he  loved  held  towards  him  their 
little  ones,  and  shrieked  to  be  taken  in,  he  might  have  re- 
lented, and  opened,  and  a  rush  might  have  been  made,  and  the 
ship  that  carried  the  life  of  the  world  might  have  been 
swamped  ?  He  dared  not  open  a  door  which  God  had  shut ; 
perhaps  he  could  not  open  i't.  We  never  hear  that  he  opened 
the  door  even  when  the  earth  was  drying.  God  told  him 
when  to  go  out.  And  so  it  is  in  the  ark  of  salvation.  It  is  not 
the  church,  it  is  not  the  minister,  that  shuts  or  opens  the  door. 
These  do  God's  bidding;  they  preach  righteousness,  they 
offer  salvation,  they  gather  in ;  it  is  God  that  shuts  and  opens 
the  door.  And  what  a  sound  was  that  when,  in  the  listening, 
ominous  hush  of  earth's  last  evening,  God  shut  the  door ! 
There  have  been  sounds  as  well  as  sights  to  make  the  boldest 
heart  quail,  and  the  flintiest  heart  melt ;  the  cry  has  gone  up 
from  cities  given  over  to  fire  and  sword,  the  shuddering  throe 
of  earthquakes  which  hurries  myriads  to  death ;  but,  except 
the  cry  on  Calvary,  which  corresponded  to  it,  no  more  solemn 
and  melancholy  sound  has  been  heard  by  human  ears  than 
that  which  passed  into  the  evening  stillness  when  the  broad 
green  earth  was  left  to  be  the  grave  of  mankind  and  God  shut 
the  door  of  the  ark.  Once  again  will  God  shut  the  door. 
Man  will  not  do  it.  Angels  will  not  do  it.  But  0,  what  a 
sigh  and  shudder  will  pass  through  the  listening  universe 
when  God  will  shut  the  door  of  the  heavenly  ark  upon  the 
lost ! » 


244  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

PERSISTENT  PRAYING  ILLUSTRATED. 

And  he  spake  a  parable  unto  them  to  this  end,  that  men  ought  always  to 
pray,  and  not  to  faint.  —  Luke  18  :  1. 

DR.  GUTHRIE,  in  his  Discourses  on  the  Parables,  gives  an 
illustration  from  Eastern  life,  which  throws  a  flood  of  light 
on  the  success  of  the  woman  pleading  with  the  unjust  judge. 
He  says  of  her  importunity,  — 

"  This  art  is  carried  to  the  highest  perfection  in  the  East. 
A  traveler  in  Persia  tells  how  he  was  besieged  by  one  who 
solicited  a  gift  more  -costly  than  he  was  prepared  to  give. 
The  hoary,  and,  as  the  people  esteemed  him,  holy  mendicant, 
sat  himself  down  before  his  gate,  throwing  up  a  rude  tent  to 
shelter  himself  from  the  noonday  sun.  There  he  remained 
like  a  sentinel,  nor  left  his  post  but  to  follow  the  traveler  out 
of  doors,  and  return  with  him.  Taking  snatches  of  sleep 
during  the  day,  when  the  other  rested  in  the  house,  he  kept 
up  a  hideous  howling  and  clamorous  demands  all  the  hours 
of  the  night  —  an  annoyance  which,  persisted  in  for  successive 
days  and  nights,  and  even  weeks,  seldom  fails,  as  you  can 
suppose,  to  gain  its  object.  Such  were  the  means  by  which 
the  widow  gained  hers." 

PRAYER  ANSWERED,  THOUGH  LONG  DELAYED. 

And  shall  not  God  avenge  his  own  elect,  which  cry  day  and  night  unto  him, 
though  he  bear  long  with  them?  —  Lvke  18  :  7. 

MR.  BRIGGS  was  born  March  28, 1772,  in  Rochester,  Mass. 
His  parents  were  exemplary  members  of  the  Congrega- 
tional church  in  that  place.  His  early  education  was  strictly 
religious.  At  the  age  of  sixteen  he  went  to  sea,  and  for  four- 
teen years  was  engaged  in  the  whaling  and  merchant  service. 
During  the  French  revolution  he  spent  some  time  in  France, 
imbibed  infidel  sentiments,  and  became  an  admirer  of  Paine's 
writings.  At  the  age  of  thirty,  having  previously  married  an 
amiable  and  pious  lady,  he  removed  to  New  York  State. 
During  a  severe  sickness,  some  fourteen  years  since,  he  was 
much  shaken  in  his  infidel  sentiments,  but  did  not  renounce 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  -245 

them.  About  nine  years  since  he  came  to  reside  in  S.  For 
the  last  four  years,  the  writer  has  known  the  exercises  of  his 
mind.  Never  has  he  spoken  to  me  disrespectfully  of  religion. 
About  four  months  since,  he  sent  for  me  with  a  view  to  reli- 
gious conversation,  arid  from  that  time  till  the  day  of  his  death 
he  seemed  as  one  putting  on  the  nature  of  the  lamb.  He  died 
in  peace  ;  and  we  will  hope  that  the  old  sailor  has  found  rest 
at  last. 

But  how  comes  this  to  pass  ?  In  answer  to  prayer.  Of  this 
man's  long  life  not  a  day  has  passed  without  special  prayer  in 
his  behalf.  For  about  fifty  years  he  has  enjoyed  the  fervent 
and  believing  prayers  of  a  praying  wife.  Often  has  she  said 
to  me,  "  Mr.  -  ,  I  have  confidence  to  believe  that  my  hus- 
band will  yet  be  brought  in.  I  can't  give  it  up." 

Christian  wives,  though  your  husbands  be  unbelievers, 
amid  the  perils  of  the  ocean,  have  faith  in  God,  and  keep  on 
praying. 

BEAUTIFUL  PRAYERS. 

And  the  publican,  standing  afar  off,  would  not  lift  up  so  much  as  his  eyes 
unto  heaven,  but  smote  upon  his  breast,  saying,  God  be  merciful  to  me  a  sin- 
ner. —  Luke  18  :  13. 


prayers  are  beautiful  that  reach  the  ear  of  God.  The 
_L  fervent  prayer  of  the  righteous  man  availeth  much,  and  is 
beautiful.  The  prayer  of  the  widow  and  fatherless,  who  have 
110  helper  save  he  who  heareth  the  orphan's  cry,  is  beautiful. 
The  prayer  of  the  infant,  who  takes  God's  promise  in  his 
"  most  implicit  grasp,"  as  he  does  his  mother's  hand,  is  beauti- 
ful. The  prayer  of  the  lowly  saint,  unlettered  and  ungrammati- 
cal,  is  beautiful.  The  prayer  of  the  poor  man,  when  "  God  heard 
him  and  delivered  him  out  of  his  troubles,"  was  beautiful. 
The  prayer  of  the  publican,  who  smote  upon  his  breast,  and 
said,  "  God  be  merciful  to  me  a  sinner,"  was  beautiful.  The 
prayer  of  Stephen,  when  amid  the  storm  of  stones  he  cried, 
just  before  he  "  fell  asleep,"  "  Lay  not  this  sin  to  their  charge," 
was  beautiful. 

There  is  a  grammar  and  rhetoric  of  heaven,  but  it  is  foreign 
to  the  culture  of  this  world.     The  courtiers  there  wear  "  wed- 


246  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

ding  garments/'  and  they  speak  the  celestial  language ;  but 
sometimes  they  seem  ragged  and  ignorant  to  the  eyes  that 
are  blinded  with  the  clay  and  dust  of  our  earthly  roadsides. 

We  cannot  always  discern  the  fashions  of  heaven.  There 
is  a  flippery  that  sometimes  claims  to  be  the  garb 'divine,  but 
it  is  mere  tinsel.  There  is  an  "  excellency  of  speech  "  which 
is  jargon  and  mockery  in  the  ear  of  God.  There  is  "  sounding 
brass  and  tinkling  cymbal7'  —  mere  clatter,  and  not  celestial 
music  at  all.  There  are  "  beautiful  prayers  "  that  are  unlovely 
and  abominable  before  the  Searcher  of  hearts. 


DANGER  OF  RICHES. 

And  when  he  heard  this,  he  was  very  sorrowful :  for  lie  was  very  rich. 
And  when  Jesus  saw  that  he  was  very  sorrowful,  he  said,  How  hardly  shall 
they  that  have  riches  enter  into  the  kingdom  of  God!  —  Luke  18  :  23,  24. 

fTVHERE  was  in  the  king's  (of  Denmark)  court  one  that 
JL  played  on  the  harp  so  exceedingly  well,  that  it  was  said 
he  could  put  men  into  what  passion  he  listed,  though  it  were 
into  fury  and  madness.  One  desirous  to  make  the  trial  would 
needs  hear  him,  but  so  that  divers  gentlemen  standing  aloof 
off  out  of  the  hearing,  should  be  ready  to  come  in  and  stay 
the  music,  if  they  saw  him  in  any  distemper.  Things  thus 
ordered,  the  musician  began  to  play,  and  first  he  struck  so 
deep  and  sweet  a  note,  that  he  put  the  man  into  the  dumps, 
so  that  he  stood  like  one  forlorn,  his  hat  in  his  eyes,  his  arms 
across,  sighing  and  lamenting.  Then  the  musician  began  a 
new  note,  and  played  nothing  but  mirth,  and  devices,  that  the 
man  began  to  lose  his  dumps,  and  fell  a  dancing.  But  in  the 
third  place  the  harper  so  varied  his  notes,  and  by  degrees  so 
wrought  upon  the  man  according  as  he  saw  him  incline,  that 
from  dancing  he  brought  him  to  shouting,  until  he  grew 
frantic,  and  slew  four  of  his  friends  that  came  to  stay  him. 
And  thus  it  is  Avitli  riches,  if  not  used  wisely,  they  will  play 
such  feats  as  the  harper  did ;  first  in  the  beginning,  when  a 
man  is  gathering  of  them  together,  they  fill  him  with  care  and 
restlessness,  that  nothing  is  more  miserable  than  a  man  carking 
ai'ter  the  world.  Then,  in  the  second  place,  when  he  hath 


NEW   TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  247 

tasted  the  sweetness  of  them,  and  is  gotten  through  his  travel, 
when  he  comes  to  be  master,  then  he  falls  a  dancing,  shows 
the  vanity  of  his  mind,  speaks  high,  looks  big,  and  his  apparel 
is  excessive,  and  usually  in  this  fit  his  wife  fetches  a  frisk  or 
two  with  him.  But  when  his  merry  fit  is  over,  the  third  pas- 
sion is  frenzy,  killing  and  slaying  all  that  come  in  his  way ;  he 
becomes  a  rapacious,  griping  usurper,  grinds  the  face  of  the 
poor,  breaks  the  backs,  and  cuts  the  throat  of  many  a  man, 
and  is  so  strong  and  boisterous,  that  no  man  can  tell  how  to 
get  within  him,  and  come  off  with  safety.  —  John  White's  Ser- 
mon at  St.  Paul's,  1616. 

LIBERAL  CHRISTIANS  AND  BROAD  CHURCHISM. 

But  his  citizens  hated  him,  and  sent  a  message  after  him,  saying,  We  will 
not  have  this  man  to  reign  over  us.  —  Luke  19  :  14. 

IT  is  a  common  thing  for  persons  of  a  certain  class  to  speak 
in  high  terms  of  liberal  Christianity,  just  as  though  there 
was  a  Christianity  that  was  not  liberal.  The  gospel  of  the  Lord 
Jesus  is  a  liberal  plan  of  salvation,  for  the  sinner  can  be  saved 
bv  no  other.  It  abounds  in  mercy.  It  is  long  in  forbearing, 
and  ready  in  forgiving. 

But,  by  this  representation  of  Christianity,  we  do  not  mean 
that  mongrel  compound  of  skepticism,  Unitarianism,  and  Uni- 
versalism,  with  a  tincture  of  Rationalism,  which  seeks  admit- 
tance to  Christian  society  under  the  cognomen  of  "  Liberal 
Christianity."  Such  principles  are  indeed  liberal  to  sin,  but 
prove  destructive  to  the  sinner,  by  holding  out  the  false  hope 
of  heaven  without  a  preparation  for  it.  "  The  Broad  Church  ?> 
may  be  an  attractive  title  to  the  man  who  does  not  wish  to 
part  with  his  sins ;  but  scan  it  closely,  and  its  "  broadness  " 
may  be  its  chief  objection.  It  is  too  broad  for  its  depth,  for  it 
does  not  go  down  into  the  heart- work  of  a  sinner.  It  is  too 
broad  for  its  length,  for  it  stops  short  of  meeting  the  needs  of 
the  soul.  It  is  too  broad  for  its  height,  for  it  does  not  reach 
up  to  the  higher  graces  of  the  Spirit ;  and  it  is  too  broad  for 
"  the  narrow  way  and  strait  gate,"  which  lead  to  life.  Our 
Lord's  liberal  Christianity  goes  through  the  strait  gate  of 
pardon,  regeneration,  and  sanctification  of  the  Spirit. 


248  NEW   TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATION'S. 


HE  PLEADS  GUILTY. 

And  he  saith  unto  him,  Out  of  thine  own  mouth  will  I  judge  thee,  thou 
wicked  servant.  —  Luke  19  :  22. 

A  CLERGYMAN  was  once  preaching  in  a  town  much  in- 
fested with  the  heresy  of  the  Universalists,  who  profess 
to  believe  that  all  men,  whatever  may  be  their  character,  shall 
ultimately  be  saved.  A  preacher  of  this  doctrine,  who  wus 
present  with  a  view  to  "  withstand  the  truth,"  became  greatly 
enraged  in  the  progress  of  the  discourse.  It  was  no  sooner 
closed  than  he  began  to  challenge  the  preacher  to  a  defense 
of  his  doctrines.  As  it  was  rather  late,  the  clergyman  who 
was  preaching  declined  a  formal  debate,  but  proposed  that 
each  should  ask  the  other  three  questions,  to  which  a  direct 
answer  should  be  returned.  This  was  agreed  to.  The  Uni- 
versalist  began.  He  put  his  questions,  which  were  promptly 
answered.  It  then  came  the  clergyman's  turn.  His  first 
question  was, — 

"  Do  you  pray  in  your  family  ?  " 

Thunderstruck,  and  dismayed,  the  preacher  of  smooth  things 
knew  not  what  to  say.  At  length  he  asked,  "  Why,  what 
has  that  to  do  with  my  doctrines  ?  " 

"  Much,"  was  the  reply.  "  By  their  fruits  ye  shall  know 
them." 

At  length  he  frankly  confessed  that  he  did  not.  Then  for 
the  second  question,  — 

"  When  you  get  somewhat  displeased,  do  you  not  sometimes 
make  use  of  profane  language  ?  " 

This  was  carrying  the  war  into  the  inner  temple  of  his  infi- 
del ambitions.  There  was  no  door  of  escape.  Answer  he 
must.  It  was  of  no  use  to  deny  it ;  he  confessed  that  he  was 
profane. 

"  I  will  go  no  further,"  said  the  pious  clergyman,  "  I  am 
satisfied ;  "  and,  turning  to  the  congregation,  added,  "  I  pre- 
sume you  are  also.  You  dare  not  trust  your  immortal  welfare 
to  a  prayerless  and  profane  guide."  —  Anecdotes  for  the 
Family. 


NEW   TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  249 


THE  ETERNAL  ROCK. 

"Whosoever  shall  fall  upon  that  stone  shall  be  broken ;  but  on  whomsoever 
it  shall  fall,  it  will  grind  liim  to  powder.  —  Luke  20  :  18. 

TTTHAT  a  commentary  upon  the  word,  "  Whosoever  falls  on 
T  V  this  stone  shall  be  broken,"  is  the  whole  history  of  the 
heresies  of  the  church  and  the  assaults  of  unbelief!  Man 
after  man,  rich  in  gifts,  endowed  often  with  far  larger  and 
nobler  faculties  than  the  people  who  oppose  him  with  indomita- 
ble perseverance,  a  martyr  to  his  error,  sets  himself  up  against 
the  truth  that  is  sphered  in  Jesus  Christ;  and  the  great  Divine 
message  simply  goes  on  its  way,  and  all  the  babblement  and 
noise  is  like  so  many  bats  flying  against  a  light,  or  the  wild 
sea-birds  that  come  sweeping  up  in  the  tempest  and  the  night, 
against  the  hospitable  Pharos  that  is  upon  the  rock,  and  smite 
themselves  dead  against  it.  Skeptics  well  known  in  their  gen- 
eration, who  made  people's  hearts  tremble  for  the  ark  of  God, 
what  has  become  of  them  ?  Their  books  lie  dusty  and  undis- 
turbed on  the  top  shelf  of  libraries  ;  whilst  there  the  Bible 
stands,  with  all  the  scribblings  wiped  off  the  page,  as  though 
they  had  never  been.  Opponents  fire  their  small  shot  against 
the  great  Rock  of  Ages,  and  the  little  pellets  fall  flattened, 
and  only  scale  off  a  bit  of  the  moss  that  has  gathered  there  ! 
My  brother,  let  the  history  of  the  past,  with  other  deeper 
thoughts,  teach  you  and  me  a  very  calm  and  triumphant 
confidence  about  all  that  people  say  nowadays ;  for  all  the 
modern  opposition  to  the  gospel  will  go  as  the  past  has  done, 
and  the  newest  systems  which  cut  and  carve  at  Christianity 
will  go  to  the  tomb  where  all  the  rest  have  gone,  and  dead  old 
infidelities  will  rise  up  from  their  thrones,  and  say  to  the  bran 
new  ones  of  this  generation,  when  their  day  is  worked  out, 
"  Ah,  are  ye  also  become. like  one  of  us  ?  "  "  Whosoever  shall 
fall  on  this  stone  shall  be  broken  ; "  personally,  he  will  be 
harmed  ;  and  his  opinions,  and  his  books,  and  his  talk,  and  all 
his  argumentation,  will  come  to  nothing,  like  the  waves  that 
break  into  impotent  foam  against  the  rocky  cliffs.  —  Alex. 
McLaren. 

32 


250  A'EW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

RECOGNITION  OF  FRIENDS  IN  HEAVEN. 

But  they  which  shall  be  accounted  worthy  to  obtain  that  world,  and  the 
resurrection  from  the  dead,  neither  marry,  nor  are  given  in  marriage  :  neither 
can  they  die  any  more  :  for  they  are  equal  unto  the  angels ;  and  are  the  chil- 
dren of  God,  being  the  children  of  the  resurrection.  —  Luke  20  :  35,  36. 

"  C1HALL  we  know  eacli  other  there?"  is  a  question  often 
k3  asked,  as  if  by  some  irrepressible  impulse  of  the  soul. 
From  all  the  light  we  have  on  the  subject  of  recognition  in 
heaven,  it  is  certain  beyond  a  doubt  that  we  shall  know  our 
friends  there,  for  "we  shall  be  as  the  angels  of  God."  But 
shall  our  knowledge  of  that  happy  throng  be  limited  to  our 
friends  only  ?  They  will  be  few  as  compared  with  that  great 
"  company  which  no  man  can  number."  Recognition  implies 
previous  knowledge,  for  cognition  means  to  know ;  recognition 
means  to  know  again.  Will  not  intuition  almost  infinitely 
surpass  recognition,  as  a  soul  attribute  in  the  heavenly  world  ? 
Shall  we  not  know  all  the  saints,  as  well  as  recognize  such  a 
number  of  them  as  we  chanced  to  know  here  on  the  earth  ? 
When  Peter  and  John,  on  the  mount  of  transfiguration,  knew 
Moses  and  Elias,  that  was  not  recognition,  but  intuition ;  for 
those  apostles  had  never  known  those  Old  Testament  apostles. 
So  we  think  it  will  be  in  heaven.  Our  knowing  the  glorified 
ones,  saved,  as  we  then  shall  be  from  all  the  infirmities  of  the 
flesh,  and  exalted  through  Christ,  the  second  Adam,  to  a  con- 
dition higher  than  that  of  the  first  Adam  in  Eden,  we  shall 
know,  by  intuition,  our  fellow -saints  with  whom  we  are  to 
spend  a  happy  eternity.  But,  along  with  this  subject  of  re- 
cognition and  intuition,  many  persons  have  thoughtlessly 
attached  in  their  minds  the  idea  of  natural  affection,  supposing 
that  this  element,  which  belongs  to  our  earthly  relations,  will 
continue  in  heaven.  Such  persons  do  not  heed  what  our  Lord 
said  about  those  "  which  shall  be  accounted  worthy  to  obtain 
that  world  and  the  resurrection  from  the  dead,"  that  they 
"  neither  marry  nor  are  given  in  marriage,  neither  can  they  die 
any  more,  for  they  are  equal  unto  the  angels."  Natural  affec- 
tion belongs  to  natural  life,  and  will  end  with  it.  It  is  neces- 
sary to  the  relations  we  sustain  to  each  other  here  ;  but  with 
these  relations  ended,  natural  affection  will  have  served  its 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  251 

purpose,  and  expire.  Love  in  heaven  there  will  be,  incom- 
parably higher  and  purer  than  parental  or  filial  love  here,  but 
it  will  not  be  affection  growing  out  of  the  relations  we  sustain 
to  each  other  in  this  life  j  but  then,  as  we  shall  be  "  children 
of  God,  being  the  children  of  the  resurrection/7  our  love  will 
be  to  God,  and  the  whole  family  of  the  saved,  world  without 
end.  An  argument  is  sometimes  framed  against  the  Bible 
doctrine  of  everlasting  punishment,  on  the  basis  of  natural 
affection.  Appeals  are  made  to  family  feelings,  and  the  claim 
set  up  that  a  parent  saved  in  heaven  would  be  rendered  mis- 
erable by  the  knowledge  that  a  sinful  son  or  daughter  was  lost 
in  hell.  Such  an  argument  is  utterly  worthless,  because  it 
sets  out  with  a  false  premise, —  that  "flesh  and  blood,"  with 
the  instincts  and  affections  belonging  thereto,  will  be  trans- 
ferred to  heaven,  which  is  positively  contradicted  by  our  Lord. 
No  soul  saved  in  heaven  will  mourn  over  any  administrative 
act  of  God,  but  will  rather  say,  "  Great  and  marvelous  are 
thy  works,  Lord  God  Almighty,  just  and  true  are  thy  ways, 
thou  King  of  Saints." 


FOOLISH  QUESTIONS  WISELY  ANSWERED. 

And  after  that  they  durst  not  ask  him  any  question  at  all.  —  Luke  20  :  40. 

A  CERTAIN  man  went  to  a  dervis,  and  proposed  three 
questions. 

First.  "  Why  do  they  say  that  God  is  omnipresent  ?  I  do 
not  see  him  in  any  place  ;  show  me  where  he  is. 

Second.  u  Why  is  man  punished  for  his  crimes,  since  what- 
ever he  does  proceeds  from  God  ?  Man  has  no  free  will,  for 
he  can  not  do  anything  contrary  to  the  will  of  God  ;  and  if  he 
had  power,  he  would  do  everything  for  his  own  good. 

Third.  "  How  can  God  punish  Satan  in  hell  fire,  since  he  is 
formed  of  that  element?  and  what  impression  can  fire  make 
on  itself?" 

The  dervis  took  up  a  large  clod  of  earth,  and  struck  him  on 
the  head  with  it.  The  man  went  to  the  cadi,  and  said,  "  I 
proposed  three  questions  to  a  dervis,  who  flung  such  a  clod  of 
earth  at  me  as  has  made  my  head  ache."  The  cadi,  having 


252  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

sent  for  the  dervis,  asked,  "Why  did  you  throw  a  clod  of  earth 
at  his  head,  instead  of  answering  his  questions  ?  "  The  dervis 
replied,  "  The  clod  of  earth  was  an  answer  to  his  speech.  He 
says  he  has  a  pain  in  his  head  ;  let  him  show  me  the  pain,  and 
1  will  make  God  visible  to  him.  And  why  does  he  exhibit  a 
complaint  to  you  against  me  ?  Whatever  I  did  was  the  act  of 
God.  I  did  not  strike  him  without  the  will  of  God,  and  what 
power  do  I  possess  ?  And,  as  he  is  compounded  of  earth,  how 
can  he  suffer  pain  from  that  element  ?  "  The  man  was  con- 
founded, and  the  cadi  highly  pleased  with  the  dervis's  an- 
swer.—  J.  H.  Vincent. 


HE  MISTOOK  THE  LIGHT. 

And  he  said,  Take  heed  that  ye  be  not  deceived.  —  Luke  21:8. 

AND  what  was  the  consequence  ?  Why,  one  of  the  largest 
steamships  in  the  world,  with  a  rich  cargo,  and  a  company 
of  three  hundred  souls  on  board,  was  wrecked,  in  a  dark  and 
stormy  night,  on  the  most  dangerous  part  of  the  coast  of  Ire- 
land. The  noble  ship,  which  cost  upward  of  a  million  of  dol- 
lars, left  her  port  that  very  afternoon,  in  fine  trim,  and  with 
every  prospect  of  a  safe  and  speedy  voyage ;  and  at  nine 
o'clock  she  was  thumping  upon  the  rocks,  the  seas  breaking 
over  her  with  terrific  violence,  and  threatening  to  send  peo- 
ple, ship,  and  cargo  to  instant  destruction. 

But  how  could  they  mistake  the  light  ?  Were  the  captain 
and  his  officers  on  the  lookout  ?  Yes.  Was  the  chart  closely 
examined  ?  Yes.  And  were  the  common  precautions  taken 
to  keep  the  ship  on  her  proper  course  ?  Yes ;  all  this  was 
done. 

How,  then,  could  she  have  met  such  a  sad  disaster?  Why, 
because  a  light  appeared  which  was  not  noted  on  the  chart ; 
and  the  captain  was  deceived  by  it.  He  mistook  it  for  another 
light  that  was  on  the  chart;  and  so,  when  he  supposed  he  was 
running  out  to  sea,  he  was  really  running  in  upon  the  breakers. 
How  great  a  mistake  !  and  how  terrible  the  consequences  ! 

Every  reader  of  these  lines  is  sailing  on  a  more  hazardous 
voyage  than  "The  Great  Britain"  attempted,  and  has  the 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  253 

command  of  a  nobler  vessel  and  a  richer  freight  than  hers ; 
yes,  richer  than  all  the  treasures  of  the  world.  Thousands  of 
plans  are  laid  to  mislead  and  divert  him  from  his  course. 
False  lights  are  purposely  held  out  to  betray  him ;  and  tides 
and  currents,  of  almost  resistless  power,  set  against  him  from 
every  point  of  the  compass.  Will  he  steer  clear  of  them  all  ? 
It  will  depend  on  two  things  :  1.  Whether  he  has  the  true 
chart — the  Holy  Scriptures.  2.  Whether  he  commits  him- 
self, and  the  whole  direction  of  the  voyage,  to  Him  whose  foot- 
steps are  on  the  sea,  and  who  rides  upon  the  wings  of  the 
wind. 


DO  NOT  FRET. 

In  your  patience  possess  ye  your  souls.  —  Luke  21 :  19. 

/CALMNESS  and  equanimity  ought  to  be  part  of  every  one's 
\J  religion,  even  as  it  is  a  part  of  the  Quaker's.  "  I  dare  no 
more  fret,"  said  John  Wesley,  "  than  to  curse  and  swear." 
One  who  knew  him  so  well  said  that  he  never  saw  him  low- 
spirited  or  fretful  in  his  life.  He  could  not  endure  the  society 
of  people  who  were  of  this  habit.  He  says  of  them,  "  To  have 
persons  at  my  ears  murmuring  and  fretting  at  everything,  is 
like  tearing  the  flesh  from  my  bones.  By  the  grace  of  God  I 
am  discontented  at  nothing.  I  see  God  sitting  on  the  throne, 
and  ruling  all  things." 

If  every  one  was  of  John  Wesley's  spirit,  it  would  revolu- 
tionize the  world.  Christians  lose  all  their  wayside  comforts, 
and  dishonor  the  Master  by  their  fretfulness  over  little  troubles. 
Some  who  can  bear  the  great  sorrows  of  life  with  a  martyr's 
faith  and  patience  are  utterly  overthrown  by  the  breaking  of 
a  vase.  We  have  seen  men  in  fever  of  impatience,  even  anger 
over  the  loss  of  a  shirt-button,  the  mislaying  of  a  cane,  or 
fifteen  minutes'  delay  of  dinner,  who  have  stood  by  the  graves 
of  dear  ones  gone  and  made  no  sign. 

Men  and  women  have  come  to  'think,  somehow,  that  Chris- 
tian calmness  finds  its  test  hour  only  when  some  great  afflic- 
tion crushes  down.  There  never  was  a  more  sad  mistake. 
Christian  calmness  has  meet  opportunity  for  exercise  daily 


254  NEW   TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS, 

and  hourly.  It  is  the  little  trials  that  test  it  most.  In  every 
family  circle  much  is  happening  that  demands  its  perpetual 
presence  and  influence.  Necessarily  a  cultivated  virtue,  in 
nearly  all  cases,  let  us  see  that  it  is  more  thoroughly  cultivated. 
So  shall  our  homes  be  more  beautiful,  our  happiness  more  per- 
fect, our  Christianity  more  generous  and  loving,  we  had  almost 
said  more  saving. 


THE  MOUNTAINS  OF  SCRIPTURE. 

Then  lot  them  which  are  in  Judea  flee  to  the  mountains.  —  Luke  21 :  21. 

MOUNT  ARARAT,  whereon,  says  Moses,  the  ark  rested, 
consists  of  two  peaks  separated  by  a  valley.  The  Great 
Ararat  rises  to  a  height  of  seventeen  thousand  two  hundred 
and  ten  feet  from  the  level  of  the  sea,  and  the  lesser,  or  Little 
Ararat,  to  thirteen  thousand.  The  Great  Ararat  was  as- 
cended, after  great  toil,  by  Professor  Parrot,  in  1829  ;  probably 
then  pressed  by  the  foot  of  man  for  the  first  time  since  Noah. 

CARMEL,  the  scene  of  the  trial  between  Elijah  and  the  wor- 
shipers of  Baal,  as  to  whether  Jehovah  or  Baal  was  God,  is  the 
general  name  of  a  range  of  hills  extending  north-west  from  the 
plain  of  Esdraelon,  and  ending  in  a  bold  promontory  on  the 
shore  of  the  Mediterranean,  forming  the  bay  of  Acre.  The 
extent  of  the  range  is  six  miles,  and  the  greatest  height  fifteen 
hundred  feet. 

MOUNTS  EBAL  and  GERIZIM,  in  Samaria,  rise  about  eight  hun- 
dred feet,  having  a  valley  about  two  hundred  and  fifty  paces 
wide  between.  On  these  hills  was  performed  the  grand  cere- 
mony, on  the  Israelites  gaining  possession  of  the  land  of 
promise,  for  which  Moses  had  left  directions.  Six  tribes  were 
placed  upon  Mount  Gerizim  to  bless  the  people,  and  six  upon 
Mount  Ebal  to  curse.  In  later  times,  the  Samaritans  built  a 
i''in])le  on  Mount  Gerizim,  and  the  Samaritans  still  regard  it 
as  holy  ground. 

MOUNT  HOR,  on  the  summit  "of  which  Aaron  died,  is  situated 
in  Arabia  Petraea,  on  the  confines  of  Idumea,  and  rises  to  the 
elevation  of  three  thousand  feet. 

LEBANON,  whose  renowned  "  cedars  "  are  many  times  alluded 
t».  is  the  name  applied  in  Scripture  to  both  the  Libanus  and 


NEW   TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  255 

Anti-Libanus  mountains,  two  parallel  ranges,  running  from 
north-east  to  south-west,  on  the  northern  shores  of  Palestine. 
The  average  height  of  the  range  is  about  ten  thousand  feet. 

MOUNT  MORIAH,  one  of  the  hills  upon  which  Jerusalem  was 
built  of  old,  and  the  site  of  Solomon's  Temple,  and  the  present 
Mosque  of  Onier,  is  about  two  thousand  feet  above  the  level 
of  the  Mediterranean,  and  separated  from  the  Mount  of  Olives 
by  the  narrow  valley  of  Jehoshaphat. 

The  MOUNT  OF  OLIVES,  sacred  as  the  frequent  resort  of  the 
Saviour  for  meditation  and  prayer,  derived  its  name  from  the 
number  and  beauty  of  its  olive  trees.  It  rises  about  five  hun- 
dred feet  above  its'  opposite  neighbor  Moriali,  and  is  the  place 
of  burial  of  the  Jews. 

MOUNT  SINAI,  where  "  the  Lord  descended  in  fire,"  and  gave 
the  commandments  to  Moses,  is  a  wild,  desolate  region  of 
granite  peaks  and  precipices,  deep  ravines  and  watercourses. 
Its  height  is  seven  thousand  feet,  and  the  length  of  the  whole 
range  three  miles. 

MOUNT  TABOR  is  a  beautiful  mountain,  standing  alone  on  the 
north-east  border  of  the  plain  of  Esdraelon,  south  from  Naza- 
reth. To  this  hill  tradition  points  as  the  spot  hallowed  by  the 
transfiguration  of  our  Lord  ;  and  this  event  is  still  yearly  cele- 
brated there  by  the  Latin  and  Greek  churches. 

MOUNT  ZION,  many  times  alluded  to  in  Scripture  as  the 
"  holy  hill,"  "  beautiful  for  situation,"  <fcc.,  was  one  of  the  four 
hills  upon  which  ancient  Jerusalem  was  built. 


REPRODUCING  THE  NEW  TESTAMENT. 

Heaven  and  earth  shall  pass  away ;   hut  my  words  shall  not  pass  away.  — 
Luke  21:  33. 

IN  the  Memoirs  of  Ilaldane  we  are  told  of  a  literary  party, 
gathered  at  a  Scotch  dinner,  and  greatly  interested- in  this 
"  question  which  puzzled  the  whole  company :  "  Supposing 
all  the  New  Testaments  in  the  world  had  been  destroyed  at 
the  end  of  the  third  century,  could  their  contents  have  been 
recovered  from  the  writings  of  the  first  three  centuries  ?  No 
one  hazarded  a  guess  in  reply. 


256  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

Two  months  later,  Dr.  Buchanan  breakfasted  with  Lord 
Hailes, —  Sir  David  Dalrymple, —  each  having  been  thinking 
seriously  upon  the  inquiry  proposed  at  the  dinner.  The  talk 
soon  ran  upon  it. 

"  Well,"  said  Lord  Hailes,  "  that  question  quite  accorded 
with  the  tune  or  taste  of  my  antiquarian  mind.  On  returning 
home,  as  I  knew  I  had  all  the  writers  of  those  centuries,  I  be- 
gan immediately  to  collect  them,  that  I  might  set  to  work  on 
the  arduous  task  as  soon  as  possible."  Then  pointing  to  the 
mass  of  papers  on  his  desk,  he  added,  "  There  have  I  been 
busy  these  two  months,  searching  for  chapters,  half  chapters, 
and  sentences  of  the  New  Testament,  and  have  marked  down 
what  I  found  and  where  1  found  it,  so  that  any  person  may 
examine-  and  see  for  himself.  I  have  actually  discovered  the 
whole  New  Testament,  except  seven  or  eleven  verses,  I  for-. 
get  which,  and  this  satisfies  me  that  I  could  discover  them 
also.  .  .  .  Now,  here  was  a  way  in  which  God  concealed,  or 
hid,  the  treasures  of  his  word,  that  Julian,  the  apostate  emperor, 
and  other  enemies  of  Christ,  who  wished  to  extirpate  the  gos- 
pel from  the  world,  never  would  have  thought  of;  and  though 
they  had,  they  never  could  have  effected  its  destruction." 

Were  such  a  test  applied  to  the  writings,  the  sermons, 
the  theological  treatises  of  our  age,  would  there  be  the  same 
result  ? 

HIS  BLOOD  SHED  FOR  US. 

Likewise  also  the  cup  after  supper,  saying,  This  cup  is  the  new  testament 
in  my  blood,  which  is  shed  for  you.  —  Luke  22  :  20. 

I  ONCE  heard  a  very  earnest  and  evangelical  minister  say 
that  he  had  been  accosted  by  a  man  who  had  heard  him 
preach  with  this  criticism,  "  I  don't  like  your  theology.  It  is 
too  bloody.  It  savors  of  the  shambles.  It  is  all  blood,  blood, 
blood.  I  like  a  pleasanter  gospel."  He  replied,  "  Well,  my 
theology  is  bloody:  it  recognizes  as  its  foundation  a  very 
sanguinary  scene  —  the  death  of  Christ,  with  bleeding  hands 
and  feet  and  side.  And  I  am  quite  content  it  should  be 
bloody ;  for  God  hath  said,  that  '  without  shedding  of  blood 
is  no  remission '  of  sins.  "  —  C.  D.  Foss. 


NEW   TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  257 


BE  ALIVE  FOR  CHRIST. 

But  I  hare  prayed  for  thee,  that  thy  faith  fail  not :   and  when  thou  art  con- 
verted, strengthen  thy  brethren.  —  Luke  22  :  32. 

TOO  many  churches  are  mere  hospitals.  Every  church  ought 
to  be  an  arsenal  and  an  armory  —  a  place  of  equipment  for 
the  holy  war  —  and  a. conquering  legion.  Too  many  disciples 
are  mere  valetudinarians,  forever  feeling  of  their  own  pulses, 
looking  at  their  own  tongues,  studying  their  own  symptoms. 
Their  presence  is  like  the  chill  of  a  November  fog.  They  are 
always  just  about  to  die ;  yet,  somehow,  they  never  do  die  and 
make  way  for  others  who  might  be  of  use  to  somebody.  They 
are  for  ever  groaning  out  — 

11  'Tis  a  thing  I  long  to  know,  — 

Oft  it  gives  me  anxious  thought,  — 
Do  I  love  the  Lord,  or  no? 
Am  I  his,  or  am  I  not?  " 

The  well-meaning,  severe,  gloomy  old  "  father  "  in  "  Step- 
ping Heavenward,"  might  sit  for  the  portrait  of  thousands. 

In  respect  to  physical  health,  this  state  of  things  admits  of 
partial  excuse.  There  are  conditions  of  body,  far  short  of 
death,  which  inevitably  depress  the  mind.  In  such  cases  no 
medication  is  likely  to  do  much  good,  unless  it  be  coupled 
with  a  salutary  forgetfulness  of  self,  and  with  strenuous  ex- 
ertions to  benefit  others.  But  for  that  spiritual  invalidism 
which  proclaims  and  pets  and  nurses  its  own  ailments,  there 
is  no  palliation,  because  there  is  "  balm  in  Gilead."  The  great 
Physician  offers  gratis  to  every  patient  in  this  great  world- 
hospital  a  quick  cure.  "  And  when  thou  art  converted  "  (feel 
thy  pulse,  and  gloam  over  thy  remaining  infirmities,  and  labo- 
riously care  for  thyself  alone  ?  No,  no,  no !  but)  "  strengthen 
thy  brethren."  —  Dr.  C.  D.  Foss. 
33 


258  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

CHRIST'S  AGONY  IN  THE  GARDEN. 

And  he  was  withdrawn  from  them  about  a  stone's  cast,  and  kneeled  down, 
and  prayed,  saying,  Father,  if  thou  be  willing,  remove  this  cup  from  me  : 
nevertheless,  not  my  will,  but  thine,  be  done.  And  there  appeared  an  angel 
unto  him  from  heaven,  strengthening  him.  —  Luke  22  :  41-43. 

r\  ETHSEMANE  and  Calvary  are  places  of  thrilling  interest 
\JT  to  every  saint  and  convicted  sinner.  On  Calvary  the 
fountains  of  the  great  deep  of  the  love  of  God  were  broken 
up  to  deluge  the  moral  world ;  there  the  rock  was  smitten 
from  which  issued  the  streams  in  which  a  guilty  world  may 
wash  away  its  crimes,  no  matter  how  numerous  or  how  aggra- 
vated ;  but  at  Gethsemane  the  larger  part  of  the  atonement 
was  wrought. 

We  have  read  many  comments  and  heard  many  sermons  on 
the  agony  endured  by  Jesus  in  the  garden,  but  were  never 
satisfied  with  the  views  expressed.  The  general  idea  is,  that 
Jesus  prayed  against  the  death  of  the  cross  when  he  asked, 
"  If  it  be  possible  let  this  cup  pass,  nevertheless,  not  my  will, 
but  thine,  be  done:7'  that  this  prayer  was  not  heard  or  an- 
swered, and  that  he  did  not  expect  that  his  petition  would  be 
granted,  but  that  he  prayed  as  an  example  for  us,  and  to  show 
his  perfect  resignation  and  submission  to  the  will  of  his  Father. 
And  it  was  not  till  we  had  thought  much,  and  searched  the 
Scriptures  carefully,  that  we  obtained  a  satisfactory  solution 
of  the  difficulty  under  which  our  mind  labored ;  but  now  we 
do  not  hesitate  to  say  the  prayer  was  answered,  and  the  cup 
did  pass.  We  arrived  at  this  conclusion  by  observing  that 
Jesus,  on  separating  from  his  disciples  for  the  purpose  of 
prayer,  said,  "  My  soul  is  exceeding  sorrowful  even  unto 
death."  He  then  uttered  his  prayer  and  returned  to  his 
disciples,  and  found  them  sleeping.  Again  going  apart,  lie 
twice  urged  his  petition  with  increasing  earnestness.  When 
he  returned  to  his  disciples,  and  calmly  spoke  of  his  betrayal 
into  the  hands  of  sinners,  to  us  it  is  clear  the  cup  had  passed, 
for  another  evangelist  tells  us  there  appeared  an  angel 
strengthening  him ;  and  St.  Paul,  in  Hebrews,  says,  "  Who 
in  the  days  of  his  flesh  poured  out  supplications  and  prayers, 
with  strong  crying  and  tears,  unto  Him  that  was  able  to  save 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  259 

him  from  death,  and  was  heard  in  that  which  he  feared." 
The  cup,  then,  was  the  fear  that  the  intense  suffering  he 
endured  would  destroy  the  life  of  the  body  in  the  garden, 
and  so  prevent  the  accomplishment  of  the  work  of  redemp- 
tion by  his  death  on  the  cross.  Well  might  he  say,  "  I  have 
a  baptism  to  be  baptized  with,  and  how  am  I  straitened  till  it 
be  accomplished."  And  surely  this  view  ought  to  increase 
our  love  to  Jesus.  "  He  trod  the  wine-press  alone,  and  of  the 
people  there  were  none  with  him."  That  the  power  of  his 
Godhead  was  inoperative  at  that  time  is  clear,  or  he  needed 
not  the  ministry  of  that  angel.  He  created  the  angel,  and 
sustained  him  in  existence,  and  could,  if  he  pleased,  have 
blotted  him  out  of  existence ;  but  as  a  man,  he  needed  the 
ministry  of  the  angel.  The  man,  therefore,  wrought  the 
atonement,  the  God  being  there  only  to  give  vitality  and 
efficacy  to  the  great  work  being  performed ;  and  surely  this 
view  is  most  comfortable  to  poor  sinners  like  us.  If  Jesus 
magnified  the  law  of  God  and  made  it  honorable,  as  man,  we 
see  how  we  can  work  out  our  own  salvation  with  fear  and 
trembling,  looking  unto  Jesus,  the  author  and  finisher  of  our 
faith ;  but  if  he  only  magnified  the  law  of  God,  and  made  it 
honorable  because  he  was  God,  what  hope  would  there  be 
for  us  ? 

This  view  is  much  more  honorable  to  the  Saviour  than  to 
suppose  that  he  sought  to  avoid  the  death  of  the  cross.  So 
far  from  this,  his  earnest  cries  and  tears  were  for  strength  .to 
accomplish  and  perfect  the  great  work  he  had  undertaken, 
namely,  to  redeem  the  world. 

"  'Twas  great  to  speak  a  world  from  naught, 
'Twas  greater  to  redeem." 


REBUKED  FOR  FALSE  PRETENSES. 

And  while  he  yet  spake,  behold  a  multitude,  and  he  that  was  called  Judas, 
one  of  the  twelve,  went  before  them,  and  drew  near  unto  Jesus  to  kiss  him. 
But  Jesus  said  unto  him,  Judas,  betrayest  thou  the  Son  of  man  with  a  kiss  ?  — 
Luke  22  :  47,  48. 

A  YOUNG  lady  of  wealth  and  position  decided  to  give  a 
large  party.     As  she  had  many  acquaintances   among 


260  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS, 

those  who  do  not  deem  it  essential  to  the  completeness  of  an 
entertainment  that li  reel,  and  jig,  and  waltz  "  be  introduced,  the 
stylish  invitations  were  prefaced  with  the  announcement,  "  No 
dancing."  At  the  same  time,  the  young  lady  personally  as- 
sured her  friends  that  the  arrangement  would  be  perfectly 
understood  by  all  the  company,  and  their  scruples  would  not 
be  infringed  upon. 

Judge  of  their  surprise  when,  at  an  early  hour  in  the  even- 
ing, "  a  set "  was  hastily  formed  in  the  back  parlor,  and  a 
young  girl  who  had  but  lately  made  a  profession  of  religion 
was  coolly  invited  to  play  for  them.  Words  failed  to  express 
the  surprise  and  regret  at  this  twofold  indignity,  especially 
when  the  young  convert,  apparently  acceding  to  the  request, 
accepted  the  arm  of  an  escort  to  the  piano. 

Pausing  a  moment,  however,  she  begged  a  friend  to  ac- 
company her  —  one  whom  all  recognized  as  an  efficient  mem- 
ber of  the  church.  As  the  two  stepped  across  the  floor,  a  few 
words  passed  between  them  ;  the  older  lady  taking  up  a  volume 
of  bound  music,  quietly  turned  the  leaves,  while  the  younger, 
awaiting  her  movements,  gave  the  listeners  a  spirited  prelude, 
which,  presently,  softly  and  tenderly  died  away  as  the  clear 
voices  of  the  two  ladies  in  "  harmonious  accord/'  rendered 
with  thrilling  power,— 

"  I  would  not  live  alway,  I  ask  not  to  stay." 

A  few  steps  were  taken  by  the  waiting  dancers  ;  then  a 
silence  as  of  death  fell  on  them,  as  a  young  lady,  one  of  the 
gayest  of  the  gay,  exclaimed,  in  shuddering  dismay, — 

"  That's  not  the  right  tune  to  dance  by  ! " 

But  the  song  went  on,  gathering  in  richness  and  power,  as 
here  and  there,  from  different  corners,  deep,  manly  voices, 
and  woman's  tender  tones,  at  length  joined  in  with  electrify- 
ing power. 

At  its  close,  the  player  arose,  and  courteously  bidding  her 
hostess  good  evening,  retired,  followed  by  all  who  had  been 
"  lured  in  by  false  pretenses." 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  261 

WHY  JEWESSES  ARE  BEAUTIFUL. 

But  Jesus  turning  unto  them,  said,  Daughters  of  Jerusalem,  weep  not  for 
me,  but  weep  for  yourselves,  and  for  your  children.  —  Luke  23  :  28. 

/CHATEAUBRIAND  gives  a  fanciful  but  an  agreeable  reason 
\J  for  the  fact  that  Jewish  women  are  so  much  handsomer 
than  the  men  of  their  nation.  He  says  Jewesses  have  escaped 
the  curse  which  alighted  upon  their  fathers,  husbands,  and 
sons.  Not  a  Jewess  was  to  be  found  among  the  crowd  of 
priests  and  rabble  who  insulted  the  Son  of  God,  scourged  him, 
crowned  him  with  thorns,  and  subjected  him  to  the. infamy 
and  the  agony  of  the  cross.  The  women  of  Judea  believed 
in  the  Saviour,  and  assisted,  and  soothed  him  under  affliction. 
A  woman  of  Bethany  poured  on  his  head  precious  ointment, 
which  she  kept  in  a  vase  of  alabaster.  The  sinner  anointed 
his  feet  with  perfumed  oil,  and  wiped  them  with  her  hair. 
Christ  on  his  part  extended  mercy  to  the  Jewesses.  He 
raised  from  the  dead  the  son  of  the  widow  of  Nain,  and 
Martha's  brother  Lazarus.  He  cured  Simon's  mother-in-law, 
and  the  woman  who  touched  the  hem  of  his  garment.  To 
the  Samaritan  woman  he  was  a  spring  of  living  water.  The 
daughters  of  Jerusalem  wept  over  him ;  the  holy  women  ac- 
companied him  to  Calvary,  brought  him  balm  and  spices,  and 
weeping,  sought  him  in  the  sepulcher.  "  Woman,  why  weep- 
est  thou  ?  "  His  first  appearance  after  the  resurrection  was 
to  Mary  Magdalene.  He  said  to  her,  "  Mary."  At  the  sound 
of  his  voice,  Mary  Magdalene's  eyes  were  opened,  and  she  an- 
swered, "  Master."  The  reflection  of  some  beautiful  ray  must 
have  rested  on  the  brow  of  the  Jewesses. 


"0,  HE  IS  A  GREAT  FORGIVER!" 

And  Jesus  said  unto  him,  Verily,  I  say  unto  thee,  To-day  shalt  thou  be  with 
me  in  paradise.  —  Luke  23  :  43. 

MR,  FLEMING,  in  his  "  Fulfilling  of  the  Scriptures,"  relates 
the  case  of  a  most  hardened  sinner,  who  was  put  to  death 
in  the  town  of  Ayr.     It  pleased  the  Lord  to  bring  him  to  re- 


262  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

pentance  when  in  prison,  and  so  full  was  his  assurance  of  par- 
doning mercy,  that  when  he  came  to  the  place  of  execution, 
he  could  not  help  crying  out  to  the  people,  under  the  sense  of 
pardon,  "  0,  he  is  a  great  forgiver  !  He  is  a  great  forgiver !  " 
And  he  added,  "  '  Now  hath  perfect  love  cast  out  fear.'  (1  John 
4:  18.)  I  know  God  hath  nothing  to  say  against  me  (Rom. 
8:1),  for  Jesus  Christ  hath  paid  all ;  and  those  are  free  whom 
the  Son  makes  free."  (John  8  :  36.) 


FEMALE  INFLUENCE. 

And  the  women  also,  which  came  with  him  from  Galilee,  followed  after, 
and  beheld  the  sepulcher,  and  how  his  body  was  laid.  —  Luke  23 :  55. 

UNDER  God,  I  owe  my  early  education,  nay,  all  that  I  have 
been  or  am,  to  the  counsel  and  tutelage  of  a  pious  mother. 
It  was, — peace  to  her  sainted  spirit, —  it  was  her  monitory  voice 
that  first  taught  my  young  heart  to  feel  that  there  was  danger 
in  the  intoxicating  cup,  and  that  safety  lay  in  abstinence. 

And,  as  no  one  is  more  indebted  than  myself  to  the.  kind 
of  influence  in  question,  so  no  one  more  fully  realizes  how  de- 
cisively it  bears  upon  the  destinies  of  others. 

Full  well  I  know  that  by  woman  came  the  apostasy  of 
Adam,  and  by. woman  the  recovery  through  Jesus.  It  was 
woman  that  imbued  the  mind,  and  formed  the  character  of 
Moses,  Israel's  deliverer.  It  was  a  woman  that  led  the  choir, 
and  gave  back  the  response  of  that  triumphal  procession, 
which  went  forth  to  celebrate,  with  timbrels,  on  the  banks 
of  the  Red  Sea,  the  overthrow  of  Pharaoh.  It  was  a  woman 
that  put  Sisera  to  flight,  and  composed  the  song  of  Deborah, 
and  Barak,  the  son  of  Abinoam,  and  judged  in  righteousness, 
for  years,  the  tribes  of  Israel.  It  was  a  woman  that  defeated 
the  wicked  counsels  of  Haman,  delivered  righteous  Mordecai, 
and  saved  a  whole  people  from  their  utter  desolation. 

And  now,  not  to  speak  of  Semiramis  of  Babylon,  of  Cath- 
arine of  Russia,  or  of  those  queens  of  England  whose  joyous 
reigns  constitute  the  brightest  periods  of  British  history,  or 
her,  the  young  and  lovely,  the  patron  of  learning  and  morals, 
who  now  adorns  the  throne  of  the  sea-girt  isles ;  not  now  to 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  2G3 

speak  of  these,  there  are  others  of  more  sacred  character,  of 
whom  it  were  admissible  even  now  to  speak. 

The  scepter  of  empire  is  not  the  scepter  that  best  befits  the 
hand  of  woman ;  nor  is  the  field  of  carnage  her  field  of  glory. 
Home,  sweet  home,  is  her  theater  of  action,  her  pedestal  of 
beauty,  and  throne  of  power.  Or,  if  seen  abroad,  she  is  seen 
to  the  best  advantage  "when  on  her  errands  of  love,  and  wear- 
ing her  robe  of  mercy. 

It  was  not  woman  that  slept  during  the  agony  of  Geth- 
semane ;  it  was  not  woman  that  denied  her  Lord  at  the  palace 
of  Caiaphas ;  it  was  not  woman  that  deserted  his  cross  on  the 
hill  of  Calvary.  But  it  was  woman  who  dared  to  testify  her 
respect  for  his  corpse ;  that  procured  spices  for  embalming  it, 
and  that  was  found  last  at  night  and  first  in  the  morning  at 
his  sepulcher.  Time  has  neither  impaired  her  kindness,  shaken 
her  constancy,  nor  changed  her  character. 

Now,  as  formerly,  she  is  most  ready  to  enter,  and  most  re- 
luctant to  leave,  the  abode  of  misery.  Now,  as  formerly,  it  is 
her  office,  and  well  it  has  been  sustained,  to  stay  the  fainting 
head,  wipe  from  the  dim  eye  the  tear  of  anguish,  and  from 
the  cold  forehead  the  dew  of  death.  —  Dr.  Nott. 


QUEEN  VICTORIA  AND  THE  SABBATH. 

And  they  returned,  and  prepared  spices  and  ointments;  and  rested  the 
Sabbath  day,  according  to  the  commandment.  —  Luke  23  :  56. 

THE  following  interesting  incident,  which  occurred  at  the 
beginning  of  Queen  Victoria's  reign,  was  a  striking  evi- 
dence of  her  majesty's  reverence  for  the  duties  of  the  Sab- 
bath :  — 

il  One  of  her  majesty's  ministers  arrived  at  Windsor  late  on 
Saturday  night,  and  informed  his  youthful  sovereign  that  he 
had  brought  some  papers  of  importance  for  her  inspection ; 
i  but  as  they  must  be  gone  into  at  length,'  he  added,  '  I  will 
not  trouble  your  majesty  with  them  to-night,  but  request  your 
attention  to  them  to-morrow  morning.'  '  To-morrow  morn- 
ing ! '  repeated  the  queen  ;  l  to-morrow  morning  is  Sunday,  my 
lord.'  '  But  business  of  state,  please  your  majesty  — '  '  Must 


264  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

be  attended  to,  I  know,'  replied  the  queen ;  i  and  as,  of  course, 
you  could  not  come  down  earlier  to-night,  I  will,  if  these  papers 
are  of  such  vital  importance,  attend  to  them  after  we  come 
from  church  to-morrow  morning.'  To  church  went  the  royal 
party,  and  also  the  noble  statesman,  and,  much  to  his  edifica- 
tion, we  hope,  the  sermon  was  on  the  duties  of  the  Sabbath. 
*  How  did  your  lordship  like  the  sermon  ? '  asked  the  young 
queen.  '  Very  much,  your  majesty,'  replied  he,  with  the  best 
grace  he  could  assume.  i  I  will  not  conceal  from  you,'  said 
the  queen,  '  that  last  night  I  sent  the  clergyman  the  text  from 
which  he  preached.  I  hope  we  shall  all  be  the  better  for  it.' 
The  day  passed  without  a  single  word  on  the  subject  of  the 
papers.  At  night,  when  the  queen  was  about  to  withdraw, 
she  said,  i  To-morrow  morning,  my  lord,  at  any  hour  you 
please  —  as  early  as  seven,  if  you  like  —  we  will  go  into 
these  papers.'  His  lordship  could  not  think  of  intruding  at 
so  early  an  hour  on  her  majesty :  l  nine  would  be  quite  time 
enough,'  he  said.  '  As  they  are  of  importance,  my  lord,'  ob- 
served the  queen,  '  I  would  have  attended  to  them  earlier,  but 
at  nine  be  it.'  " 


WALKING  AND  TALKING  WITH  CHRIST. 

And  it  came  to  pass,  that,  while  they  communed  together,  and  reasoned, 
Jesus  himself  drew  near,  and  went  with  them.  —  Luke  24  :  15. 

IF  we  are  to  walk  with  God,  we  must  go  nowhere  that  Christ 
will  not  go.  0,  how  many  venture  beyond  the  territory  in 
which  they  ought  to  walk,  and  they  wonder  why  they  have 
not  the  enjoyments  of  religion  !  They  go  where  Jesus  will 
not  go.  "  Blessed  is  the  man  that  walketh  not  in  the  counsel 
of  the  ungodly."  Christ  is  not  there.  "  Nor  sitteth  in  the 
seat  of  the  scornful."  Christ  is  not  there.  "  Nor  standeth  in 
the  way  of  sinners."  Christ  is  not  there.  If  you  walk  with 
Christ,  keep  out  of  all  evil  company,  of  all  evil  associations, 
keep  from  all  evil  places  —  from  every  place  where  you  can 
not  go  in  the  Spirit  of  Christ,  and  that,  if  upon  earth,  you 
might  not  expect  to  meet  him  there.  If  you  go  out  of  the 
territory  where  he  would  go,  you  need  not  expect  to  find  him. 
Simpson. 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  265 


CHRISTIAN  WOMEN. 

Yea,  and  certain  women  also  of  our  company  made  us  astonished,  which 
were  early  at  the  sepulcher.  —  Luke  24  :  22. 


1  ^ITTHAT  women  these  Christians  have  !  "  exclaimed  the 
VV  heathen  rhetorician  Libanus,  on  learning  about  An- 
thusa,  the  mother  of  John  Chrysostom;  the  famous  "  golden- 
mouthed  "  preacher  of  the  gospel  at  Constantinople,  in  the 
fourth  century.  Anthusa,  at  the  early  age  of  twenty,  lost  her 
husband,  and  thenceforward  devoted  herself  wholly  to  the 
education  of  her  son,  refusing  all  offers  of  further  marriage. 
Her  intelligence  and  piety  molded  the  boy's  character,  and 
shaped  the  destiny  of  the  man,  who,  in  his  subsequent  position 
of  eminence,  never  forgot  what  he  owed  to  maternal  influence. 
Hence  it  would  be  no  overstrained  assertion  to  say  that  we 
owe  these  rich  homilies  of  Chrysostom,  of  which  interpreters 
of  Scripture  still  make  great  use,  to  the  mind  and  heart  of 
Anthusa.  Nor  was  the  mother  of  Chrysostom  alone  in  this 
Christian  fidelity  and  wisdom.  The  student  of  church  history 
will  at  once  call  to  mind  the  mother  of  Theodoret,  who  used 
to  take  him,  in  early  childhood,  to  receive  the  blessing  and 
instruction  of  holy  monks  ;  and  who  thus  secured  impressions 
which  were  never  effaced,  and  which  had  their  part  in  making 
him,  in  certain  respects,  one  of  the  best  students  and  ex- 
positors of  Scripture  of  his  time.  The  pious  Nonna  will  also 
come  to  mind,  who,  by  prayer  and  holy  example,  won  her  hus- 
band from  heresy.  Their  first-born  son  she  carried  to  the 
church  soon  after  his  birth,  with  the  Gospels  placed  in  his 
hands,  and  there  solemnly  dedicated  him  to  God.  That  son  of 
consecration  was  not  allowed  to  forget  the  fact.  His  mother 
constantly  reminded  him  ofjt,  and  so  fortified  her  boy  by  her 
prayers  and  instructions,  that  when  he  went  as  a  youth  to 
Athens,  and  was  exposed  to  all  the  temptations  of  seductive 
paganism  in  that  metropolis,  he  was  true  to  Christ.  He  is 
known  in  history  as  the  distinguished  church  teacher,  Gregory 
of  Nazianzum  ;  and  he  was  wont  to  speak  of  his  mother  as  like 
Hannah  in  the  Old  Testament,  who  offered  her  Samuel  to  the 
Lord.  And  surely  no  one  will  fail  to  think  of  Monica,  the 
34 


2G6  A7£JV   TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

mother  of  Augustine,  whose  faith  and  petitions  had  such  illus- 
trious answer  and  reward  in  the  final  character  and  work  of 
that  greatest  of  the  Christian  fathers  —  eminent  alike  for  his 
personal  piety,  and  for  his  lasting  influence,  through  his  writ- 
ings, on  the  church  of  subsequent  ages. 


RELIGIOUS  CONVERSATION. 

And  they  said  one  to  another,  Did  not  our  heart  burn  within  us  while  he 
talked  with  us  by  the  way,  and  while  he  opened  to  us  the  Scriptures?  — 
Luke  24 :  32. 

/CONVERSATION  about  religious  things  is  not  necessarily 
\J  religious  ;  much  of  it  is  very  irreligious.  All  such  con- 
versation about  ministers,  churches,  and  good  men  that  is 
dictated  by  suspicion,  or  envy,  or  jealousy,  or  rivalry,  is  self- 
ish, and  therefore  irreligious.  Religious  conversation  is  that 
which  is  dictated  by  Christian  charity.  It  is  always  reverent 
toward  God,  and  loving  toward  all  men. 

Our  duty  to  engage  in  such  conversation  is  seen  from  the 
command,  "  And  these  words  which  I  command  thee  this  day 
shall  be  in  thy  heart ;  and  thou  shalt  teach  them  diligently  to 
thy  children,"  <fcc. ;  and  also  from  the  command  of  the  Saviour, 
"  Go  ye  into  all  the  world,  and  preach  the  gospel  to  every 
creature." 

As  to  the  methods  of  personal  religious  conversation  we 
have  not  only  a  divine  command,  but  a  divine  model,  and  may 
refer  to  the  conversation  of  Nathan  with  David,  of  Philip  with 
Nathanael,  of  Philip  with  the  eunuch,  of  the  Saviour  with 
Nicodemus,  also  with  the  young  ruler,  also  with  the  woman 
of  Samaria,  and  also  with  the  disciples  journeying  to  Emmaus. 
All  these  were  written  for  our  examples,  and  are  perfect 
models  for  our  imitation. 


BEGIN  YOUR  RELIGION  ARIGHT. 

And  that  repentance  and  remission  of  sins  should  be  preached  in  his  name 
among  all  nations,  beginning  at  Jerusalem.  —  Luke  21 :  47. 

T  was  the  command  of  our  Lord  that  his  apostles  should 
preach  his  truth  throughout  all  the  world,  beginning  at 


I 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  267 

Jerusalem.  That  city  was  not  only  to  be  the  geographical 
starting-point,  but  there  was  a  moral  signification  also  in  the 
requirement.  Preaching  Christ  from  Jerusalem,  as  the  point 
of  departure,  could  not  fail  to  make  prominent  in  their  minis- 
trations the  doctrines  of  the  atonement  as  the  sacrifice  for  the 
sins  of  the  world,  and  his  resurrection  from  the  dead  "  for  our 
justification."  We  must  begin  our  religion  aright.  It  must 
have  the  true  starting-point.  As  religion  develops  a  new  life, 
we  can  enter  it  only  by  "  a  new  birth."  Our  national  cur- 
rency possesses  value  because  it  issues  from  the  hand  of  the 
government,  and  not  from  superiority  in  the  material  or  work- 
manship over  counterfeit  notes.  Its  origin  gives  it  value.  So 
it  is  in  religion.  Is  it  of  God,  or  of  man  ?  If  it  is  of  God,  it 
is  born  of  grace ;  if  of  man,  it  prates  of  works.  That  man's 
religious  principles  that  do  not  start  out  with  saving  faith  in 
Christ,  principles  which  know  nothing  of  a  spiritual  birth  or 
the  forgiveness  of  sins,  may  produce  in  his  life  a  close  re- 
semblance in  some  things  to  the  life  of  a  Christian ;  yet,  after 
all,  he  is  but  an  imitation,  and  not  a  genuine. 

He  did  not  begin  aright.  He  seeks  to  pass  among  men  as 
the  true  currency  of  heaven,  without  that  essential  impress  of 
regeneration  by  the  Holy  Ghost  which  only  can  make  our  re- 
ligion pass  current  in  the  government  of  God.  Those  various 
errors  and  issues  which  discard  the  vicarious  atonement  of 
Christ,  and  deny  the  necessity  of  "  the  new  birth  "  and  the  for- 
giveness of  sins  by  faith  in  Christ,  yet  preach  up  good  works 
and  high  ideal  morality,  while  depending  upon  no  divine  power 
to  produce  the  results,  are  but  counterfeit  manufactories, 
sending  out  a  false  currency,  destitute  of  the  seal  of  God. 
Such  counterfeits  may  pass  here  for  a  time,  but  cannot  deceive 
the  Judge  in  the  last  day.  —  W.  J. 


THE  INDISPENSABLE  POWER, 

And  behold,  I  send  the  promise  of  my  Father  upon  you :  but  tarry  ye  in 
the  city  of  Jerusalem,  until  ye  be  endued  with  power  from  on  high.  — 
Luke  24 :  49. 

one  essential  element  in  a  church  of  Christ  is  the  abid- 
ing  of  the  "  power  from  on  high."     It  was  this  Pentecostal 


268  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

energy,  revived  on  earth  a  hundred  and  forty  years  ago,  that 
awakened  a  new  spiritual  life  in  believers,  and  rendered  the 
preaching  of  the  evangelists  of  that  age  so  effectual  in  turn- 
ing men  from  sin  to  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ.  It  was  the  living 
fire  from  the  altar  of  heaven,  burning  in  the  hearts  of  White- 
field,  Wesley,  Harris,  and  others,  and  making  hot  the  words 
that  leaped  from  their  tongues.  It  was  a  consuming  zeal  in 
the  bosoms  of  Asbury,  Garrettson,  Abbott,  Whatcoat,  M'Ken- 
dree.  Like  fire  in  dry  stubble,  it  spread  wherever  our  early 
itinerants  went,  with  the  burden  of  the  Lord  upon  their  souls, 
and  the  word  of  the  Lord  upon  their  lips.  Old  men  and  chil- 
dren, young  men  and  maidens,  all  caught  the  hallowed  flame. 
It  was  in  the  preaching  of  the  pulpit,  whether  that  pulpit  was 
in  the  regularly  consecrated  house  of  worship,  a  stump  in  the 
forest,  or  the  floor  of  a  log-cabin.  It  was  carried  to  the  family 
altar,  where  heavenly  baptisms  often  descended  ;  to  the  class- 
meeting  and  love-feast,  where  it  showed  itself  in  shouts  and 
tears ;  and  to  the  gatherings  for  prayer  and  praise,  where 
godly  men  and  saintly  women  poured  out  their  souls  in  suppli- 
cations to  God,  and  exhortations  to  sinners.  They  sung  of 
salvation,  they  talked  and  prayed  about  it  by  day,  and  it  was 
often  in  their  dreams  by  night.  — Rev.  D.  Curry,  D.  D. 


CHRIST'S  ASCENSION. 

And  he  led  them  out  as  far  as  to  Bethany :  and  he  lifted  up  his  hands,  and 
blessed  them.  And  it  came  to  pass,  while  he  blessed  them,  he  was  parted 
from  them,"  and  carried  up  into  heaven.  —  Luke  24  :  50,  51. 

IT  was  a  balmy  morning  in  the  East ;  a  morning  in  which 
the  fragrance  of  Judea's  bright-eyed  flowers  rose  up  to 
greet  the  rosy-fingered  day.  Out  of  the  green  city  of  Pales- 
tine went  forth  a  little  band  of  unlettered  peasants.  If  their 
intellects  were  untrained,  their  hearts  and  souls  were  gen- 
erously large. 

Humility  adorned  them.  Though  nature  smiled  in  all  her 
affluence  of  beauty,  yet  that  company  were  sad,  and  grief 
blinded  their  eyes  to  the  witchery  about  them.  One  distin- 
guished above  the  rest,  at  a  glance  led  them  up  the  slope, 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  2G9 

whose  brow  is  embossed  with  olives.  And  who  was  that 
leader  ?  Glory  celestial  sat  on  his  brow,  like  the  garland  of 
stars  gracing  the  midnight  moon.  Did  earth  ever  before  see 
such  majesty  blend  with  sweet  meekness ;  such  a  countenance 
impearled  with  serenity ;  such  eyes,  from  whose  azure  depths 
shone  divinity  ? 

They  stood  on  Olivet's  top,  and  the  Master  spoke.  The 
tone  had  such  music  that  the  birds  ceased,  and  listened  with 
awe.  His  pathetic  words  glided  smoothly  to  those  weeping 
hearts.  That  eloquence  was  winged  with  more  than  mortal 
power,  and  every  word  blossomed,  rose-like,  in  those  followers' 
breasts.  Hope,  and  fortitude,  and  reverence  opened  arid  closed 
after  them  the  gates  of  their  hearts,  and  flung  away  the  keys. 
And  as  this  consolation  began  to  cheer  up  those  formerly 
drooping  hearts  —  lo  !  was  it  a-  dream  ?  Those  apostles  look 
wild,  and  can  scarcely  believe  their  senses.  Still  it  is  true  — 
upward,  and  still  upward  ascends  the  teacher,  Jesus.  He  soars 
up  in  a  golden,  cloudy  chariot,  and  soon 

"  The  wrinkled  sea  beneath  him  crawls," 

and  he  is  seen  no  more  by  man ;  but  happier  spheres  appear 
chiming  a  choral  welcome  to  their  Lord's  approach. 

His  was  a  conqueror's  triumphal  entry,  not  to  a  paltry 
Rome,  but  to  the  heavenly  city  of  God.  Now  myriads  of 
angels,  cherubim  and  seraphim,  come  forth  to  welcome  the 
Saviour  of  the  world  !  and  Enoch,  Moses,  Abraham,  and  David 
came  flying  forth,  and  the  throng  of  saints  and  the  just  hovered 
near  with  song.  Now  sound  harp,  and  timbrel,  and  sackbut  of 
heavenly  make,  so  that  their  melody,  woven  with  the  anthem 
of  the  hosts,  shook  the  hills  of  immortality,  and  the  pedestals 
of  heaven  trembled.  —  The  Herald  and  Journal. 


AWAKENED  BY  THE  WORD. 

In  the  beginning  was  the  Word,  and  the  Word  was  with  God,  and  the  Word 
was  God.  —  John  1:1. 

FRANCIS  JUNIUS,  the  Younger,  was  a  scholar,  but  had 
imbibed  a  deadly  prejudice  against  the  truth  of  the  Bible. 


270  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

His  father  perceived  the  fact  in  grief,  and  placed  a  New  Tes- 
tament among  his  books  of  study.  The  infidel  son  finding  it 
there,  took  it  np  one  day,  and  thought  he  would  just  open  it, 
to  view  some  passages  that  might  meet  his  eye.  His  eye 
fastened  on  the  text,  "  In  the  beginning  was  the  Word,"  <fcc. 
He  was  so  struck  with  the  text,  that  he  read  on  through  the 
chapter.  He  found  himself  solemnly  arrested  with  the  divinity 
of  the  argument,  and  the  majesty  and  authority  of  the  compo- 
sition, as  infinitely  surpassing  everything  human.  He  says, 
My  body  shuddered,  my  mind  was  all  in  amazement,  and  I 
was  so  agitated  the  whole  day  that  I  scarce  knew  who  I  was." 
He  adds  with  gratitude,  "  Thou  hast  remembered  me,  0  Lord 
my  God,  according  to  thy  boundless  mercy,  and  didst  bring 
back  the  lost  sheep  of  thy  flock."  From  that  time  the  relish 
of  his  soul  was  turned  from  the  objects  of  his  past  delights 
to  the  word  of  God,  and  the  great  and  glorious  things  of  his 
kingdom.  0,  unbelievers  of  the  word  of  God,  ye  must  expe- 
rience the  same  change  by  the  Spirit  of  grace,  or  you  must 
sink  in  eternal  death. 


GOSPEL  LIGHT  THE  ONLY  TRUE  LIGHT. 

That  was  the  true  Light,  which  lighteth  every  man  that  cometh  into  the 
world.  —  John  1 :  9. 

C\  OSPEL  light  is  durable,  lasting ;  it  will  never  go  out  and 
VT  leave  you  in  the  dark ;  and,  what  is  most  surprising  is,  you 
can  look  at  it  without  dazzling  your  eyes  or  distracting  your 
brain.  It  is  a  light  that  shines  at  a  great  distance  ;  it  pene- 
trates the  dark  caverns  of  the  grave,  the  wretched  abode  of 
the  damned.  The  horrid  glare  of  hell  shrinks  before  it, 
devils  and  wicked  spirits  seek  to  hide  themselves  from  its 
scorching  light  in  vain,  heaven  with  all  its  glories  is  seen  in 
the  distance.  The  high  hills  of  salvation  over  the  dark  valley 
of  death  are  distinctly  seen  by  its  light.  Yet  as  the  Christian 
travels  through  that  valley  he  "  fears  no  evil ; "  gleams  of 
heavenly  light  shine  upon  his  pathway,  which  make  the  road 
pleasant.  As  he  climbs  up  the  celestial  hills,  it  becomes 
more  and  more  brilliant,  until  it  becomes  one  immense,  infinite 
body  of  light,  in  which  the  inhabitants  of  heaven  live,  move, 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  271 

and  have  their  being.  This  glorious  light  will  never  be  ex- 
tinguished ;  the  sun  may  grow  dark,  the  moon  refuse  to  shine, 
the  stars  fall,  the  earth  disappear,  all  the  light  and  glory  of 
man  cease  to  be  —  then,  then  will  this  glorious  light  shine 
with  its  brightest  beams,  bursting  forth  from  the  throne  of 
God,  and  darting  its  rays  across  the  sunny  plains  of  heaven, 
to  the  last  and  darkest  part  of  creation,  till  the  whole  universe 
rises  in  one  immeasurable  body  of  light,  and  shouts  forth  the 
everlasting  praises  of  God  and  the  Lamb.  This  gospel  as  it 
was,  as  it  is,  and  as  it  ever  will  be,  is  the  only  sure  and  proper 
light  of  the  world.  Woe  to  that  man  who  forsakes  this  true 
light  for  a  false  one  ;  he  may  have  what  he  terms  light,  for  a 
season,  but  when  he  wants  it  most,  it  will  be  gone.  I  have  by 
this  light  drawn  some  dark  pictures  of  men  and  things.  There 
are  bright  ones  too ;  God  reigns,  Christ  lives,  the  Holy  Spirit 
strives,  the  gospel  shines  —  it  will  ever  shine ;  the  dark 
clouds  that  hang  about  it  will  be  dispersed.  Mist  and  fog 
must  flee  before  it ;  men's  "little  farthing  lights  "  be  entirely  ex- 
tinguished by  it.  The  church,  the  world,  the  universe,  will  yet 
be  lighted  up  with  this  heaven-born  light.  One  trouble  is,  too 
many  of  us  are  following  false  lights,  meteors,  Jack-o'lantern 
lights,  that  lead  us  out  of  the  true  path  and  leave  us  in  the 
dark,  or  sparks  of  our  own  kindling.  This  is  a  fanciful  age  — 
geology,  phrenology,  and  a  lot  more  of  ologies  are  leading 
many  a  poor  soul  into  dismal  swamps,  from  which  if  they  ever 
get  clear  they  will  do  well.  Recollect,  the  Bible  as  it  is,  first 
—  science,  last.  If  you  can  not  have  both  lights,  have  the 
first —  gospel  light  and  grace  —  before  everything.  —  E. 


THE  POWER    OF  TRUTH. 

For  the  law  was  given  by  Moses,  but  grace  and  truth  came  by  J:sus 
Christ.  —  John  1:17. 

THE  celebrated  Gilbert  West  and  Lord  Lyttleton,  both  men 
of  acknowledged  talent,  had  received  the  principles  of  infi- 
delity from  a  superficial  view  of  the  Scriptures.     They  agreed 
together  to  expose  what  they  termed  the  imposture  of  the 
Bible,  and  Mr.  West  chose  the  resurrection  of  Christ,  and  Lord 


272  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

Lyttleton  the  conversion  of  St.  Paul,  as  the  subjects  of  their 
criticism.  Both  sat  down  to  their  respective  tasks  full  of 
prejudice,  and  a  contempt  for  Christianity.  But  what  was  the 
result  ?  They  were  both  converted  by  their  endeavors  to 
overthrow  the  truth  of  Scripture.  They  came  together,  not 
as  they  expected,  to  exult  over  an  imposture  exposed  to  ridi- 
cule, but  to  lament  their  former  unbelief,  and  to  congratulate 
each  other  that  they  had  discovered  the  truth  of  revelation. 
They  published  their  inquiries,  which  form  two  of  the  most 
valuable  treatises  now  existing,  in  favor  of  the  truth  of  God's 
word,  one  entitled  "  Observations  on  the  Conversion  of  St. 
Paul,"  and  the  other  "  Observations  on  the  Resurrection  of 
Christ." 

CHRIST  OUR  SACRIFICE. 

And  looking  upon  Jesus  as  he  walked,  he  saith,  Behold  the  Lamb  of  God !  — 
John  1 :  36. 

SIN  requires  a  sacrifice,  and  the  sacrifice  must  be  in  propor- 
tion to  the  offense,  and  the  dignity  of  the  offended ;  such 
a  sacrifice  could  not  be  found,  but  God  condescended  to  pro- 
vide one,  which  was  no  less  a  person  than  his  only-begotten 
Son.  This  Lamb  was  provided  to  expiate  and  remove  sin  ;  to 
honor  the  divine  government,  and  reconcile  us  to  God.  Let 
us  daily  direct  our  attention  to  the  Lamb  of  God,  who  verily 
was  foreordained  before  the  foundation  of  the  world,  but  was 
manifested  in  these  last  times  for  us.  He  is  set  forth  to  be  a 
propitiation  through  faith  in  his  blood,  and  to  be  the  daily 
object  of  our  faith,  desire,  and  affection.  Provided  by  God, 
he  presented  to  God  an  infinite  atonement;  and  we  have 
redemption  through  his  blood,  even  the  forgiveness  of  our 
sins.  The  Lamb  is  to  be  presented  daily  to  God  by  us,  in  our 
prayers  and  praises  ;  and  all  our  expectations  are  to  be  founded 
upon  what  he  is,  what  he  has  done,  and  what  he  is  doing  now 
before  the  throne  of  God.  Take  off  your  attention  from  all 
other  subjects,  and  "  BEHOLD  THE  LAMB  OF  GOD." 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.   .  273 

VALUE  OF  PERSONAL  EXPERIENCE. 

And  Nathanael  said  unto  him,  Can  there  any  good  thing  come  out  of  Naz- 
aretli?     Philip  saith  unto  him,  Come  and  see.  — John  1 :  46. 

MANY  honest-minded  persons  have  prejudices  against  reli- 
gion, and  at  times  entertain  serious  doubts  of  its  divine 
origin.  These  prejudices  and  doubts  proceed  from  a  want  of 
close  and  rigid  examination  of  the  Bible,  its  sacred  teachings, 
and  the  evidences  of  its  truthfulness.  Nathanael,  when  he 
heard  from  Philip,  that  Jesus  of  Nazareth  was  the  Messiah, 
was  so  prejudiced  against  that  place,  that  for  a  time  he  could 
not  receive  the  truth.  He  did  not  believe  that  anything  good, 
much  less  that  a  prophet,  and  still  less  that  the  Messiah,  could 
come  out  of  a  place  so  unimportant  and  wicked  as  Nazareth. 
Philip  presents  no  labored  argument  to  remove  this  prejudice, 
but  says  kindly  and  affectionately  to  him,  "  Come  and  see." 
As  much  as  to  say,  "  Do  not  take  my  word,  but  examine  and 
judge  for  yourself.  See  if  this  is  not  so."  "  If  any  man  will  do 
his  will,  he  shall  know  of  the  doctrine  whether  it  be  of  God  or 
not."  It  is  impossible  to  explain  colors  to  a  blind  man,  sounds  to 
a  deaf  man,  or  sweetness  to  one  without  taste.  All  these  to  be 
known  must  be  tested  by  personal  experience.  So  to  know 
the  religion  of  Christ,  its  truth,  its  power  to  save,  its  refining 
and  joyful  influence,  it  is  necessary  to  test  it  for  ourselves. 
The  infidelity  and  prejudices  of  the  times  will  yield,  when  all 
are  willing  to  give  Christianity  a  thorough  investigation,  and 
as  they  may  be  convinced  of  its  divine  origin,  test  for  them- 
selves its  saving  power.  Try  it. 


WINE  THAT  JESUS  MADE. 

Jesus  saith  unto  them,  Fill  the  water-pots  with  water.  And  they  filled  them 
up  to  the  brim.  And  he  saith  unto  them,  draw  out  now,  and  bear  unto  the 
governor  of  the  feast.  And  they  bare  it.  —  John  2:7,  8. 

IN  the  miracle  at  Cana  of  Galilee,  did  Jesus  make  intoxicating 
wine  ?     Dr.  S.  M.  Isaacs,  an  eminent  Jewish  rabbi  of  New 
York,  says,  "  In  the  Holy  Land,  they  do  not  commonly  use 
35 


274  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

fermented  wines.  The  best  wines  are  preserved  sweet  and 
unfermented.  In  reference  to  their  customs  at  their  religious 
festivals,  he  repeatedly  and  emphatically  said,  l  The  Jews  do 
not,  in  their  feasts  for  sacred  purposes,  including  the  marriage 
feast,  ever  use  any  kind  of  fermented  drinks.7  In  their  oblations 
and  libations,  both  private  and  public,  they  employ  the  fruit 
of  the  vine  — that  is,  fresh  grapes  —  unfermented  grape-juice 
and  raisins,  as  the  symbol  of  benediction.  Fermentation  is  to 
them  always  a  symbol  of  corruption,  as.  in  nature  and  science 
it  is  itself  decay,  rottenness." 

If  anything  further  is  needed,  take  the  Bible,  and  compare 
the  texts  which  refer  to  wine,  as  both  a  blessing  and  a  curse, 
an  emblem  of  both  salvation  and  damnation,  the  symbol  of 
divine  wrath  and  mercy,  as  both  recommended  and  forbidden, 
as  making  the  heart  glad  and  yet  stinging  like  an  adder ;  and 
then  to  assert  that  it  is  all  one  and  the  same  thing,  is  so  absurd 
as  to  refute  itself.  For  further  information,  facts,  authorities, 
&c.,  we  refer  to  Dr.  Lees'  "  Bible  Commentary,"  Dr.  Pattern's 
"  Laws  of  Fermentation,"  Rev.  Mr.  Thayer's  "  Communion 
Wine,"  Rev.  Dr.  Ritchie's  "  Scripture  Testimony  against  In- 
toxicating Wines,"  Dr.  Duffield's  "  Bible  Rule  of  Temperance," 
all  of  which  are  able  advocates  of  the  theory  that  there  are 
two  kinds  of  wine  referred  to  in  the  Bible  and  in  use  among 
the  ancients,  the  one  fermented  and  the  other  unfermented, 
the  one  intoxicating  and  the  other  unintoxicating,  the  one  rec- 
ommended and  the  other  forbiddden. 


PERIL  IN  AMASSING  RICHES. 

And  found  in  the  temple  those  that  sold  oxen  and  sheep  and  doves,  and  the 
changers  of  money  sitting.  —  John  2  :  14. 

IF  you  have  been  accustomed  to  feel  that  there  is  no  grea.t 
peril  connected  with  the  amassing  of  riches,  then  the  deceit 
has  begun  to  work  in  you.  There  is  peril  in  it.  Ho  who  has 
begun  to  accumulate  money  ought,  morning  and  evening,  to 
humble  himself  before  God,  and  say,  "  Search  me,  0  God !  try 
me,  and  see  if  there  be  any  evil  way  in  me."  You  need  to 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  275 

lean  upon  the  promise  of  God,  "Lo,  I  will  be  with  you  to  the 
end."  If  you  walk  in  a  consecrated  way ;  if  you  have  con- 
secrated your  heart  to  God ;  if  you  have  lifted  your  right  hand, 
and  consecrated  your  wealth  to  God  ;  if  you  feel  in  your 
very  soul,  "  I  am  the  steward  of  God ;  this  is  not  mine ;  it  is 
lent  to  me  to  be  improved  upon  for  the  good  of  my  fellow-men 
and  for  the  glory  of  my  Lord ;  "  if  God  has  given  you  this  spirit, 
then  all  hail !  You  are  doing  a  noble  work,  and  are  walking 
in  a  noble  way,  and  not  far  before  you  is  the  crown  arid  the 
cky  of  refuge.  But  if  you  have  no  consecration,  no  moral 
purpose,  no  daily  prayer,  no  fear,  no  outlooking,  no  watching; 
if  you  are  going  along  that  way  in  which  so  many  hundreds 
of  thousands  have  perished,  without  conscience  and  without 
guard,  woe  be  to  you  !  —  Beecher. 


CHRIST  THE  MODEL  TEACHER. 

The  same  came  to  Jesus  by  night,  and  said  unto  him,  Rabbi,  we  know  that 
tliou  art  a  teacher  come  from  God  :  for  no  man  can  do  these  miracles  that  thou 
doest,  except  God  be  with  him.  —  John  3  :  2. 

AS  to  his  mode  of  teaching,  it  was  not  systematic  ;  •  and  in 
this  his  example  was  imitated  by  the  apostles.  The 
language  and  form  in  which  it  was  delivered  were  unphilo- 
sophical ;  that  is,  instead  of  employing  terms  of  science,  he 
formed  his  expressions  from  passing  occurrences,  and  what- 
ever objects  happened  to  be  present  to  his  hearers  at  the 
time  of  his  addressing  them.  Or  else  he  spoke  in  parables, 
or  made  use  of  that  ancient  symbolic  language  so  often  adopt- 
ed by  the  Jewish  prophets,  as  when  he  washed  his  disciples' 
'  feet,  and  set  a  child  in  the  midst  of  them.  As  to  the  matter 
of  his  teaching,  his  discourses  aim  either  at  correcting  what 
was  perverted,  and  explaining  what  was  obscure  in  the  pre- 
ceding state  of  morals  and  religious  knowledge,  or  else  they 
decla-re  truths  not  before  revealed.  With  the  several  lead- 
ing topics  which  they  embrace  the  Christian  reader  is- pre- 
sumed to  be  familiar ;  and  it  is  sufficient  to  observe,  briefly, 
that  of  the  former  kind  are  his  exhortations  of  inward  purity, 
as  opposed  to  mere  outward  acts  of  obedience,  and  compliance 


276  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

with  the  spirit  rather  than  with  the  letter  of  the  precept.  To 
the  latter  class  belong  the  doctrines  of  atonement  and  grace, 
of  the  Trinity  in  unity,  certain  points  of  revelation  relating  to 
a  future  state,  and  whatever  else  may  be  considered  as  pe- 
culiar to  the  Christian  revelation.  —  Bishop  Hinds. 


SECOND  BIRTH. 

Jesus  answered  and  said  unto  him,  Verily,  verily,  I  say  unto  thee,  Except 
a  man  be  born  again,  he  can  not  see  the  kingdom  of  God.  —  John  3  :  3. 

rE  Rev.  Dr.  Tyng  preached  from  the  following  text :  — 
Ps.  87  :  4,  5.  "  I  will  make  mention  of  Rahab  and  Baby- 
lon to  them  that  know  me :  behold  Philistia,  and  Tyre,  with 
Ethiopia  ;  this  man  was  born  there.  And  of  Zion  it  shall  be 
said,  This  and  that  man  was  born  in  her :  and  the  Highest 
himself  shall  establish  her." 

His  subject  was  birth,  and  the  new  birth,  which  he  treated 
with  great  earnestness  and  power. 

In  the  introduction,  Dr.  T.  related  the  following  incident:  — 
Shortly   after   the    celebrated    Summerfield    came   to   this- 
country,  the  young  and  beautiful  preacher  on  some  public 
occasion  met  a  distinguished  doctor  of  theology,  who  said  to 
him,  — 

"  Mr.  Summerfield,  where  were  you  born,  sir  ?  " 
"  I  was  born/7  said  he,  "  in  Dublin  and  in  Liverpool." 
"  Ah,  how  can  that  be  ?  "  inquired  the  doctor. 
The  boy  preacher  paused  a  moment,  and  answered,  "  Art 
thou  a  master  in  Israel  and  understandest  not  these  things  ?  " 


THE  CONVERSION  OF  NOAH  WEBSTER,  IL.D. 

Marvel  not  that  I  said  unto  thec,  Ye  must  be  born  again.  —  John  3  :  7. 

HE  came  of  a  pious  stock,  and  was  a  child  of  prayer,  but 
being  of  an  independent  spirit,  and  disposed  to  inter- 
meddle with  all  learning,  he  grew  up  averse  to  the  doctrinal 
formulas  of  the  day ;  and  though  never  a  disbeliever  in  the 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  277 

Scriptures,  and  constant  in  worship,  he  withheld  himself  from 
any  personal  faith  in  Christ.  His  wife  was  a  humble  and 
prayerful  Christian.  At  the  time  of  which  I  speak  his  family 
consisted  of  two  daughters,  the  older  of  sixteen  years,  the 
younger  of  fourteen,  and  some  younger  children.  His  pastor, 
in  the  Old  Centre  Church  of  New  Haven,  was  Moses  Stuart, 
then  a  young  and  fervid  preacher  of  the  new  theology.  Those 
plain,  earnest  ministrations  of  the  Word  were  stirring  the 
community  to  its  depths.  The  Spirit  of  God  was  applying  the 
truth  to  men's  consciences,  and  numbers  among  that  people 
were  being  convinced  of  sin  and  brought  to  the  Saviour.  The 
two  daughters  of  Mr.  Webster  became  deeply  concerned  for 
their  own  salvation.  Their  distress  of  mind  was  evident.  A 
decided  man,  he  wrote  a  note  to  Mr.  Stuart,  courteously  but 
positively  prohibiting  him  from  conversing  further  with  them 
on  the  subject  of  religion,  and  intimating  that  they  needed,  in 
his  judgment,  no  such  change  of  character  as  Mr.  Stuart  urged, 
and  were  all  that,  as  their  father,  he  desired  them  to  be.  The 
elder  he  sent  out  of  the  city  to  visit  some  friends,  as  a  means 
of  diverting  her  mind ;  but  God  graciously  led  her  to  himself 
during  her  absence.  The  younger  daughter,  my  mother,  re- 
mained at  home,  and  within  a  week  found  peace  in  Christ, 
unhelped  save  by  his  word  and  grace.  The  change  wrought 
in  her,  and  manifested  in  her  very  air  and  manner,  in  the 
serene  gladness  of  her  life,  and  her  tender  assiduity  of  love 
toward  her  parents,  struck  the  father  to  his  heart.  He  was 
too  candid  a  man  not  to  own  a  fact  when  he  saw  it.  Trouble 
seized  upon  him  also,  as  he  felt  the  reality  of  a  change  he 
never  had  experienced  —  a  change  clearly  wrought  by  divine 
grace.  For  days  he  shut  himself  in  his  study  with  his  Bible, 
and  gave  himself  honestly  to  know  what  that  taught  him  of 
his  condition  before  God.  At  last  he  sent  for  Mr.  Stuart,  and 
unburdened  his  whole  mind  to  him  as  a  sinner  without  excuse. 
He  soon  found  peace  in  believing,  and  not  long  after,  with  his 
daughters,  he  joyfully  confessed  Christ  in  his  church.  At  the 
age  of  eighty-four  he  died,  giving  this  testimony  :  "  I  have  not 
one  wavering  doubt  or  fear.  I  know  whom  I  have  believed, 
and  am  persuaded  that  he  is  able  to  keep  that  which  I  have 
committed  to  him  till  that  day."  —  Rev.  W.  H.  Goodrich,  D.  D. 


278  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

UNDERSTANDING  AND  FAITH. 

Nicodemus  answered  and  said  unto  him,  How  can  these  things  he?  — 
John  3:9. 

CHRISTIANITY  is  the  religion  of  faith.  In  this  respect  it 
VJ  differs  from  all  other  systems.  Understanding  all  about 
it ;  comprehending  its  vastness,  and  knowing  it,  before  experi- 
encing it,  are  simply  impossible,  and  contrary  to  the  philoso- 
phy of  religion.  Believing  the  word  of  him  who  has  revealed 
it  to  us,  or  faith  in  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  is  indispensably 
necessary.  "  How  can  these  things  be  ? "  was  the  question 
of  the  unenlightened  and  unconverted  Nicodemus,  when 
the  doctrine  of  the  new  birth  was  preached  to  him  by  our 
Lord.  In  that  remarkable  interview  Jesus  did  not  explain, 
nor  attempt  to  explain,  the  philosophy  of  the  new  birth,  but 
made  a  personal  application  of  this  truth  to  his  heart,  "  Ye 
must  be  born  again." 

Nicodemus  represents  that  class  of  unregenerate  men  who 
try  to  reduce  the  religion  of  faith  to  the  comprehension  of 
their  understanding,  —  a  vain  effort  to  change  the  essential 
nature  of  Christianity  from  faith  to  knowledge.  That  there 
is  knowledge  of  divine  things,  possessible  by  man,  is  a  glorious 
reality,  but  it  is  possessed  by  such  as  are  inducted  into  the 
mysteries  of  godliness  by  faith.  The  whole  system  of  revealed 
and  experimental  Christianity,  in  all  their  essential  parts,  is 
addressed  to  our  faith.  This  explains  why  so  much  is  said  in 
the  Bible  about  faith,  and  so  little  about  understanding.  "  If 
thou  canst  believe/'  said  Jesus  to  the  father  who  asked  for 
divine  help  in  behalf  of  his  son.  (Mark  9  :  23.)  To  that  noble- 
man who  went  from  Capernaum  to  Cana  of  Galilee,  to  have 
Jesus  "  come  down  and  heal  his  son,"  who  laid  at  the  point  of 
death,  Jesus  said,  "  Go  thy  way,  thy  son  liveth."  (John  4  :  50.) 

Had  that  nobleman  lingered  about  the  Saviour  to  understand 
how  Jesus'  word  in  one  place  could  heal  his  son  in  another 
town  several  miles  away,  he  would  have  been  rebuked  for  his 
unbelief,  and  his  son  would  not  have  been  healed.  But  the 
account  tells  us  "  he  believed  the  word  that  Jesus  had  spoken 
unto  him,  and  he  went  his  way." 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  279 


SATAN  VANQUISHED. 

For  God  so  loved  the  world,  that  he  gave  his  only  begotten  Son,  that  who- 
soever believeth  in  him  should  not  perish,  but  have  everlasting  life.  —  John  3  :  16. 


is  a  story  how  the  devil  appeared  to  a  dying  man, 
_L  and  showed  him  a  parchment  roll,  which  was  very  long, 
wherein  was  written  on  every  side  the  sins  of  the  poor  sick  man, 
•which  were  many  in  number  ;  and  there  were  also  written  the 
idle  words  lie  had  spoken  in  his  life,  together  with  the  false 
words,  the  unchaste  words,  and  angry  words  ;  afterward  came 
his  vain  and  ungodly  words  ;  and  lastly,  his  actions,  digested 
according  to  the  commandments  ;  whereupon  Satan  said,  "See 
here,  behold  thy  virtues  1  see  here  what  thy  examination  must 
be  !  "  Whereupon  the  poor  sinner  answered,  "  It  is  true  ;  but 
tliou  hast  not  set  down  all  ;  for  thou  shouldst  have  added,  and 
set  down  here  below,  '  The  blood  of  Jesus  Christ  cleanseth 
us  from  all  our  sins  j  '  and  this  also  should  not  have  been  for- 
gotten, that  '  Whosoever  believeth  in  him  shall  not  perish,  but 
have  everlasting  life.'  "  Whereupon  the  devil  vanished.  Thus, 
if  the  devil  should  muster  up  our  sins,  and  set  them  in  order 
before  us,  let  but  Christ  be  named  in  a  faithful  way,  and  he  will 
give  back,  and  fly  away  with  all  speed. 


GUILTY  FOR  NOT  COMING  TO  THE  LIGHT. 

For  every  one  that  doeth  evil  hatoth  the  light,  neither  cometh  to  the  light, 
lest  his  deeds  should  be  reproved.  —  John  3  :  20. 

IT  is  fashionable,  in  some  quarters,  to  deny  responsibility  for 
belief,  on  the  ground  that  a  man's  opinion  is  not  under  his 
own  control.  There  is  precisely  the  same  ground  for  affirm- 
ing that  a  man  can  not  help  his  actions.  His  opinions  do  no 
doubt  influence  his  actions,  but  his  actions  also  influence  his 
opinions.  A  bad  life  deranges  the  judgment,  and  a  deranged 
judgment  deteriorates  still  more  the  life.  These  two  act 
reciprocally  as  causes,  and  emerge  alternately  as  effects. 

Truth  shines  like  light  from  heaven ;  but  the  mind  and  con- 
science within  the  man  constitute  the  reflector  that  receives 


280  NEW   TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

it.  Thence  we  must  read  off  the  impressions,  as  the  astrono- 
mer reads  the  image  from  the  reflector  at  the  bottom  of  his 
tube.  When  that  tablet  is  dimmed  by  the  breath  of  evil 
spirits  dwelling  within,  the  truth  is  distorted  and  turned  into 
a  lie.  It  was  because  the  man's  deeds  were  evil  that  he 
missed  the  truth.  He  is  responsible  for  his  erroneous  opinion 
as  certainly  as  he  is  responsible  for  his  unrighteous  act. 


DO  THE  TRUTH. 

But  he  that  doeth  truth,  cometh  to  the  light,  that  his  deeds  may  be  made 
manifest,  that  they  are  wrought  in  God.  —  John  3:21. 

DIVINE  truth  is  put  into  our  hands  to  be  a  motive-power 
in  bringing  us  up  to  God.  We  are  not  to  regard  the 
Bible  as  a  revelation  of  truth  simply  claiming  our  assent ;  for 
then  but  little  good  could  come  of  it.  We  must  use  divine 
truth  in  finding  the  gate  of  life.  It  will  do  us  no  good  to 
say  of  any  truth,  or  class  of  truths,  "  Yes,  I  believe  that,"  and 
stop  there. 

We  should  regard  the  promises  of  God's  word  as  so  many 
orders  on  his  storehouse  of  mercy  and  grace,  all  made  out  to 
us,  and  ready  to  be  presented  for  the  rich  gifts  of  pardon, 
grace,  and  might.  If  a  friend  gives  me  notes  of  great  value, 
I  must  present  them  for  payment,  in  order  to  get  any  good  out 
of  them  ;  for  as  notes  they  are  of  no  value ;  they  will  neither 
feed  nor  clothe  me  ;  but  since  they  promise  what  I  need,  and 
are  against  reliable  parties,  by  presenting  them  my  wants  may 
all  be  supplied. 

So  the  Bible  unread,  its  truth  unpresented  back  to  the  Giver 
in  prayer,  will  be  worthless.  Needy  soul !  take  an  appropriate 
promise  out  of  God's  word ;  take  it  on  your  knees  to  the 
throne  of  grace,  and  there  cry,  "  Heavenly  Father,  I  present 
this  promise  for  fulfillment ;  the  promise  was  made  to  me,  and 
I  need  the  things  specified."  Then  will  he  "  open  the  win- 
dows of  heaven,  and  pour  you  out  a  blessing  that  there  shall 
not  be  room  to  receive  it." 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  281 


SNOWDON  AND  HIS  UNITARIAN  FRIEND. 

The  Father  loveth  the  Son,  and  hath  given  all  things  into  his  hand.  — 
John  3  :  35. 

771ATHER  SNOWDON,  the  famous  colored  preacher  of  Bos- 
JL  ton,  being  asked  once  by  a  Unitarian  friend,  "  What  was 
Christ  before  the  Father  gave  all  things  into  his  hand?"  an- 
swered like  his  Master  by  asking  a  question,  "  What  was  God 
the  Father  after  he  had  given  all  things  into  his  hand?"  Thus 
Unitarianism  gained  nothing  by  the  inquiry ;  for  whatever  it 
sought  to  gain  against  the  divinity  of  Christ,  by  the  gift  of 
"  all  things  into  his  hand,"  it  lost  as  much  in  the  Godhead  of 
the  Father  who  had  given  all  things  unto  the  Son. 

The  things  given  were  not  divine  attributes,  for  "  the  Word 
was  in  the  beginning  with  God,  and  the  Word  was  God ; "  but 
that  supreme  control  and  authority  over  his  church,  and  the 
destinies  of  all  men  on  the  earth,  so  that  the  words  of  Christ 
are  exalted  to  the  same  authority  as  the  law  given  from 
Sinai.  Embodied  divinity  "  bore  our  griefs  and  carried  our 
sorrows/'  and  to  him  was  committed  supremacy  and  ultimate 
authority,  which  justify  the  statement  of  the  following  verse  : 
"  He  that  believeth  on  the  Son  hath  everlasting  life  ;  and  he 
that  believeth  not  the  Son  shall  not  see  life  ;  but  the  wrath  of 
God  abideth  on  him."  And  also  the  words  of  our  Lord  in  the 
great  commission :. "  He  that  believeth  and  is  baptized  shall  be 
saved  ;  but  he  that  believeth  not  shall  be  damned."  (Mark 
16  :  16.)  The  whole  scheme  of  human  salvation,  our  pardon, 
regeneration,  sanctification,  resurrection,  and  final  destiny  by 
his  righteous  judgment,  are  put  into  his  hands,  who  was  "  God 
manifest  in  the  flesh." 


JESUS  AT  JACOB'S  WELL. 

Now  Jacob's  well  was  there.     Jesus  therefore,  being  wearied  Avith  his  jour- 
ney, sat  thus  on  the  well :  and  it  was  about  the  sixth  hour.  —  John  4  :  G. 


I 


T  was  about  noon.     A  woman  of  Shechem  came  to  draw 

• 

water.     Jesus  asked  a  drink  of  her,  which  greatly  aston- 
36 


282  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

ished  her,  the  Jews  ordinarily  abstaining  from  all  intercourse 
with  the  Samaritans.  Now,  by  the  conversation  of  Jesus,  the 
woman  recognized  in  him  a  prophet,  and  expecting  reproaches 
regarding  her  creed,  anticipated  him.  "  Lord,"  said  she,  "  our 
fathers  worshiped  upon  this  mountain,  but  you  say  we  must 
worship  at  Jerusalem."  "  Woman,  believe  me,"  responded 
Jesus,  "  the  hour  is  come  when  the  Father  will  no  longer  be 
worshiped  either  upon  this  mountain  or  at  Jerusalem,  but 
when  the  true  worshipers  will  worship  the  Father  in  spirit 
and  in  truth."  The  day  when  he  pronounced  that  speech  he 
was  really  the  Son  of  God.  He  uttered,  for  the  first  time,  the 
word  upon  which  will  repose  the  edifice  of  eternal  religion. 
He  founded  the  pure  worship,  without  date,  without  country, 
which  all  elevated  souls  will  practice  until  the  end  of  time. 
On  that  day  he  proclaimed  not  only  the  religion  worthy  of  hu- 
manity, but  the  absolute  one  ;  arid  if  other  planets  have  inhab- 
itants, endowed  with  reason  and  morality,  their  religion  can  not 
differ  from  that  declared  by  Jesus  near  Jacob's  well.  Man  has 
not  been  able  to  adhere  to  it,  for  the  ideal  is  reached  only  for 
a  moment.  The  word  of  Jesus  was  a  glimmer  of  light  in  an 
obscure  night ;  it  has  required  eighteen  hundred  years  for  the 
eyes  of  humanity  (what  say  I  —  of  an  infinitely  small  portion 
of  humanity)  to  become  habituated  to  it.  But  the  glimmer 
will  become  the  full  day,  and  after  having  passed  through  all 
the  circles  of  error,  humanity  will  return  to  that  word  as  to 
the  immortal  expression  of  its  faith  and  its  hopes. 


REWARD  FOR  A  CUP  OF  COLD  WATER. 

There  cometh  a  woman  of  Samaria  to  draw  water :  Jesus  saith  unto  her, 
Give  me  to  drink.  —  John  4  :  7. 

A  YOUNG  Englishwoman  was  sent  to  France  to  be  educated 
in  a  Huguenot  school  in  Paris.  A  few  evenings  before 
the  fatal  massacre  of  St.  Bartholomew's  day  she  and  some  of 
her  young  companions  were  taking  a  walk  in  some  part  of  the 
town  where  there  were  sentinels  placed,  —  perhaps  on  the 
walls,  —  and  you  know  that  when  a  soldier  is  on  guard  he  must 


NEW   TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  283 

not  leave  his  post  until  he  is  relieved ;  that  is,  till  another 
soldier  comes  to  take  his  place.  One  of  the  soldiers,  as  the 
young  ladies  passed  him,  besought  them  to  have  the  charity 
to  bring  him  a  little  water,  adding  that  he  was  very  ill,  and  it 
would  be  as  much  as  his  life  was  worth  to  go  and  fetch  it  him- 
self. The  ladies  walked  on,  much  offended  at  the  man  for 
presuming  to  speak  to  them  ;  all  but  the  young  Englishwoman, 
whose  compassion  was  moved,  and  who,  leaving  her  party, 
procured  some  water  and  brought  it  to  the  soldier.  He  begged 
her  to  tell  him  her  name  and  place  of  abode,  and  this  she  did. 
When  she  rejoined  her  companions,  some  blairied  and  others 
ridiculed  her  attention  to  a  common  soldier  ;  but  they  soon 
had  reason  to  lament  that  they  had  not  been  equally  com- 
passionate, for  the  grateful  soldier  contrived  on  the  night  of 
the  massacre  to  save  this  young  Englishwoman,  while  all  the 
other  inhabitants  of  the  house  she  dwelt  in  were  killed. 


"IF  THOU  KNEWEST  THE  GIFT  OF  GOD." 

Jesus  answered  and  said  unto  her,  If  thou  knewest  the  gift  of  God,  and 
who  it  is  that  saith  to  thee,  Give  me  to  drink ;  thou  wouldest  have  asked  of 
him,  and  he  would  have  given  thee  living  water.  —  John  4  :  10. 

T)ERHAPS  no  cry  is  more  striking,  after  all,  than  the  short 
JL  and  simple  cry  of  the  water-carrier.  "  The  gift  of  God  !  " 
he  says,  as  he  goes  along. with  his  water-skin  on  his  shoulder. 
It  is  impossible  to  hear  this  cry  without  thinking  of  the  Lord's- 
words  to  the  woman  of  Samaria :  "  If  thou  knewest  the  gift  of 
God,  and  who  it  is  that  saith  unto  thee,  give  me  to  drink,  thou 
wouldest  have  asked  of  him,  and  he  would  have  given  thee 
living  water."  It  is  very  likely  that  water,  so  invaluable  and 
so  often  scarce  in  hot  countries,  was,  in  those  days,  spoken  of 
as  now,  as  the  "  gift  of  God,"  to  denote  its  preciousness  ;  if  so, 
the  expression  would  be  exceedingly  forcible  to  the  woman, 
and  full  of  meaning. 

The  water-carrier's  cry  in  Egypt  must  always  arouse  a 
thoughtful  mind  to  recollection  of  the  deep  necessities  of  the 
people;  of  the  thirst  which  they  as  yet  know  not  of;  and  of 
the  living  water,  which  few,  if  any,  have  ever  yet  offered  to- 


284  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

the  poor  Moslems  in  that  great  city ;  and  make  him  wish  and 
pray  for  the  time  when  the  sonorous  cry  of  "  Ya  aatee  Allah  " 
shall  be  the  type  of  the  cry  of  one  bringing  the  living  water 
of  the  gospel,  and  saying,  "  Behold  the  gift  of  God."  — Ragged 
Life  in  Egypt. 

DYING  OF  THIRST. 

But  whosoever  drinketh  of  the  water  that  I  shall  give  him  shall  never  thirst ; 
but  the  water  that  I  shall  give  him  shall  be  in  him  a  well  of  water  springing  up 
into  everlasting  life." —  John  4  :  14. 

IT  is  said  that  there  is  no  physical  suffering  so  great  as  that 
of  dying  from  thirst.  Soldiers  on  an  exposed  road  or  battle- 
field will  risk  their  lives  often  in  crossing  an  exposed  road  or 
space  to  get  a  drink  of  water.  There  is  no  substitute  that  can 
give  relief,  no  luxury  but  what  would  be  gladly  exchanged  for 
a  cup  of  cold  water  by  one  who  is  thus  perishing.  A  poor 
soldier,  wounded  in  the  battle  of  the  Wilderness,  was  lying 
upon  the  battle-field  suffering  from  thirst.  A  comrade  brought 
him  his  canteen  filled  with  refreshing  water.  How  eagerly 
the  dying  man  gazed  upon  it !  How  he  blessed  the  hand  that 
brought  it !  But  how  great  was  his  agony  and  disappointment 
when  he  found  that  he  could  not  swallow.  In  vain  were  all 
his  efforts,  and  with  a  look  of  despair  it  was  set  aside. 

There  are  many  poor  souls  around  us  dying  of  thirst  who  do 
not  feel  their  want.  But  they  will  one  day.  No  one  ever 
died  happily  who  did  not  love  the  Lord  Jesus  while  in  life  and 
health.  His  salvation  is  called  the  water  of  life.  If  our  souls 
drink  of  it  they  shall  never  thirst.  If  we  do  not  take  of  it  we 
shall  miserably  perish.  It  is  offered  us  "  without  money  and 
without  price,"  so  we  alone  are  to  blame  if  we  do  not  obtain 
it.  The  very  best  time  to  seek  Jesus  is  in  childhood  and 
youth. 

If  we  neglect  it  then,  the  time  may  come  when  we  may 
seek  but  can  not  find  him.  We  may  be  in  great  agony  because 
we  are  not  Christians,  and  one  may  tell  us  of  a  Saviour's  love  ; 
but,  like  the  poor  soldier,  we  may  not  be  able  to  drink  of  this 
cup  of  life.  Once  we  could  easily  have  repented  and  turned 
-to  him ;  now  it  is  too  late. 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  285 

EBAL  AND  GERIZIM. 

Our  fathers  worshiped  in  this  mountain ;  and  ye  say,  that  in  Jerusalem  is 
the  place  where  men  ought  to  worship.  —  John  4  :  20. 

AN  interesting  experiment  was  recently  tried  in  connection 
with  Mounts  Ebal  and  Gerizim,  for  the  purpose  of  meet- 
ing the  doubts  sometimes  expressed  as  to  whether  the  bless- 
ings and  curses  recorded  in  the  twenty-seventh  chapter  of 
Deuteronomy  could  be  heard  in  the  valley  below.  On  this 
point  a  correspondent  of  the  London  Sunday  School  Times  re- 
lates the  following  incident :  — 

"  On  the  22d  day  of  March  last,  I  stood  myself  on  Ger- 
izim  —  not  on  the  top,  bu-t  on  a  spur,  like  a  platform,  on  its 
side,  above  the  valley ;  and  there  is  a  similar  platform  oppo- 
site, on  Ebal.  A  friend  stood  on  Ebal,  opposite.  There  was 
a  congregation  of  from  twelve  to  fifteen  below  us.  My  friend 
on  Ebal  first  read  the  curses  (See  Deut.  27),  one  by  one,  and 
the  people  below  shouted  i  Amen '  after  each  of  them.  I  fol- 
lowed, reading  the  blessings  in  the  next  chapter,  and  our 
friends  below  responding  to  the  same  with  their  'Amen.' 
Then  we  read  several  verses  in  the  first  chapter  of  John,  the 
one  and  the  other  reading  every  alternate  sentence.  Not  only 
the  people  in  the  valley  below,  but  I  myself,  standing  on  the 
side  of  Gerizim,  could  hear  most  distinctly  every  word  that 
my  friend  read  on  the  side  of  Ebal,  and  vice  versa.  We  did 
not  measure  the  distance,  but  it  was  estimated  by  the  party 
to  be  nearly  a  mile.7' 

THE  INVITATION  SOCIETY. 

Come,  see  a  man  which  told  me  all  things  that  ever  I  did :  is  not  this  the 
Christ?  —  John  4  :  29. 

SOME  years  ago  a  gentleman  residing  in  one  of  our  cities 
was  deeply  impressed  and  grieved  by  seeing  multitudes 
who  neglected  public  worship  ;  and  he  determined  to  make 
the  effort  to  induce  some  of  the  Sabbath-breakers  to  frequent 
the  house  of  God.  It  required  some  little  effort  at  first,  but 
he  overcame  his  timidity.  The  Lord's  day  evening  he  went 


288  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

0,  how  willing  would  we  give  all  our  possessions  for  the  res- 
toration of  our  dying  boy  !  " 

"  No,"  says  one,  "  there  is  still  hope.  Physicians  can't  save 
him.  Medicines  can  do  him  no  good,  but  there  is  One  who  is 
greater,  and  wrser,  and  better  than  all  physicians.  He  at- 
tended a  marriage,  not  long  since,  and  actually  converted,  for 
the  benefit  of  the  guests  in  attendance,  six  large  vessels  of 
water  into  excellent  wine.  He  can  save  your  child  ! " 

The  agonized  father  acts  upon  this  suggestion,  and  starts 
out  at  once  for  Cana  of  Galilee.  He  makes  no  apology  for  his 
rudeness,  and  rushes  at  once  into  the  presence  of  the  miracle- 
worker.  His  manner  indicated  to  all  "  the  strong  contrast  of 
an  outward  need,  —  a  need  which  no  other  but  he  could 
supply."  "  Come  down  to  Capernaum  at  once,  my  son  is 
dying,"  is  the  touching  request.  "  Except  ye  see  signs  and 
wonders,  ye  will  not  believe,"  is  the  ambiguous  response. 

The  anxious  nobleman  needed  a  gentle  reproof.  How  he 
had  rushed  into  the  presence  of  one  who  had  power  to  open 
the  eyes,  unstop  the  ears,  still  the  waves,  and  raise  the  dead ; 
and  yet  in  his  heart  he  limits  the  power  of  Jesus,  and  seems  to 
think  that  nothing  but  his  actual  presence  can  do  any  good  for 
the  dying  child  !  He  had  faith  enough  to  go  to  Jesus,  but  he 
seemed  to  doubt  his  ability  to  send  help  so  far !  He  repeats 
the  request,  "  Sir,  come  down  ere  my  child  die."  The  response 
is,  "  Go  thy  way :  thy  son  liveth."  With  the  utterance  of 
these  words,  there  goes  forth  a  power  that  is  felt  in  that 
distant  sick  chamber. 

To  the  astonishment  of  the  attendants,  a  sudden,  a  striking, 
an  unprecedented,  an  unaccountable,  a  miraculous  change 
takes  place.  The  pulses  at  once  become  regular,  the  skin 
moist,  the  eyes  natural,  the  limbs  strong,  the  voice  right ;  the 
dying  child  leaps  up  from  his  couch,  and  is  just  as  well  as  any 
of  the  attendants. 

The  next  day  the  father,  strong  in  the  faith  that  the  Sa- 
viour's word  was  true,  is  delighted  to  hear  as  he  approaches 
the  house,  "  Thy  son  liveth."  "  At  what  hour  began  he  to 
amend  ?  "  asked  the  nobleman.  "  Yesterday,  at  the  seventh 
hour,  the  fever  left  him."  Here  now  was  a  "  mathematical 
proof"  that  the  telegraph  worked  accurately.  Thus  the  ruler 


NEW   TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  289 

reasoned :  Yesterday,  in  Cana,  at  one  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,- 
I  besought  Jesus ;  and  here,  in  Capernaum,  twenty-five  miles 
distant,  at  one  o'clock  precisely,  the  fever  left  him. 

Is  it  any  wonder  that  this  man  and  his  whole  house  be- 
lieved ?  May  not  that  same  incident  serve  to  establish  our 
faith  in  the  ability  of  Jesus,  who  is  still  the  Lord  of  life  ? 


FALSE  CHARITY. 

Afterward  Jesus  findeth  him  in  the  temple,  and  said  unto  him,  Behold, 
thou  aft  made  whole :  sin  no  more,  lest  a  worse  thing  come  unto  thee.  — 
John  5  :  14. 

THAT  is  a  very  poor  kind  of  charity  which  clears  the  sinner 
by  making  light  of  his  sin.  It  is  not  uncommon  to  speak 
of  swindling  as  an  "irregularity;"  of  gambling  and  drunk- 
enness as  "  youthful  indiscretions  ;  "  of  profanity  as  "  free 
speech ; "  and  licentiousness  as  an  "  unfortunate  laxity." 
There  is  a  deep  wrong  done  tq  society  by  the  use  of  these 
deceitful  phrases.  When  a  crime  is  called  a  "  fault,"  in  order 
to  save  the  feelings  of  the  criminal,  or  when  any  wicked  act 
is  treated  with  indifference  by  reputed  good  men,  the  cause 
of  righteousness  suffers.  We  are  insensibly  governed  by  the 
estimates  put  upon  actions  by  the  careless  speech  of  our  fel- 
lows. We  can  not  long  hear  vices  rated  with  mere  misfortunes 
without  remitting  somewhat  of  the  blame  which  properly 
belongs  to  them. 

It  is  certainly  uncharitable  to  hinder  any  man's  return  to 
respectability  and  integrity  by  unnecessary  allusions  to  past 
wickedness.  Man  cannot  refuse  to  receive  whom  God  receives, 
as  he  does  every  penitent  and  reforming  soul.  But  to  make 
no  distinction  between  a  mistaken  judgment  and  deliberate, 
willful  transgression,  is  just  the  opposite  of  Christ's  method. 
He  said  not,  You  were  indiscreet,  but,  Sin  no  more. 

Down  below  all  the  crust  of  human  conceptions,  of  human 
ideas,  Christ  sank  an  artesian  well  into  a  source  of  hfeppineqp 
so  pure  and  blessed  that  even  yet  the  world  does  not  believe 
in  it. 

37 


290  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

EQUAL  HONOR  TO  THE  FATHER  AND  THE  SON. 

That  all  men  should  honor  the  Son,  even  as  they  honor  the  Father.  He 
that  honoreth  not  the  Son,  honoreth  not  the  Father  which  hath  sent  him.  — 
John  5 :  23. 

IN  the  days  of  Theodosius,  the  Arians,  through  his  conni- 
vance, were  grown  very  bold,  and  not  only  had  their 
meetings  in  Constantinople,  the  chief  city  of  the  empire,  but 
would  dispute  their  opinions  etiam  in  foro,  and  no  man  could 
prevail  with  the  emperor  to  lay  restraints  upon  them,  because 
(saith  the  historian)  he  thought  it  nimis  severum  et  indemens 
esse.  At  length  comes  to  Constantinople  one  Amphilochius, 
Bishop  of  Iconium,  a  poor  town ;  an  honest  man,  but  no  great 
politician  for  the  world.  He  petitions  the  emperor  to  restrain 
the  Arians,  but  in  vain ;  next  time  he  comes  to  the  court, 
finding  the  emperor  and  his  son  Arcadius  (whom  he  had  lately 
created  joint-emperor)  standing  together,  he  doth  very  low 
obeisance  to  the  father,  but  none  to  the  son,  yet  coming  up 
close  to  him,  in  a  familiar  manner  stroketh  him  on  the  head, 
and  saith,  Salve  mifili,  God  save  you,  my  child.  The  emperor 
taking  this  for  a  great  affront,  being  full  of  rage,  bids  turn  the 
man  out  of  doors.  As  the  officers  were  dragging  him  forth, 
he,  turning  to  the  emperor,  saith,  Ad  hunc  modum  existima,  O 
imperator,  &c.,  Make  an  account,  0  emperor,  that  thus,  even 
thus  is  the  Heavenly  Father  displeased  with  thosB  that  do 
not  honor  the  Son  equally  with  the  Father ;  which  the  emperor 
hearing,  calls  the  bishop  back  again,  asks  him  forgiveness, 
presently  makes  a  law  against  Arianism,  forbids  their  meetings 
and  disputations,  constituta  pcena.  Here  was  a  blessed  artifice 
by  which  the  zeal  of  this  emperor  was  suddenly  turned  into 
the  right  channel ;  and  he  was  taught  by  his  tenderness  over 
his  own  honor,  and  the  honor  of  his  son,  to  be  tender  over  the 
honor  of  God,  and  his  Son  Christ  Jesus.  Now,  so  it  is  that 
much  of  Arius  is  at  this  day  in  England,  and  more  than  ever 
was  since  the  name  of  Christ  was  known  in  England ;  yet  it 
is  much  hoped  and  heartily  wished  for,  that  as  there  hath 
been  some  actings  for  God,  that  men  may  no  longer  impugn 
wickedly,  and  pertinaciously  blaspheme  his  glorious  essence 
and  attributes,  so  to  show  the  like  zeal  for  the  glory  of  his 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  291 

eternal  Son  and  Spirit ;  this  being  the  will  of  God,  that  all 
men  should  honor  the  Son,  as  they  honor  the  Father:  he  that 
honoreth  not  the  Son,  honoreth  not  the  Father.  (John  5 :  23.) 
—  Matth.  Newcomen,  Sermon  at  Westminster,  1647. 


THE  FINAL  RESURRECTION. 

Marvel  not  at  this  :  for  the  hour  is  coming,  in  the  which  all  that  are  in  the 
graves  shall  hear  his  voice.  —  John  5  :  28. 

THE  final  resurrection  will  be  an  event  of  inconceivable 
grandeur  and  magnificence.  Think  of  an  assembled  uni- 
verse before  the  great  white  throne  of  its  Maker  and  Judge  ! 
Every  son  and  daughter  of  Adam  will  be  there.  You  and  I, 
dear  reader,  will  be  there.  If  the  earth  contains  eight  hun- 
dred millions  of  souls,  what  a  congregation  must  all  those 
generations  make,  which  have  succeeded  each  other*  for  six 
thousand  years  !  What  an  immense  harvest  of  men  and 
women,  springing  up  from  the  caverns  of  the  earth  and  the 
depths  of  the  sea  !  Stand  a  while,  my  soul,  and  contemplate 
the  wonderful  spectacle.  Adam  formed  in  Paradise,  and  the 
babe  born  but  yesterday ;  the  earliest  ages  and  the  last  gen- 
erations meet  upon  the  same  level.  Jews  and  Gentiles,  Greeks 
and  barbarians,  people  of  all  climes  and  languages  unite  in  the 
promiscuous  throng.  Here  those  vast  armies,  which,  like 
swarms  of  locusts,  covered  countries :  which,  witll  an  irresist- 
ible sweep  overran  empires  ;  here  they  appear,  and  here  are 
all  lost  —  lost,  like  the  small  drop  of  the  bucket  when  plungefd 
amid  the  boundless  and  unfathomable  ocean.  0,  the  mul- 
titudes which  these  eyes  shall  behold,  when  God  calleth  the 
heavens  from  above,  and  the  earth,  that  he  may  judge  his 
people  ! 

"  The  time  draws  on, 
When  not  a  single  spot  of  burial  earth, 
Whether  on  land,  or  in  the  spacious  sea, 
But  must  give  back  its  long-committed  dust 
Inviolate  ;  and  faithfully  shall  these 
Make  up  the  full  account,  not  the  least  atom 
Embezzled  or  mislaid,  of  the  whole  tale. 
Each  soul  shall  have  a  body  ready  furnished, 


292  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

And  each  shall  have  his  own.     Hence,  ye  profane ! 

Ask  not,  How  can  this  be?     Sure  the  same  power 

That  reared  the  piece  at  first,  and  took  it  down, 

Can  reassemble  the  loose,  scattered  parts, 

And  put  them  as  they  were.     Almighty  God 

Has  done  much  more ;  nor  is  his  arm  impaired 

Through  length  of  days,  and  what  he  can,  he  will  — 

His  faithfulness  is  bound  to  see  it  done. 

When  the  dread  trumpet  sounds,  the  slumbering  dust, 

Not  unattentive  to  the  call,  shall  wake, 

And  every  joint  possess  its  proper  place, 

With  a  new  elegance  of  form  unknown 

To  its  first  state." 


HEAT  AND  LIGHT. 

He  was  a  burning  and  a  shining  light :  and  ye  were  willing  for  «,  season  to 
rejoice  in  his  light.  —  John  5  :  35. 

THE  -  Lacedsemonian  in  Plutarch  said,  when  he  heard  how 
sweetly  the  nightingale  sang,  "  0,  that  I  had  this  bird ! 
surely  it  is  a  rare  dish  ;  "  and  after  a  while,  when  he  had  taken 
it,  and  ate  it,  and  found  but  a  little  picking  meat,  he  concluded 
with  that  proverbial  saying,  Vox  et  prceterea  nihil,  "  Now  I 
see  thou  art  mere  voice,  and  nothing  else."  And  such  are 
they  that  go  up  into  the  pulpit  with  stentorian  voices,  that 
have  big  words,  but  small  matter,  so  that  the  people  may  be 
said  to  hear  a  sound,  but  know  not  what  it  means  ;  whereas  a 
faithful  minister  of  Jesus  Christ  is  not  verbal,  but  real  in  his 
expressions;  such  as  John  the  Baptist,  who  was  more  than  a 
voice  —  a  burning  and  a  shining,  light ;  there  was  life  and  heat 
in  his  ministry ;  so  that  a  man  may  be  said  to  preach  much, 
yet  preach  little  ;  but  it  were  far  better  to  make  less  use  of 
his  lungs,  and  more  of  his  heart,  which  will  at  the  last  prove 
to  be  a  great  comfort  to  his  own  soul,  and  advantageous  to 
those  that  hear  him.  —  Mr.  Ftnner. 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  293 

COURTEOUS  REPLY  TO  AN  INFIDEL. 

But  I  have  greater  witness  than  that  of  John :  for  the  works  which  the 
Father  hath  given  me  to  finish,  the  same  works  that  I  do,  bear  witness  of  me, 
that  the  Father  hath  sent  me.  —  John  5  :  36. 

AN  American  traveler  being  unexpectedly  detained  at  the 
mole  or  quarantine  in  Odessa,  was  very  civilly  offered 
"  half  of  his  apartments,  and  .a  sofa  to  lie  on/'  by  a  young 
Englishman  who  acted  as  translator  to  the  mole.  After  they 
had  formed  an  intimate  acquaintance,  and  one  evening  had 
retired  to  rest,  the  traveler  asked  his  friend  how  he  could 
endure  the  blasphemy  which  was  so  constantly  heard  there. 
The  young  Englishman  replied,  that  "  as  a  gentleman  these 
things  were  disagreeable  to  him,  but  as  to  their  being  in- 
trinsically wrong,  it  was  no  matter  of  concern  to  him,  as  he 
denied  the  truth  of  all  revelation,  and  believed  Jesus  Christ 
to  be  an  impostor." 

The  traveler,  without  supposing  the  remark  would  be 
heeded  except  by  courtesy,  replied,  "  Either  Christ  was  an 
impostor,  or  he  was  not.  If  he  was  an  impostor,  we  have  the 
inconceivable  phenomenon  of  a  base  man  practicing  virtue, 
self-denial,  charity,  forgiveness  of  injuries  through  his  whole 
life,  in  spite  of  scourging,  contumely,  and  even  crucifixion. 
Is  it  philosophical  to  suppose  that  a  bad  man  would  take  so 
much  pains  to  make  men  good  ?  But  if  he  was  not  an  impos- 
tor, then  he  has  told  the  truth,  and  we  must  believe  him." 

"  Is  it  possible  I  never  saw  that  before  ?  "  was  the  reply 
of  the  young  Englishman ;  but  the  argument  sunk  deep  into 
his  heart ;  and  when  the  traveler  had  arrived  at  Alexandria, 
he  received  a  letter  from  the  former  skeptic,  acknowledging 
him  as  "  the  best  friend  he  ever  had,"  encouraging  him  to  be 
equally  faithful  to  others  ;  and  praying  him  not  to  forget  "  his 
Odessa  convert." 

"SEARCH  THE  SCRIPTURES." 

Search  the  Scriptures ;  for  in  them  ye  think  ye  have  eternal  life  :  and  they 
are  they  which  testify  of  me.  —  John  5  :  39. 

fT^HERE  is  a  great  difference,  between  reading  and  searching 
JL   the  Scriptures.     There  have  been,  and  still  are  many,  that 


294  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

read  much ;  but  our  knowledge  of  divine  truth  depends  more 
upon  the  manner  we  read,  than  upon  the  quantity.  Dr. 
Gough,  it  is  said,  read  fifteen  chapters  a  day ;  Jeremiah  Whit- 
tiker  read  all  the  Epistles  of  the  New  Testament  in  Greek, 
every  week ;  and  Roger  Cotton  read  the  whole  Bible  through 
twelve  times  every  year. 

This  rapid  reading  of  the  Bible  is  not  the  most  profitable. 
I  have  been  impressed  of  late,  more  than  ever,  with  the  neces- 
sity of"  meditating  in  the  law  of  the  Lord,"  of  pausing  and  re- 
flecting upon  the  portion  we  read,  of  looking  at  it  from  differ- 
ent standpoints,  till  we  are  sure  we  have  before  our  minds 
the  precise  idea  the  Holy  Spirit  meant  to  convey.  We  should 
consider  when  the  passage  under  consideration  was  written, 
by  whom,  to  whom  addressed,  and  for  what  purpose. 

By  searching  the  Scriptures  carefully,  by  comparing  parallel 
texts,  and  similar  facts,  a  person  can  hardly  fail  of  becoming 
deeply  interested  in  the  contents  of  the  sacred  volume.  Wo 
shall  sympathize  with  David,  who  said,  "  How  sweet  are  thy 
words  unto  my  taste,  yea,  sweeter  than  honey  to  my  mouth.'7 

By  studying  the  Bible,  rather  than  readin'g  it,  the  mind  is 
stored  with  ideas,  the  conscience  is  enlightened,  and  each 
single  thought  is  kept  before  the  mind  long  enough  to  pro- 
duce an  impression.  Pastors  and  Sabbath-school,  teachers 
should  take  pains  to  instruct  those  under  their  charge  how  to 
read  the  Bible  so  as  to  derive  the  most  benefit  from  it. 

If  the  Bible  was  studied,  instead  of  being  rapidly  read,  I 
have  no  doubt  it  would  be,  much  oftener  than  it  is,  like  the  fire 
and  the  hammer  which  breaketh  the  rock  in  pieces. 


"LOST;  FROM  LOVING  THE  APPLAUSE  OF  MEN. 

How  can  ye  believe,  which  receive  honor  one  of  another,  and  seek  not  the 
honor  that  cometh  from  God  only?  —  John  5  :  44. 

THE  following  extract  from  the  Imperial  Magazine  for  De- 
cember, 1819,  may  be  of  service  to  every  minister  of  the 
gospel.     It  is  the  substance  of  a  remarkable  dream  related  by 
the  late  Rev.  R.  Bowden,  of  Darwen,  who  committed  it  to 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  295 

writing  from  the  lips  of  the  person  to  whom  the  dream  hap- 
pened, on  the  evening  of  May  30,  1813  :  — 

"A  gospel  minister  of  evangelical  principles,  whose  name,  from 
the  circumstances  that  occurred,  it  will  be  necessary  to  conceal, 
being  much  fatigued  at  the  conclusion  of  the  afternoon  service, 
retired  to  his  apartment  in  order  to  take  a  little  rest.  He 
had  not  long  reclined  upon  his'  couch,  before  he  fell  asleep  and 
began  to  dream.  He  dreamed  that,  on  walking  into  his  gar- 
den, he  entered  a  bower  that  had  been  erected  in  it,  where 
he  sat  down  to  read  and  meditate.  While  thus  employed,  he 
thought  he  heard  some  person  enter  the  garden ;  and  leaving 
his  bower,  he  immediately  hastened  toward  the  spot  whence 
the'  sound  seemed  to  come,  in  order  to  discover  who  it  was 
that  had  entered.  He  had  not  proceeded  far  before  he  dis- 
cerned a  particular  friend  of  his  —  a  gospel  minister  of  con- 
siderable .talents,  who  had  rendered  himself  very  popular  by 
his  zealous  and  unwearied  exertions  in  the  cause  of  Christ. 
On  approaching  his  friend  he  was  surprised  to  find  that  his 
countenance  was  covered  with  a  gloom  which  it  had  not  been 
accustomed  to  wear,  and  that  it  strongly  indicated  a  violent 
agitation  of  mind,  apparently  arising  from  conscious  remorse. 
After  the  usual  salutations  had  passed,  his  friend  asked  the 
relater  the  time  of  the  day,  to  which  he  replied,  <  Twenty-five 
minutes  after  four.7  On  hearing  this,  the  stranger  said,  l  It 
is  only  one  hour  since  I  died,  and  now  I  am  damned/ 
'  Damned  !  for  what  ? '  inquired  the  dreaming  minister.  '  It 
is  not,'  said  he,  '  because  I  have  not  preached  the  gospel, 
neither  is  it  because  I  have  not  been  rendered  useful,  for  I 
have  now  many  seals  to  my  ministry,  who  can  bear  testimony 
to  the  truth  as  it  is  in  Jesus,  which  they  have  received  from 
my  lips  ;  but  it  is  because  I  have  been  accumulating  to  my- 
self the  applause  of  men  more  than  the  honor  which  cometh 
from  above  :  and  verily  I  have  my  reward  ! '  Having  uttered 
these  expressions,  he  hastily  disappeared,  and  was  seen  no 
more. 

u  The  minister  awaking  shortly  afterward  with  the  contents 
of  this  dream  engraven  deeply  on  his  memory,  proceeds!, 
overwhelmed  with  his  serious  reflections,  toward  his  chapel, 
in  order  to  conduct  the  evening  service.  On  his  way  thither 


296  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

he  was  accosted  by  a  friend,  who  inquired  whether  he  had 
heard  of  the  severe  loss  the  church  had  sustained  in  the  death 
of  that  able  minister.  He  replied,  '  No  ; '  but  being  much 
affected  at  this  singular  intelligence,  he  inquired  of  him  the 
day  and  the  time  of  the  day  when  his  departure  took  place. 
To  this  his  friend  replied,  '  This  afternoon,  at  twenty-five 
minutes  after  three  o'clock.'  " 


THE  SAFE  PILOT. 

Then  they  willingly  received  him  into  the  ship  :  and  immediately  the  ship 
was  at  the  land  whither  they  went.  —  John  6:21. 

A  SHIP  was  coming  into  port  with  a  valuable  cargo  of  pre- 
cious merchandise  on  board,  and  a  still  more  valuable 
freight  of  precious  lives.  When  nearing  their  destined  port 
a  heavy  storm  arose.  There  was  no  hope  for  her  unless  she 
could  reach  the  harbor  before  the  heaviest  fury  -of  it  fell  upon 
her.  But,  alas  !  her  pilot  was  an  incompetent  one.  He  did 
not  know  the  waters  through  which  he  preferred  to  lead  them. 
Their  peril  was  seen  from  the  shore,  and  soon  a  pilot-boat,  with 
a  few  resolute  men  on  board,  set  out  through  the  stormy  sea 
to  come  to  their  rescue.  Soon  a  new  pilot  was  on  the  deck, 
the  old  one  displaced,  and  the  men  assigned  to  their  various 
posts.  The  captain  took  the  wheel,  and  followed  implicitly 
the  directions  of  the  new  leader. 

The  ship  was  headed  directly  toward  the  foaming  breakers. 

"  Shall  I  put  about  ?  "  cried  the  captain. 

"  Steady,"  was  the  calm  reply ;  and  in  a  moment  more  came 
the  order,  "  About  ship  !  "  The  ship  sailed  steadily  through 
a  narrow  pass,  between  two  sunken  rocks,  and  soon  all  danger 
was  over,  and  the  vessel  safely  anchored  in  the  harbor. 

0,  what  a  crowding  about  that  noble  pilot  who  had  risked 
his  life  to  come  to  them  —  who  had  guided  them  so  steadily, 
safely  through  the  storm  and  the  breakers  !  *  The  captain  left 
the  wheel,  and  threw  his  arms  about  him  in  a  transport  of 
gratitude.  The  passengers  and  crew  were  all  eager  to  grasp 
his  hand,  and  testify  by  words  and  gifts  their  gratitude  to  one 
who  had  saved  them  from  death. 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  297 

Do  you  not  think  in  the  last  day  there  will  be  such  a  gather- 
ing about  the  great  Pilot  of  souls,  'who  has  brought  his  chosen 
ones  safe  into  the  heavenly  harbor  ?  Do  you  think  they  can 
ever  forget  that  he  not  only  risked,  but  gave  his  life  to  rescue 
them  ?  We  must  begin  this  song  of  loving  gratitude  on  earth, 
if  we  would  share  in  the  joy  of  Christ's  ransomed  ones  in 
heaven. 


SIMPLY  BELIEVE. 

Then  said  they  unto  him,  What  shall  we  do,  that  we  might  work  the  works 
of  God?  Jesus  answered  and  said  unto  them,  This  is  the  work  of  God,  that 
ye  believe  on  him  whom  he  hath  sent.  —  John  6  :  28,  29. 

LET  me  entreat  you  to  look  to  the  word  of  God's  testimony, 
and  think  not  that  anything  else  than  a  simple  reception 
of  these  words,  "  that  the  blood  of  Christ  cleanseth  from  all 
sin,"  is  necessary  for  the  purpose  of  your  being  cleansed  from 
your  sin.  It  is  the  idea  that  something  more  is  necessary, 
which  obstructs  this  reception.  It  is  the  imagination  of  a 
great  personal  work  to  which  you  must  set  yourself,  and  in 
which  you  have  hitherto  sat  down  in  listlessness  and  despair, 
that  keeps  you  at  a  distance  from  God.  He  approaches  you 
with  overtures  ;  and  what  you  have  to  do  is  to  close  with  them. 
He  approaches  you  with  tidings ;  and  what  you  have  to  do  is 
to  give  credit  to  them.  This  is  doing  the  work  of  God,  that 
you  believe  on  him  whom  he  hath  sent ;  and  could  this  transi- 
tion be  accomplished,  then  would  you  be  translated  into  a 
habit  of  cheerful  and  progressive  obedience,  which  in  a  way 
of  legalism,  or  in  the  attempt  to  establish  a  righteousness  of 
your  own,  you  never  can  attain.  —  Dr.  Chalmers. 


CHRIST  OUR  SOUL  FOOD. 

And  Jesus  said  unto  them,  I  am  the  bread  of  life  :  he  that  cometh  to  me, 
shall  never  hunger ;  and  he  that  believeth  on  me,  shall  never  thirst.  — 
John  6 :  35. 

fTlHESE  words  by  the  Rev.  Hugh  Macmillan  are  worth  con- 
JL   sidering  well :  — 

"  It  is  only  when  the  earth  becomes  organized  by  a  living 
38 


298  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

agency  that  it  can  nourish  the  body.  It  is  only  in  the  tis- 
sues of  the  plant  —  in  the  ear  of  corn,  in  the  form  of  bread  — 
that  the  earth  can  feed  you.  And  so  it  is  only  in  and  through 
Christ,  who  only  hath  life,  that  you  can  truly  enjoy  the  world, 
that  all  things  become  yours,  ministering  to  your  faith  and  to 
your  growth  in  grace.  If  you  go  to  the  world  first  and  fore- 
most, if  you  seek  your  happiness  in  it  indirectly,  you  must 
necessarily  feed  on  ashes ;  you  are  like  the  man  who  seeks  his 
food  in  the  mineral  contents  of  the  earth  —  in  its  clays  and 
sands  —  instead  of  in  the  corn  that  groweth  out  of  the  earth. 
But  if  you  feed  upon  Christ  in  the  fullness  that  dwelleth  in 
him  bodily,  you  have  stored  up,  and  concentrated,  and  organ- 
ized for  you  all  that  your  souls  need.  The  world,  when 
sanctified  and  transformed  by  him,  will  become  a  teacher  of 
heavenly  wisdom  instead  of  a  deceiver,  a  rich  and  ever- varying 
banquet,  instead  of  ashes  ;  and  all  things  will  work  together 
for  your  good.77 


A  GENUINE  SURRENDER. 

All  that  the  Father  giveth  me,  shall  come  to  me ;  and  him  that  cometh  to 
me,  I  will  in  no  wise  cast  out.  —  John  6 :  37. 

A  SKEPTICAL  soldier,  in  the  hospital  at  Atlanta,  sent  for  a 
chaplain,  and,  in  various  ways,  tried  to  get  rid  of  his 
doubts.  Upon  the  wall  was  hung  the  Scripture,  "  Whoso 
cometh  unto  me,  I  will  in  no  wise  cast  out,77  which  caught  his 
attention  one  night.  In  the  morning,  he  asked  to  have  a  letter 
from  his  mother  read  to  him.  It  was  an  earnest  entreaty  to 
accept  Christ.  The  reader  came  to  the  words, "  Whoso  cometh 
unto  me,  I  will  in  no  wise  cast  out.77  "  There,77  said  he,  "  that's 
what  I  want.  I  thought  mother  said  that.  Read  it  again.'7 
It  was  read.  "  Mother  says  that,  dqes  she  ? 77  "  Yes.77  "  And 
it's  in  the  Bible,  too?77  "Yes.77  "Then  it  must  be  true. 
Jesus  will  receive  me.  I  will  come  to  him.  Here,  Lord,  I 
give  myself  up.7'  It  appeared  to  be  a  genuine  surrender,  and 
a  gracious  acceptance. 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  299 

• 

"HIM  THAT  COMETH  TO  ME." 

Every  man  therefore  that  hath  heard,  and  hath  learned  of  the  Father, 
cometh  unto  me.  —  John  6  :  45. 

/COMETH.  If  you  would  be  blessed,  you  must  come.  If, 
\J  careless  and  indifferent,  or  even  thoughtful  and  apprehen- 
sive, you  remain  .where"  you  are,  perish  you  must.  If  your 
heart  moves  not,  if  you  put  forth  no  effort,  offer  no  prayer, 
perish  you  must.  If  you  cast  no  look  upon  Jesus,  for  you  there 
is  no  hope. 

Is  it  enough  to  know  that  you  may  come  ?  Enough  to 
think  about  coming  ?  To  wish  to  come  ?  To  resolve  to  come 
at  some  future  time  ?  No,  no.  To  see  the  glass  of  sparkling 
water  will  not  allay  the  thirst  of  the  man  ready  to  die.  He 
must  press  the  goblet  to  his  lips.  To  know  that  there  is  a 
remedy  will  not  restore  health  to  the  sick  man.  He  mtfst 
make  use  of  that  remedy.  With  your  whole  soul  call  upon 
the  Lord.  Come,  yes,  come  to  Jesus.  Come  as  the  blind 
beggar,  as  the  leper  came,  and  you  shall  rejoice  as  they  re- 
joiced. Only  come.  No  tongue  can  tell  what  Jesus  will  then 
do  for  you. 


JESUS  THE  TRUE  BREAD.      • 

I  am  the  living  bread  which  came  down  from  heaven :  if  any  man  eat  of 
this  bread,  he  shall  live  for  ever :  and  the  bread  that  I  will  give  is  my  flesh, 
which  I  will  give  for  the  life  of  the  world.  —  John  6 :  51. 

THE  preciousness  of  God's  word  is  often  lost  to  the  soul  by 
the  captious  inquisitiveness  of  men.     The  following  ele- 
gant extract  from  Pierpont  shows  the  folly  of  all  such  per; 
sons :  — 

"  Give  me  to  know  that  the  doctrine  of  Jesus  is  bread  from 
heaven,  and  that  it  sustains  the  spirit,  and  prepares  it  for 
heaven,  and  I  may  well  be  indifferent  whether  that  bread 
descended,  like  the  manna  in  the  desert,  in  nightly  dew,  or 
whether,  like  the  food  of  Elijah,  it  was  brought  to  my  eager 
hands  by  the  ravens,  or  whether  it  was  broken,  for  myself  and 


300  NEW   TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

the  hungry  thousands  around  «ne,  by  a  hand  endued  with 
miraculous  powers.  So  long  as  I  know  that  it  was  sent  me  by 
the  Father  of  my  spirit,  and  that  eating  it  I  shall  live  for  ever, 
I  know  all  that  can  give  it  value,  or  awaken  my  gratitude. 
When  some  friendly  hand  presses  a  cup  of  cold  water  to  my 
lips,  as  I  am  fainting  with  thirst  in  a  weary  land,  I  will  not 
ask,  for  I  do  not  care,  whether  that  water  was  showered  from 
the  skies,  or  whether  it  flowed  in  a -river  or  guslied  from  a 
spring.  I  ask  not  whether  it  was  brought  me  in  a  golden 
urn.  or  whether  it  was  presented  in  a  crystal  vase,  or  a  sol- 
dier's helmet.  It  is  water  that  bids  me  live,  and  that  is 
enough  for  me."  —  Pierpont.  • 


A  SKEPTIC'S  TEST. 

•  If  any  man  will  do  his  will,  he  shall  know  of  the  doctrine,  whether  it  be 
of  God,  or  whether  I  speak  of  myself.  —  John  7:17. 

A  SHORT  time  since,  an  aged  man  related  to  me  his  own 
history,  which  I  give,  as  far  as  I  can  recollect,  in  his 
own  words :  — 

"  I  did  not  believe  in  the^  Bible,  or  in  the  reality  of  religion, 
at  all.  I  considered  what  was  called  Christian  experience  as 
a  delusion,  the  effect  of  excitement  upon  the  imagination,  and 
Christians  as  a  set  of  fanatics.  I  had  studied  skeptical  writ- 
ers, and  was  confirmed  in  my  belief  that  death  is  an  eternal 
sleep  —  no  heaven,  no  hell. 

"  And  yet,  at  times,  as  the  years  sped  on,  an  occasional 
doubt  would  arise.  The  question  would  force  itself  on.  me, 
What  if  these  things  should  prove  true  ?  Then  what  will 
become  of  me  ? 

%  "  After  suffering  long  from  these  annoying  doubts  and  sug- 
gestions, I  at  last  resolved  to  try  a  method  which  would  enable 
me  to  become  entirely  and  for  ever  free  from  them.  I  said  to 
myself,  '  I  will  secretly  try  the  very  method  these  Christians 
propose.  They  recommend  prayer  and  Bible  reading.  I  will 
test  their  own  appointed  way  myself,  and  if  there  be  anything 
in  religion  I  will  find  it ;  if  not.  my  mind  shall  never  more  again 
be  disturbed  by  a  doubt.'  Accordingly,  I  secured  a  day  of 


^*~~f|r^: 


NEW   TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  30 1 

solitude,  a  Sabbath  when  all  the  members  of  the  family  were 
absent  at  church.*  I  knelt  and  prayed,  — 

"  '  0  Lord,  if  thou  dost  exist,  hear  me.  If  there  be  a  heaven 
to  gain,  and  a  hell  to  shun,  show  it  to  me.  I  have  never  be- 
lieved it,  but  if  all  these  things  be  true,  and  the  Bible  true, 
reveal  it  unto  me,  and  enlighten  me.7 

"  Then  I  searched  the  Bible.  Commencing  with  the  New 
Testament,  I  read  continuously  chapter  after  chapter,  with 
intense  interest  and  absorbed  attention,  ever  and  anon  asking 
God  to  show  me  the  truth.  The  more  I  read  the  stronger 
my  interest  grew,  and  deeper  and  deeper  the  conviction,  the 
astounding  conviction  fastened  upon  me,  that  all  this  is  true  ! 
I  have  lived  all  my  life  believing  lies  !  I  am  a  sinner  !  I 
am  lost ! 

"  "  I  examined  the  Bible  throughout.  I  dwelt  on  the  creation, 
the  fall,  the  coming  of  Christ.  Deeper  and  deeper  grew  the 
conviction  of  my  guilt ;  my  anxiety  became  intense,  and  I  did 
not  attempt  to  conceal  it.  Throughout  every  day  of  that 
week  I  spent  all  my  time  in  searching  the  word  of  God  and  in 
prayer,  sometimes  spending  the  whole  day  alone  in  the  wood, 
beseeching  God  to  have  mercy  on  my  soul. 

"  At  last,  on  Sabbath  morning,  just  a  week  from  the  day  I 
set  apart  to  '  see  if  these  things  were  true/  while  riding  to 
church,  Christ  revealed  himself  to  me  as  a  Saviour  —  my  justi- 
fication. The  way  of  salvation  seemed  clear  and  plain,  and  I 
inwardly  exclaimed,  '  I  know  that  my  Redeemer  liveth  ! ;  My 
soul  was  filled  with  unspeakable  joy.  l  My  tongue  broke  forth 
in  unknown  strains,  and  sang  redeeming  grace.'  I  had,  in 
truth,  found  out  by  my  own  experience  the  truth  and  reality 
of  religion,  and  I  soon  commenced  to  tell  others  what  a  won- 
drous Saviour  I  had  found." 


"WHERE  DID  MOSES  GET  THAT  LAW?" 

Did  not  Moses  give  you  the  law,  and  yet  none  of  you  kecpetli  the  law?  — 
John  7  :  19. 


A 


LAWYER  of  great  eminence,  who  had  long  been  an  in- 
fidel, was  induced  by  a  friend  to  read  the  Bible.     After 


302  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS, 

having  read  the  decalogue,  he  said  to  the  gentleman  who  had 
persuaded  him  to  read  the  Scriptures,  "  I  have  been  looking 
into  the  nature  of  that  law.  I  have  been  trying  to  see  whether 
I  can  add  anything  to  it,  or  take  anything  from  it,  so  as  to 
make  it  better.  Sir,  I  cannot.  It  is  perfect" 

11  The  first  commandment,"  continued  Ire,  "  directs  us  to 
make  the  Creator  the  object  of  our  supreme  love  and  rever- 
ence. That  is  right.  If  he  be  our  Creator,  Preserver,  and 
Supreme  Benefactor,  we  ought  to  treat  him,  and  none  other, 
as  such.  The  second  forbids  idolatry.  That  certainly  is  right. 
The  third  forbids  profanity.  The  fourth  fixes  a  time  for  re- 
ligious worship ;  and  if  there  be  a  God,  he  ought  surely  to  be 
worshiped.  It  is  suitable  that  there  should  be  an  outward 
homage,  significant  of  our  inward  regard.  If  God  be  wor- 
shiped, it  is  proper  that  some  time  should  be  §et  apart  for 
that  purpose,  when  all  may  worship  him  harmoniously  and 
without  interruption.  One  day  in  seven  is  certainly  not  too 
much,  and  I  do  not  know  that  it  is  too  little.  The  fifth  defines 
the  peculiar  duties  arising  from  family  relations.  Injuries  to 
our  neighbor  are  then  classified  by  the  moral  law.  They  are 
divided  into  offenses  against  life,  chastity,  property,  and  char- 
acter. And,"  said  he,  applying  to  a  legal  idea  with  legal 
acuteness,  "  I  notice  that  the  greatest  offense  in  each  case 
is  expressly  forbidden.  Thus  the  greatest  injury  to  life  is 
murder  ;  to  chastity,  adultery  ;  to  property,  theft ;  to  charac- 
ter, perjury.  Now  the  greater  offense  must  include  the 
less  of  the  same  kind.  Murder  must  include  every  injury 
to  life ;  adultery  every  injury  to  purity,  and  so  of  the  rest. 
And  the  moral  code  is  closed  and  perfected  by  a  command 
forbidding  every  improper  desire  in  regard  to  our  neighbors. 
I  have  been  thinking,"  he  proceeded,  "  where  did  Moses  get 
that  law?  I  have  read  history;  the  Egyptians  and  the  adja- 
cent nations  were  idolaters ;  so  were  the  Greeks  and  Romans  ; 
and  the  wisest  and  best  Greeks  or  Romans  never  gave  a  code 
of  morals  like  this.  Where  did  Moses  get  this  law,  which 
surpasses  the  wisdom  and  philosophy  of  the  most  enlightened 
ages?  He  lived  at  a  period  comparatively  barbarous,  but 
he  has  given  a  law  in  which  the  learning  and  sagacity  of  all 
subsequent  time  can  detect  no  flaw.  Where  did  he  get  it  ? 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  303 

He  could  not  have  soared  so  far  above  his  age  as  to  have  de- 
vised it  himself.     I  am  satisfied  where  he  obtained  it.     It 
came  down  from  heaven.     I  am  convinced  of  the  truth  of  the* 
religion  of  the  Bible." 

The  infidel  —  infidel  no  longer — remained  to  his  death  a 
firm  believer  in  the  truth  of  Christianity. 


"COME  YE  TO  THE  WATERS." 

In  the  last  day,  that  great  day  of  the  feast,  Jesus  stood  and  cried,  saying, 
If  any  man  thirst,  let  him  come  unto  me,  and  drink.  —  John  7  :  37. 

THERE  is  on  record  the  case  of  a  very  wicked  and  hardened 
man  whose  feelings  were  so  touched  by  the  soft  notes  of  a 
dove  that  he  was,  by  the  Divine  Spirit,  led  to  Christ  and  to  a 
Christian  life.  In  the  incident  below,  the  prattling  of  a  babe 
was  blessed  to  the  same  result.  During  a  revival  in  a  town 
in  Ohio,  a  man  who  had  been  very  worldly-minded  was  awak- 
ened, but  for  some  time  concealed  his  feelings  even  from  his 
wife,  who  was  a  praying  woman.  She  left  him  one  evening 
in  charge  of  his  little  girl  of  three  years  of  age.  After  her 
departure,  his  anxiety  of  mind  became  so  great  that  he  could 
not  rest,  and  he  began  to  walk  the  roo.m  in  his  agony.  The  little 
girl  soon  noticed  his  agitation  of  mind,  and  inquired,  "  What 
ails  you,  pa?"  He  replied,  "Nothing,"  and  endeavored  to 
re-quiet  his  feelings,  and  divert  his  mind  from  the  subject.  But 
all  in  vain.!  Conscience  would  not  'hush  up  at  his  bidding. 
He  could  not  calm  the  troubled  deep  of  his  sin-polluted  heart. 
After  sitting  a  short  time  he  rose  again  and  commenced 
walking  to  and  fro  as  before.  Soon  the  attention  of  his 
daughter  was  again  arrested,  and  wondering,  doubtless,  at  her 
father's  uneasiness,  and  ignorant  of  its  cause,  she  looked  up 
sympathizingly  in  his  face  and  inquired,  with  all  the  artless- 
ness  and  simplicity  of  childhood,  "Pa,,  if  you  were  dry, 
wouldn't  you  go  and  get  a  drink  of'  water  ? "  The  father 
started  as  if  a  voice  from  heaven  had  fallen  on  his  ear.  He 
thought  of  his  thirsty  soul  famishing  for  the  waters  of  life.  He 
thought  of  that  living  fountain  opened  in  the  gospel,  and  he 


304  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

heard  the  voice  of  Jesus  saying,  "  If  any  man  thirst,  let  him 

come  unto  me  and  drink  !    Ho  !  every  one  that  thirsteth,  come 

•ye  to  the  waters  !  "     He  thirsted.     From  that  hour  he  dates 

the  dawning  of  a  new  light,  and  the  beginning  of  a  new  life. 


CONVERSION  OF  COUNT  GASPARIN. 

Then  came  the  officers  to  the  chief  priests  and  Pharisees ;  and  they  said 
unto  them,  Why  have  ye  not  brought  him?  The  officers  answered,  Never 
man  spake  like  this  man.  —  John  7  :  45,  46. 

A  DOLPH  MONOD,  one  of  the  most  gifted  and  faithful  evan- 
jLl_  gelical  ministers  of  the  present  century,  preached  Christ 
crucified  and  his  free  grace,  to  his  church  in  Lyons,  France. 
One  Lord's  day,  preaching  from  the  text,  "  God  so  loved  the 
world,  that  he  gave  his  only  begotten  Son,  that  whosoever 
believeth  on  him  should  not  perish,  but  have  everlasting  life," 
he  spoke  of  the  person  of  Christ  as  the  true  God-man.  He 
announced  at  the  same  time  that  the  next  Sabbath  he  should 
show  how  men  could  be  saved  through  faith  in  this  God-man. 
But  the  authorities  of  this  church  were  full  of  Catholic  and 
other  errors,  and  opposed  to  a  doctrine  so  truly  evangelical. 
Hence,  they  informed  Monod  that  if  he  did  not  omit  the  ser- 
mon he  had  announced,,  they  would  have  him  arrested,  and 
brought  before  the  prefect,  and  dismissed  from  his  office.  Mo- 
nod,  notwithstanding,  preached  his  sermon,  and  the  authorities 
made  their  complaint.  The  prefect  demanded  the  two  ser- 
mons of  the  accused,  and  Monod  sent  them  to .  him.  The 
prefect  was  a  Catholic  count  —  Count  de  Gasparin.  He  came 
home  at  evening  to  his  wife,  and  found  the  sermons.  He 
never  liked  sermons,  especially  evangelical  sermons.  But  he 
was  a  man  who  discharged  faithfully  the  duties  of  his  office. 
It  was  necessary  that  the  sermons  should  be  read.  He  came 
to  his  wife  with  the  manuscripts  in  his  hand,  complaining  that 
he  would  have  to  give  up  the  whole  evening  to  this  irksome 
and  protracted  labor. "  She  offered,  as  her  husband's  worthy 
helpmeet,  to  read  the  sermons  with  him,  so  that  Iho  task  might 
seem  to  him  less  tedious.  They  began.  They  read  the  first. 
With  every  page  tjiey  grew  more  interested.  They  forgot 


•NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  305 

that  it  was  evening  and  night.  That  which  was  at  first  an 
official  duty,  became  a  service  of  the  heart.  They  finished 
the  first,  and  eagerly  grasped  the  second.  And  what  was 
the  result?  As  a  magistrate — as  a  prefect — Gasparin  was 
forced  to  deprive  Mo  nod  of  his  place,  because  all  the  authori- 
ties demanded  it.  But  he  and  his  wife  became  evangelical 
Christians ;  yes,  living,  joyful,  and  happy  believers  in  Christ. 
They  found  that  night  the  pearl  of  great  price,  and  it  has  re- 
mained in  the  family.  Their  son,  Count  Agenor  de  Gasparin, 
lias  long  been  the  head  and  pillar  of  the  evangelical  party  in 
France. 


CONVICTED  BY  THEIR  OWN  CONSCIENCES. 

And  they  which  heard  it,  being  convicted  by  their  own  conscience,  went 
out  one  by  one,  beginning  at  the  eldest,  even  unto  the  last.  —  John  8  :  9. 

flHHE  Kansas  City  (Mo.)  Intelligencer  says  that  at  the  union 
J_  meeting  held  recently  at  the  Congregational  church  in 
that  city,  one  of  the  speakers,  who  had  lately  u  enlisted  in  the 
army  of  the  Lord,"  told  an  incident,  which  is  given  in  his 
own  language  as  follows :  — 

"  I  was  passing  up  Main  Street  on  Tuesday  morning,  and  I 
was  going  by  a  saloon,  when  I  was  hailed  by  a  party  of  men, 
some  of  whom  I  knew,  and  was  invited  into  the  saloon  to  take 
a  glass  of  beer.  It  seems  they  had  met  and  agreed  to  invite 
to  l  take  a  drink '  the  first  man  of  their  acquaintance  who 
they  knew  had  lately  taken  a  stand  for  Christ.  I  happened 
to  be  their  victim,  and  was,  therefore,  pressed  to  join  them  in 
a  glass  of  beer.  I  told  them  I  could  not  drink  with  them. 
They  asked  me  then  to  come  into  the  saloon  and  ask  a  bless- 
ing over  the  beer  they  would  drink,  and  make  a  prayer.  I 
answered  that  I  was  willing  to  pray  for  them,  and  we  went 
into  the  saloon.  They  called  for  the  beer,  and  each  glass  was 
filled.  They  then  told  me  to  pray  before  they  drank ;  and  I 
did  try  to  pray.  I  wept  some,  and  prayed  some,  and  again 
wept,  and  then  prayed  again.  When  I  ceased  praying  I  looked 
up,  and  there  stood  the  glasses  filled  with  beer,  but  there  was 
nobody  present  but  the  bar-tender.  All  the  men  had  slipped 
39 


306  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

out  of  the  saloon  one  by  one,  leaving  their  beer  untasted  !  Well, 
I  took  the  glasses  and  (perhaps  it  was  a  wrong  impulse,  per- 
haps not),  I  quietly  emptied  the,  beer  on  the  ground,  and, 
offering  up  a  prayer  for  the  bar-tender,  that  God  would  bless 
him  and  change  his  heart,  I  left  the  saloon." 


A  VICTIM  TO  UNBELIEF. 

I  said  therefore  unto  you,  that  ye  shall  die  in  your  sins  :  for  if  yc  believe 
not  that  I  am  he,  ye  shall  die  in  your  sins.  —  John  8  :  24. 

A    VESSEL  named  The  Thetis  was  cruising  in  the  Medi- 
1JL  terranean  in  search  of  a  shoal  or  bank,  or  something  of 
that  kind  said  to  exist  beneath  the  treacherous  waters.     The 
captain,  after  he  had  adopted  all  the  means  he  thought  neces- 
sary, having  failed,  abandoned  the  enterprise,  declaring  that 
the  reported  danger  was  all  a  dream.     An  officer  on  board 
formed  a  different  judgment,  went  out  by  himself  on  an  expe- 
dition afterwards  into  the  very  same  latitude   and  longitude, 
and  there  discovered  a  reef  of  rocks,  which  he  reported  to  the 
admiralty;  and  it  was  inserted  in  the  charts,  the  discoverer 
being  awarded  with  a  high  appointment.     The  intelligence 
came  to  the  captain's  ears ;  he  would  not  believe  in  the  dis- 
covery.    He  was  a  shrewd,  clever,  practical  man,  but  unsci- 
entific, incredulous,  and  obstinate.     "  The  whole  thing  is  a 
falsehood  !  "  he  exclaimed  ;  adding,  "  if  ever  I  have  the  keel 
of  The  Thetis  under  me  in  those  waters  again,  if  I  don't  carry 
her  clean  over  where  the  chart  marks  a  rock,  call  me  a  liar  and 
no  seaman."     Two  years  after,  he  was  conveying  in  the  same 
vessel  the  British  ambassador  to  Naples.     One  windy  night, 
he  and  the  master  were  examining  the  chart  on  deck  by  tho 
light  of  the  lantern,  when  the  latter  pointed  out  the  sunken 
rock  on  the  map.     "  What !  "  exclaimed  the  old  seaman,  "  is 
this  invention  to  meet  me  in  the  teeth  again  ?     No.    I  swore  I 
would  sail  over  that  spot  the   first  chance  I  had  ;  and  I'll  do 
it."     He  went  down  into  the  cabin,  merrily  related  the  story 
to  the   company,  and  said,    "Within  five  minutes   we    shall 
have  passed  the  spot."     There  was  a  pause.     Then,  taking 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  307 

out  his  watch,  he  said,  "  0,  the  time  is  past !  We  have  gone 
over  the  wonderful  reef."  But  presently  a  grating  touch  was 
felt  on  the  ship's  keel,  then  a  sudden  shock,  a  tremendous 
crash :  the  ship  had  foundered.  Through  great  exertions, 
most  of  the  crew  were  saved  ;  but  the  captain  would  not  sur- 
vive his  own  mad  temerity ;  and  the  last  seen  of  him  was  his 
white  figure,  bareheaded,  and  in  his  shirt,  from  the  dark  hull 
of  The  Thetis,  as  the  foam  burst  round  her  bows  and  stem. 
He  perished,  a  victim  of  unbelief.  So  perish  multitudes.  — 
Rev.  John  Stoughton. 


DANGER  IN  DOUBTING. 

And  ye    shall  know  the   truth,  and   the    truth   shall   make  you  free.  — 
John  8  :  32. 

THE  first  step  toward  the  abyss  of  infidelity  is  a  doubting 
or  skeptical  state  of  mind  in  regard  to  some  parts,  or  the 
whole,  of  the  Scriptures  ;  the  next  is  either  into  the  wilder- 
ness of  universal  doubt,  or  into  the  abyss  itself.  Skepticism 
is  a  most  dangerous  state  of  the  mind.  Like  moderate  drink- 
ing, it  leads  on  its  unhappy  victim  from  bad  to  worse,  till  both 
mind  and  heart  are  ruined  and  damned  for  ever.  It  is  the 
moral  inebriation  of  the  man  in  its  incipient  stages.  Beware  of 
it,  ye  young  men,  as  ye  would  the  contagion  of  death.  It  has 
the  power  of  fascination.  Its  breath  is  tainted  and  repugnant. 
Its  administrations  to  the  soul  are  those  of  sorrow.  Break 
away  from  the  first  symptoms  of  its  deadly  approach.  Let 
not  a  corrupt  and  unbelieving  heart  beguile  thee  with  the 
promises  of  a  proud  and  vain  philosophy.  There  is  no  safety 
in  a  cultivated  intellect,  nor  in  all  the  resources  of  a  Christian 
education,  the  watchfulness  and  teachings  of  friends  —  no,  not 
even  under  "  the  droppings  of  the  sanctuary."  In  the  faith 
of  Jesus  only  there  is  safety.  Believe  in  him  to  the  salvation 
of  the  soul ;  then  will  you  "  know  the  truth,  and  the  truth  shall 
make  you  free." 


308  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 


THE  BOY  THAT  WOULD  NOT  TELL  A  LIE. 

But  now  ye  seek  to  kill  me,  a  man  that  hath  told  you  the  truth.  — 
John  8  :  40. 

TWO  weeks  ago,  on  board  an  English  steamer,  a  little  ragged 
boy,  aged  nine  years,  was  discovered  on  the  fourth  day  of 
the  outward  voyage  from  Liverpool  to  New  York,  and  carried 
before  the  first  mate,  whose  duty  it  was  to  deal  with  such 
cases.  "When  questioned  as  to  the  object  of  his  being  stowed 
away,  and  who  brought  him  on  board,  the  boy,  who  had  a 
beautiful  sunny  face,  and  eyes  that  looked  like  the  very  mir- 
rors of  truth,  replied  that  his  step-father  did  it,  because  he 
could  not  afford  to  keep  him,  nor  pay  his  passage  out  to  Hali- 
fax, where  he  had  an  aunt  who  was  well  off,  and  to  whose 
house  he  was  going.  The  mate  did  not  believe  the  story,  in 
spite  of  the  winning  face  and  truthful  accounts  of  the  boy. 
He  had  seen  too  much  of  stowaways  to  be  easily  deceived 
by  them,  he  said  ;  and  it  was  his  firm  conviction  that  the  boy 
had  been  brought  on  board  and  provided  with  food  by  the 
sailors.  The  little  fellow  was  very  roughly  handled  in  con- 
sequence. t)ay  by  day  he  was  questioned  and  requestioned, 
but  always  with  the  same  result.  He  did  not  know  a  sailor 
on  board,  and  his  father  alone  had  secreted  him,  and  given  him 
the  food  which  he  ate. 

At  last  the  mate,  wearied  by  the  boyrs  persistence  in  the 
same  story,  and  perhaps  a  little  anxious  to  inculpate  the  sail- 
ors, seized  him  one  day  by  the  collar,  and  dragging  him  to 
the  foremast,  told  him  that  unless  he  confessed  the  truth  in 
ten  minutes  from  that  time,  he  would  hang  him  on  the  yard- 
arm.  He  then  made  him  sit  down  under  it  on  the  deck.  All 
around  him  were  the  passengers  and  sailors  of  the  midday 
watch,  and  in  front  of  him  stood  the  inexorable  mate,  with  his 
chronometer  in-  his  hand,  and  the  other  officers  of  the  ship  by 
his  side.  "  It  was  the  finest  sight,"  said  our  informant,  "  that 
we  had  ever  beheld  —  to  see  the  pale,  proud,  sorrowful  face 
of  that  noble  boy,  his  head  erect,  his  beautiful  eyes  bright 
through  the  tears  that  suffused  them."  When  eight  minutes 
had  fled,  the  mate  told  him  that  he  had  but  two  minutes  to 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  309 

live,  and  advised  him  to  speak  the  truth  and  save  his  life ;  but 
he  replied/  with  the  utmost  simplicity  and  sincerity,  by  ask- 
ing the  mate  if  he  might  pray. 

The  mate  said  nothing,  but  nodded  his  head,  and  turned 
as  pale  as  a  ghost,  and  shook  with  trembling  like  a  reed  with 
the  wind.  And  there,  all  eyes  turned  on  him,  this  brave  and 
noble  little  fellow,  —  this  poor  waif  whom  society  owned  not, 
and  whose  own  step-father  coul.d  not  care  for  him,  —  there  he 
knelt,  with  clasped  hands,  and  eyes  upraised  to  heaven,  while 
he  repeated  audibly  the  Lord's  Prayer,  and  prayed  the  dear 
Lord  Jesus  to  take  him  to  heaven. 

Our  informant  adds  that  there  then  occurred  a  scene  as  of 
Pentecost.  Sobs  broke  from  strong,  hard  hearts,  as  the  mate 
sprang  forward  to  the  boy  and  clasped  him  to  his  bosom,  and 
kissed  him  and  blessed  him,  and  told  him  how  sincerely  he 
now  believed  his  story,  and  how  glad  he  was  that  he  had  been 
brave  enough  to  face  death,  and  be  willing  to  sacrifice  his  life 
for  the  truth  of  his  own  word. 


JUSTLY  RIDICULED  FOR  HIS  WICKEDNESS. 

Ye  are  of  your  father  the  devil,  and  the  lusts  of  your  father  ye  will  do  :  ho 
was  a  murderer  from  the  beginning,  and  abode  not  in  the  truth ;  because  there 
is  no  truth  in  him.  When  he  speaketh  a  lie,  he  speaketh  of  his  own :  for  he 
is  a  liar,  and  the  father  of  it.  —  John  8  :"  44. 

AN  instance  of  the  indignant  and  sarcastic  severity  with 
which  he  (Rev.  Daniel  Isaac)  sometimes  reproved  open 
profanity,  occurred  while  he  was  stationed  in  the  Sheffield 
circuit.  An  infidel  bookseller,  copying,  and  probably  embold- 
ened by,  the  example  of  a  London  tradesman  of  infamous 
memory,  exhibited  in  his  shop  window  a  hideous  and  obscene 
picture  as  a  representation  of  the  sacred  Trinity,  and,  sur- 
passing the  metropolitan  in  utter  and  shameless  profanity,  at- 
tached a  label  to  the  picture,  to  the  effect  that  a  portrait  of 
the  devil  was  wanted  as  a  companion  picture. 

This  caught  Mr.  Isaac's  eye  as  he  passed,  and  his  righteous 
anger  was  awakened.  Stepping  into  a  grocer's  shop  on  the 
opposite  side  of  the  street,  he  asked  for  a  pen,  ink,  and  paper, 


310  NEIV  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

and  hastily  scrawling  these  words,  addressed  them  to  the 
offender :  "  Sir,  if  you  want  a  portrait  of  the  devil,  get  your 
own  taken  ;  for  who  so  like  the  father  as  the  son?  D.  Isaac." 
"  There,"  said  Mr.  Isaac  to  the  clerk,  "  just  take  that  to  the 
vile  fellow  across  the  way."  The  young  man  declined,  per- 
haps thinking  it  unneighborly,  or  fearing  an  unpleasant  result. 
"  Then  111  take  it,"  said  Mr.  Isaac. 

The  message  was  soon  noised  abroad,  for  the  grocer  told 
many  of  his  friends  ;  and,  in  the  course  of  the  day,  first  one 
vagrant  boy,  and  then  another  wicked  urchin,  would  put  his 
head  just  inside  the  door  of  the  infidel's  shop,  in  the  window 
of  which  the  offensive  requisition  was  still  suspended,  and 
call  out,  "  Get  your  own  taken;  for  who  so  like  the  father  as  the 
son  ?  " 

On  the  following  day  quite  a  crowd  of  youngsters  was  as- 
sembled, and  the  inquiry  was  repeated  in  almost  every  possi- 
ble modulation  of  voice,  until  the  wretched  man  was  so  an- 
noyed, that  he  called  in  the  aid  of  the  police.  This  but 
increased  the  notoriety  of  the  rebuke,  and  that  again  swelled 
the  numbers  of  the  crowd.  The  public  feeling,  too,  was  with 
the  boys,  for  common  decency  had  been  outraged.  The  re- 
sult was,  that  in  the  course  of  two  or  three  days  the  man 
was  obliged  to  close  his  shop  and  decamp,  unable  to  withstand 
the  torrent  of  ridicule  and  contempt  which  Mr.  Isaac  had  been 
the  means  of  turning  upon  him. 


THE  DAY  OF  CHRIST  SEEN  FROM  AFAR. 

Your  father  Abraham  rejoiced  to  see  my  day :  and  he  saw  it,  and  was 
glad.  —  John  8  :  56, 

TT^YERY  seer  of  the  past  saw,  and  glowingly  depicted  the 
JJ  Christly  dispensation  as  something  .that  was  to  be  con- 
tinued ;  as  possessing  institutions  and  blessings  that  were  to 
abide  for  ever.  All-embracing,  all-enduring  —  such  was  their 
view  of  the  Messiah's  kingdom. 

And  all  former  economies  looked  to  Christianity.  Every 
finger-board  of  the  post  pointed  to  Calvary ;  all  the  streams 
of  things  ran  in  that  direction,  and  the  types  stood  with  their 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  311 

faces  that  way.  Moreover,  all  the  industry  and  action  of  man 
seems  a  preparation  for  Christianity.  Abraham,  who  has 
crossed  the  desert,  explored  Canaan,  visited  Egypt,  lives  in  a 
tabernacle,  and  dies  with  hopes  unfulfilled,  still  waiting  for 
something.  And  so  with  Isaac  and  Jacob.  We  hear  Moses 
crying,  "  I  beseech  thee  show  me  thy  glory ;  "  and  from  Nebo, 
where  his  toil  of  life  ends,  he  beholds  the  land  that  is  to  be 
the  theater  of  the  most  wonderful  of  all  histories  evolved  from 
the  economy  he  has  founded. 

The  true  view  of  all  past  history  is,  that  it  was  a  prepara- 
tion for  Christianity.  Christianity  was  the  temple  that  was  to 
be  eternal,  and  on  it,  as  unconscious  builders,  men  were  labor- 
ing in  all  the  ages  from  the  creation.  And  if  so  long  in 
preparation,  may  we  not  anticipate  it  will  be  a  finality  ? 
About  the  temples  built  by  the  kings  of  Oriental  monarchies 
there  were  other  lesser  fabrics ;  but  with  the  kingly  one 
alone  the  idea  of  permanence  was  associated.  So  of-  St. 
Peter's  at  Rome  and  the  Cathedral  at  Milan.  The  lesser  fab- 
rics have  disappeared  for  ever. 

When  Christianity  was  completed,  its  lesser  structures  and 
essential  scaffoldings  were  all  removed.  Priests  and  smoking 
altars  suddenly  and  for  ever  disappeared.  The  temple  of 
Christianity  alone  remains.  —  Rev.  C.  D.  Foss,  D.  D. 


PARENTAL  DUTIES  IN  REGARD  TO  CHILDREN. 

His  parents  answered  them  and  said,  We  know  that  this  is  our  son,  and 
that  he  was  born  blind.  —  John  9  :  20. 

REY.  DR.  JAMES  W.  ALEXANDER  wrote  to  a  friend, 
"  As  I  grow  old  as  a  parent,  my  views  are  changing  fast 
as  to  the  degree  of  conformity  to  the  world  which  we  should 
allow  to  our  children.  I  am  horror-struck  to  count  up  the 
profligate  children  of  pious  persons,  and  even  ministers.  The 
door  at  which  these  influences  enter,  which  countervail  pa- 
rental instruction  and  example,  I  am  persuaded  is  yielding  to 
the  ways  of  good  society.  By  dress,  books,  and  amusements 
an  atmosphere  is  formed  which  is  not  that  of  Christianity. 
More  than  ever  do  I  feel  that  our  families  must  stand  in  a  kind 


312  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

but  determined  opposition  to  the  fashions  of  the  world,  breast- 
ing the  waves,  like  the  Eddystone  Lighthouse.  And  I  have 
found  nothing  yet  which  requires  more  courage  and  indepen- 
dence than  to  raise  even  a  little,  but  decidedly,  above  the  par 
of  the  religious  world  around  us.  Surely,  the  way  in  which 
we  commonly  go  on  is  not  the  way  of  self-denial,  and  sacri- 
fice, and  cross-bearing,  which  the  New  Testament  talks  of. 
Then  is  the  oifense  of  the  cross  ceased." 

Dr.  Hague,  in  the  National  Teacher,  thus  speaks  of  the  dif- 
ference between  training  and  mere  instruction  :  "  '  Train  up  a 
child  in  the  way  he  should  go/  is  not  merely  to  give  him  pre- 
cepts of  sterling  worth,  or  even  to  exemplify  those  precepts 
before  him,  but  it  is  to  connect  with  all  these  such  a  cultiva- 
tion of  his  sympathies,  such  a  discipline  of  his  appetites  and 
passions,  such  a  control  of  his  conduct,  as  shall  render  the 
practice  of  what  is  right  and  fit  habitual  in  early  life.  All 
these  l  God  has  joined  together ; '  let  one  of  them  be  sundered 
from  the  rest,  and  there  is  no  real  training." 

The  most  excellent  principles  may  be  inculcated  by  precept, 
and  illustrated  by  example  ;  nevertheless,  unless  realized  and 
made  effective  by  practice,  they  will  be  unproductive  of  last- 
ing good.  It  has  been  well  said  that  the  parent  whose  pre- 
cept and  example  clash  is  as  one  who  "  points  his  child  heaven- 
ward, then* takes  him  by  the  hand  and  leads  him  hellward." 
It  is  God's  design  that  truth  should  shine  both  from  the 'word 
and  the  life.  This  is  the  secret  of  real  influence. 


SPIRITUAL  VISION. 

He  answered  and  said,  Whether  he  be  a  sinner  or  no,  I  know  not :  one 
thing  I  know,  that,  whereas  I  was  blind,  now  I  see.  —  John  9  :  25. 

SIGHT  depends  upon  the  clearness  of  the  medium  through 
which  we  look.  When  the  mists  hang  heavy  about  the 
hills  and  in  the  valleys,  our  view  is  but  dim  and  indistinct ;  but 
when  the  atmosphere  is  free  from  all  haze  and  cloud,  the  land- 
scape is  clearly  revealed.  How  different  the  story  of  two 
travelers  who  have  stood  upon  the  same  spot !  One  tells  you 
that  he  saw  nothing  but  cloud  and  mist ;  the  other  speaks  in 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  313 

glowing  words  of  the  picturesque  valleys  and  the  far-off  moun- 
tain ranges.  With  the  same  organs  of  vision,  how  different 
the  sight ! 

Purity  of  heart  creates  such  an  atmosphere  for  the  soul-life 
to  dwell  in  as  gives  clearness  to  the  spiritual  vision.  All  de- 
filing, hindering  influences  being  removed,  the  soul  is  per- 
mitted to  "  see  the  King  in  his  beauty." 

Why  is  it  that  we  find  so  marked  a  difference  in  the  growth 
and  character  of  those  who  started  in  the  Christian  course 
with  the  same  bright  assurance  of  faith  ?  Do  not  the  words 
of  our  Saviour  explain  this  contrast :  "  Blessed  are  the  pure 
in  heart,  for  they  shall  see  God  "  ?  It  makes  all  the  difference 
between  seeing  God  and  not  seeing  him,  whether  our  hearts 
are  full  of  purity,  born  of  spiritual  thoughtfulness  and  action, 
or  occupied  with  that  which  is  earthly  and  temporal.  God  is 
revealed  to  us  just  in  proportion  as  our  worship  is  spiritual. 
How  can  we  be  spiritual  but  as  we  cast  aside  the  earthly  ? 
And  we  rise  out  of  the  earthly  into  the  spiritual  only  as  we 
become  pure  in  heart. 

PREACHING  BY  TELEGRAPH. 

The  man  answered  and  said  unto  them,  Why  herein  is  a  marvelous  thing, 
that  ye  know  not  from  whence  he  is,  and  yet  he  hath  opened  mine  eyes.  — 
John  9  :  30. 

A  TOUCHING  incident  was  related  in  the  noon-day  prayer 
JLJL  meeting,  Pittsburg,  on  Thursday,  February  8,  by  a 
stranger.  He  said  that  a  young  man  at  Zanesville,  Ohio,  a 
telegraph  operator,  was  recently  converted  while  in  the  act 
of  asking  for  the  prayers  of  the  church  at  a  public  meeting. 
The  case  was  one  of  peculiar  clearness  and  power,  and  made 
a  profound  impression  upon  the  community,  where  he  was 
well  known  and  highly  esteemed.  The  incident  was  shortly 
afterward  related  in  a  meeting  in  Cincinnati,  by  a  Christian 
neighbor  who  was  well  acquainted  with  the  circumstances. 
At  the  Cincinnati  meeting  a  young  gentleman,  also  a  tele- 
graph operator,  was  present,  and,  although  interested  in  the 
account,  being  of  the  doubting  Thomas  cast  of  mind.,  and  an 
unbeliever,  was  inclined  to  look  upon  the  whole  story  as  sen- 
40 


314  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

sational  and  overwrought.  He  went  away  from  the  meeting 
with  feelings  somewhat  imbittered  against  Christianity  and 
its  advocates. 

The  same  evening,  in  his  office,  while  thinking  the  incident 
over,  the  business  upon  the  wire  being  unusually  slack,  he 
concluded  to  inquire  by  telegraph,  of  the  Zanesville  opera- 
tor, whether  such  a  case  as  that  related  in  the  Cincinnati 
meeting  had  occurred.  He  tapped  the  signal  sound  for  Zanes- 
ville. Zanesville  answered  the  Cincinnati  call.  Touching  the 
mystic  key,  he  asked  for  information,  giving  in  a  few  words 
the  story  which  he  had  heard,  and  the  name  of  the  young  man, 
which  also  he  had  procured.  "  Yes,"  answered  the  operator 
at  Zanesville,  "  it  is  true,  and  I  am  the  man  myself."  There- 
upon a  conversation  was  carried  on  along  the  wires  between 
the  converted  and  the  unconverted  operators,  and  Christ  Jesus 
was  preached  by  the  new  convert  until  the  inquirer  was 
awakened  to  call  what  he  must  do  to  be  saved. 

"  Believe  in  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  and  thou  shalt  be  saved/' 
came  in  eloquent  utterance  along  the  line  like  a  message  from 
the  skies. 

"  Pray  for  me  now,"  said  the  penitent  to  his  unseen  friend 
two  hundred  miles  away. 

And  the  two  young  men  kneeled,  the  one  in  Zanesville,  the 
other  in  Cincinnati ;  a  new  line  of  communication  was  opened 
from  earth  to  heaven,  petitions  went  up  in  the  dark  winter 
night  straight  to  the  Christ  of  God.  An  answer  came  quick 
as  an  electric  touch,  and  the  two  young  men  rejoiced  to- 
gether, in  spirit,  at  the  conscious  power  of  pardoning  grace. 

The  case  is  a  most  interesting  and  suggestive  one.  How 
surely  and  quickly  God  answers  earnest  prayer  !  When, 
amid  secular  pursuits  and  annoying  doubts  and  cares,  the 
troubled  soul  inquires  after  peace,  it  comes  and  abounds  like 
a  river.  If  believers  would  only  improve  the  opportunities 
offered  in  daily  vocations  for  preaching  Jesus,  what  multitudes 
might  be  brought  to  the  Saviour  !  There  is  never  a  day, 
scarcely  an  hour,  passes  over  us,  but  when  some  helpful  word 
or  act  might  lead  a  sinner  to  the  cross.  Let  us  watch  the 
time  and  use  the  means  to  bless  our  fellow-men. 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  315 


CHRIST  THE  GOOD  SHEPHERD. 

And  when  he  putteth  forth  his  own  sheep,  he  goeth  before  them,  and  the 
sheep  follow  him :  for  they  know  his  voice.  —  John  10  :  4. 

SOME  years  ago,  a  friend  of  mine  was  in  Greece,  in  the 
month  of  March.  He  was  traveling  in  the  country  where 
the  shepherds  live.  He  came  to  three  shepherds  with  their 
flocks.  One  had  about  six  hundred  and  fifty  sheep,  another 
had  about  seven  hundred,  and  the  other  had  about  seven  hun- 
dred and  fifty.  In  all,  they  had  about  twenty-one  hundred 
sheep.  They  were  out  in  the  valleys  where  the  grass  grew. 
All  the  flocks  were  mingled  together.  Every  sheep  had  its 
own  name.  It  would  not  come  nor  go  if  called  by  any  other 
name ;  nor  would  it  come  or  go  if  called  by  any  but  its  own 
shepherd.  Every  shepherd  knew  all  his  own  sheep.  He 
knew  their  names  also.  If  any  one  was  about  to  go  into  a 
wrong  place,  he  called  it,  and  it  turned  back.  If  the.  way  was 
narrow  or  steep,  he  would  go  before,  and  they  would  follow 
him.  This  is  just  what  the  Bible  says  about  Christ  and  his 
flock.  "  The  sheep  hear  his  voice  j  and  he  calleth  his  own 
sheep  by  name,  and  leadeth  them  out.  And  when  he  putteth 
forth  his  own  sheep,  he  goeth  before  them,  and  the  sheep  fol- 
low him,  for  they  know  his  voice.  And  a  stranger  will  they 
not  follow,  but  will  flee  from  him,  for  they  know  not  the  voice 
of  strangers.  I  am  the  good  Shepherd,  and  know  my  sheep, 
and  am  known  of  mine.  I  lay  down  my  life  for  the  sheep." 

The  day  my  friend  saw  the  shepherds  was  a  cold  day. 
Some  of  the  lambs  were  quite  strong  and  full  of  play ;  but 
some  of  them  were  very  young  and  tender.  The  cold  chilled 
them,  and  they  could  not  walk.  The  shepherds  had  on  some- 
thing like  large  cloaks,  tied  around  their  necks,  and  girt  about 
their  waists.  So  they  took  up  the  little  lambs  and  put  them 
in  their  bosoms.  But  they  did  not  smother  them.  They  left 
their  heads  out,  so  that  they  could  breathe  well.  But  they 
kept  them  snug  and  warm.  It  was  a  pleasing  sight  to  see  an 
old  shepherd  with  his  long  gray  beard  and  his  bosom  full  of 
lambs.  Just  so  the  Bible  says  of  Christ.  "  He  shall  gather 
the  lambs  in  his  arms;  and  carry  them  in  his  bosom."  Many 


316  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

little  children  have  loved  Christ ;  and  he  has  never  let  such 
perish.  He  is  as  good  to  little  children  as  to  old  people.  He 
says,  "  I  love  them  that  love  me,  and  those  that  seek  me  early 
shall  find  me." 

Among  the  twenty-one  hundred  sheep  were  some  old  and 
feeble  ones.  They  could  not  walk  much.  If  the  way  was 
miry  or  steep  they  could  hardly  go  along.  So  the  shepherds 
would  come  and  put  their  crooks  under  their  bodies,  just  be- 
hind their  fore  legs,  and  help  them  along.  They  treated  them 
with  great  gentleness  and  care.  Just  so  "  the  good  Shepherd 
has  pity  on  the  weak,  and  gently  helps  them  along."  He  never 
leaves  nor  forsakes  them.  "  His  rod  and  his  staff  comfort 
them."  He  leads  all  his  sheep  into  his  fold  for  safety.  He 
leads  them  out,  that  they  may  find  pasture.  If  little  boys  and 
girls  are  wise,  they  will  desire  above  all  things  to  belong  to 
Christ's  flock.  I  hope  all  of  you  will  commit  to  memory  the 
twenty-third  Psalm.  It  is  beautiful.  "  The  Lord  is  my  shep- 
herd ;  I  shall  not  want."  —  Rev.  Dr.  Plumer. 


DR.  FLETCHER  AND  THE  DYING  INFIDEL. 

My  sheep  hear  my  voice,  and  I  know  them,  and  they  follow  me :  and  I 
give  unto  them  eternal  life;  and  they  shall  never  perish,  neither  shall  any 
man  pluck  them  out  of  my  hand.  —  John  10 :  27,  28. 

ONE  morning  Dr.  Fletcher,  of  Stepney,  received  a  request 
to  visit  a  man  who  was  a  professed  skeptic,  and  apparently 
near  his  end.  On  entering  the  chamber  where  he  lay,  he  be- 
held the  attenuated  form  of  one  who  had  been  a  tall,  athletic 
man,  struggling  under  the  ravages  of  a  disease  at  once  the  most 
painful  and  incurable.  The  doctor  addressed  him  by  sundry 
kind  inquiries  and  expressions  of  sympathy,  reminding  him  of 
the  sufferings  of  Christ,  who  gave  himself  a  ransom  for  sin- 
ners, that  through  his  atoning  sacrifice  they  might  obtain  the 
forgiveness  of  sin  and  be  restored  to  the  favor  of  God. 

Hearing  this,  the  dying  man  said.  "  Sir,  I  don't  believe  that ; 
I  wish  I  could,  as  my  dear  wife  there  does ;  she  believes  all 
you  say." 

"  Well,"  said  Dr.  F.,  "  but  you  say  you  wish  you  could,  and 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  317 

that  is  a  great  point  toward  attaining  it,  if  you  are  sincere. 
Now,  what  do  you  believe  concerning  Jesus  Christ  ?  " 

"  Why,"  he  replied,  "  I  believe  such  a  man  once  lived,  and 
that  he  was  a  very  good,  sincere  man  ;  but  that  is  all." 

Jt  was  a  principle  with  Dr.  F.  when  reasoning  with  un- 
believers, if  they  acknowledged  the  smallest  portion  of  truth, 
to  make  it  a  position  from  which  to  argue  with  them.  This 
mode  he  now  adopted,  and  said, — 

"  You  believe  that  Jesus  Christ  was  a  good  man  —  a  sincere 
man.  Now,  do  you  think  that  a  good  man  would  wish  to  deceive 
others  ?  or,  a  sincere  man  use  language  that  must  mislead  ?  " 

u  Certainly  not,"  he  replied. 

"  Then  how  do  you  reconcile  your  admission  that  he  was  a 
good  man  with  his  saying  to  the  Jews,  'I  and  my  Father  are 
one  '  ?  When  they  took  up  stones  to  kill  him,  he  did  not  unde- 
ceive them,  but  still  maintained  the  fact  of  his  Godhead  ;  add- 
ing, '  My  sheep  hear  my  voice,  and  they  follow  me,  and  I  know 
them,  and  I  give  unto  them  eternal  life.'  Now,  could  any 
mere  man  say,  '  I  give  unto  them  eternal  life  ;  ?  Could  any 
angel,  however  exalted  ?  " 

"  Stop  !  "  cried  the  dying  man,  with  an  excited  voice.  "  Stop, 
sir ;  I  never  saw  this  before  ;  a  new  light  breaks  in  upon  me ; 
stop,  sir ! " 

Holding  up  his  emaciated  hand,  as  if  fearing  that  a  breatli 
might  obscure  the  new  light  breaking  in  upon  his  benighted 
soul,  and  with  a  countenance  lighted  up  with  a  sort  of  preter- 
natural expression  quite  indescribable,  but  with  eyes  intently 
fixed  on  Dr.  F.,  he  exclaimed,  after  a  short  pause,  while  big 
tears  rolled  down  his  cheeks, — 

"  Sir,  you  are  a  messenger  of  mercy  sent  by  God  himself  to 
save  my  poor  soul !  Yes,  Christ  is  God,  and  he  .died  to  save 
sinners  !  Yes,  even  me  !  " 


CHRIST  DIVINE. 

I  and  my  Father  are  one.  —  John  10 :  30. 

P(OME,  now,  all  ye  that  tell  us  in  your  wisdom  of  the  mere 
\J  natural  humanity  of  Jesus,  and  help  us  to  find  how  it  is 


318  NEW  TESTAMENT.  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

that  he  is  only  a  natural  development  of  the  human.  Select 
your  best  and  wisest  character ;  take  the  range,  if  you  will, 
of  all  the  great  philosophers  and  saints,  and  choose  out  one 
that  is  most  competent ;  or  if,  perchance,  some  one  of  you 
may  imagine  that  he  is  himself  about  upon  a  level  with  Jesus 
(as  we  hear  that  some  of  you  do),  let  him  come  forward  in 
this  trial  and  say,  "  Follow  me  !  "  "  Be  worthy  of  me  !  "  "I 
am  the  light  of  the  world  !  "  "  Ye  are  from  beneath,  I  am 
from  above!"  ^Behold,  a  greater  than  Solomon  is  here!" 
Take  on  all  these  transcendent  assumptions,  and  see  how  soon 
your  glory  will  be  sifted  out  of  you  by  the  detective  gaze,  and 
darkened  by  the  contempt  of  mankind  !  Why  not  ?  Is  not 
the  challenge  fair?  Do  you  not  tell  us  that- you  can  say  as 
divine  things  as  he  ?  Is  it  not  in  you,  too,  of  course,  to  do 
what  is  human  ?  Are  you  not  in  the  front  rank  of  human 
development?  Do  you  not  rejoice  in  the  power  to  rectify 
many  mistakes  and  errors  in  the  words  of  Jesus  ?  Give  us, 
then,  this  one  experiment,  and  see  if  it  does  not  prove  to  you 
a  truth  that  is  of  some  consequence,  viz.,  that  you  are  a  man, 
and  that  Jesus  Christ  is  more  —  even  God.  —  Dr.  Buslinell. 


CHRISTIANITY  PROVING  ITSELF. 

If  I  do  not  the  works  of  my  Father,  helieve  me  not.  But  if  I  do,  though 
ye  believe  not  me,  believe  the  works  :  that  ye  may  know  and  believe  that  the 
Father  is  in  me,  and  I  in  him.  —  John  10  :  37,  38. 

SOME  one  has  well  said,  "  The  best  proof  of  Christianity  is 
a  converted  heart."  It  is  a  kind  of  evidence  from  which 
there  is  no  appeal,  direct,  obvious,  and  conclusive.  Men  may 
deny  the  truth  of  a  Christian  doctrine,  but  the  beauty  of  a 
Christian  life  subdues  prejudice  and  wins  admiration.  It 
compels  assent  to  the  power  of  a  religion  which  yields  such 
fruit,  and  the  words  of  Jesus  find  fulfillment —  "  If  ye  believe 
not  me,  believe  the  works."  For  the  change  of  life  wrought 
by  Christianity  is  often  sudden  and  immediate.  It  is  not  the 
fruit  of  a  wise  education,  or  of  long  and  careful  training.  It 
takes  place  in  those  who  have  been  surrounded  from  child- 
hood by  evil  influences,  who  have  had  no  moral  training, 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  319 

whose  lives  have  been  stained  by  degrading  vices.  Nor  is  it 
the  result  of  long  and  earnest  struggles,  of  habits  slowly 
formed  by  resolute*  efforts.  It  is  as  sudden  as  it  is  radical. 
The  drunkard  loathes  his  cups.  The  blasphemer  becomes 
devout.  The  licentious  man  grows  pure  in  thought  as  in  life. 
The  unbeliever  has  an  unquestioning  faith. 

Such  changes  do  not  spring  from  natural  causes.  They  are 
not  intelligible  by  the  common  laws  of  life.  Character  is  of 
slow  growth,  and  gains  strength  by  painful  and  protracted 
struggles.  But  Christianity  claims  to  bring  supernatural 
power  to  man's  help,  to  supply  a  divine  agency  for  immediate 
results.  Thousands  of  converts  were  made  in  a  single  day  at 
Pentecost.  The  hardened  jailer  of  Philippi,  by  the  experience 
of  a  few  moments,  becomes  another  man.  The  publican  of 
Jericho,  hard  and  exacting,  is  made  just  and  liberal  by  a 
single  visit  of  Jesus.  Similar  results  are  witnessed  in  every 
revival,  and  under  the  preaching  of  every  faithful  minister  of 
Jesus.  Christianity  claims  power  to  effect  such  changes. 
They  are  wrought  by  its  agency,  and  the  results  demonstrate 
its  truth  and  its  divine  origin. 


HE  NEEDED  LIGHT  FROM  ABOVE. 

But  if  a  man  walk  in  the  night,  he  stumbleth,  because  there  is  no  light  in 
him.  —  John  11 :  10. 

THE  celebrated  Mr.  Hume  wrote  an  essay  on  the  sufficiency 
of  the  light  of  nature  ;  and  the  not  less  celebrated  Robertson 
wrote  on  the  necessity  of  revelation,  and  the  insufficiency  of 
the  light  of  nature.  Hume  came  one  evening  to  visit  Rob- 
ertson, and  the  evening  was  spent  in  conversing  on  this  sub- 
ject. The  friends  of  both  were  present ;  and  it  is  said  that 
Robertson  reasoned  with  unaccustomed  clearness  and  power. 
Whether  Hume  was  convinced  by  his  reasonings,  or  not,  we 
can  not  tell ;  but  at  any  rate  he  did  not  acknowledge  his  con- 
victions. Hume  was  very  much  of  a  gentleman,  and  as  he  was 
about  to  depart,  bowed  politely  to  those  in  the  room,  while, 
as  he  retired  through  the  door,  Robertson  took  the  light  to 
show  him  the  way.  Hume  was  still  facing  the  door.  "  0, 


320  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

sir/'  said  he  to  Robertson,  "  I  find  the  light  of  nature  always 
sufficient;"  and  he  continued,  "Pray  don't  trouble  yourself, 
sir,"  and  so  he  bowed  on.  The  street  door  was  open  j  and 
presently,  as  he  bowed  along  in  the  entry,  he  stumbled  over 
something  concealed, 'and  pitched  down  stairs  into  the  street. 
Robertson  ran  after  him  with  a  light ;  and  as  he  held  it  over 
him,  whispered,  "You  had  better  have  a  little  light  from 
above,  friend  Hume."  And,  raising  him  up,  he  bade  him  good 
night,  and  returned  to  his  friends. 


CHRIST'S  LOVE  MANIFESTED  IN  SYMPATHY. 

When  Jesus  therefore  saw  her  weeping,  and  the  Jews  also  weeping  which 
came  with  her,  he  groaned  in  the  spirit,  and  was  troubled,  and  said,  Where 
have  ye  laid  him?  They  say  unto  him,  Lord,  come  and  see.  —  John  11 :  33,  34. 

YOU  point  me  to  the  universe  around  men,  and  above,  and 
I  admire  the  wisdom  that  has  planned  it,  the  might  that 
has  established  it,  and  the  will  that  carries  it  forward  in  its 
sweep,  without  a  single  jar  or  break,  from  age  to  age.  But  I 
see  nothing  in  all  this  universe  of  that  tender  and  intimate 
sympathy  with  man  —  in  the  feebleness,  the  suffering,  and  the 
peril  he  experiences  —  which  was  revealed  in  the  Son  of  God 
when  he  took  little  children  into  his  arms  and  blessed  them ; 
when  he  stood  at  the  grave  of  Lazarus,  and  wept  there.  The 
showers  that  fall  in  their  shining  beauty  out  of  the  skies,  — 
dropping  upon  the  earth  in  its  spring-tide,  and  giving  bright- 
ness to  the  blossom,  and  fruitful  life  to  all  the  scene,  —  they 
come  as  blessings  descending  upon  the  earth,  and  we  may 
well  be  grateful  for  them.  But  they  are  not  tears  of  personal 
sympathy,  falling  upon  us  from  the  eyes  of  Omnipotence. 
They  are  the  fluent  crystal  jewels,  scattered  from  the  casket 
which  is  full  of  such  treasures.  But  when  I  see  the  Lord 
himself,  who  has  all  might  and  government  in  his  hand,  stand- 
ing before  the  grave  -of  his  friend,  and  weeping  there,  it  is 
more  to  me  than  all  spring  showers  !  For  there  is  the  spirit, 
not  of  wisdom  alone,  or  of  bounteous  compassion,  but  of  ten- 
derest  sympathy,  behind  the  tears  ;  and  my  heart  swells  and 
melts  as  I  read  of  it.  —  Rev.  Dr.  Storrs. 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  321 

"JESUS  WEPT." 

Jesus  wept.  — John  II:  35. 

CHRIST'S  humanity  is  touchingly  pictured  in  the  two  words 
which  comprise  the  shortest  verse  in  the  Bible.  In  the 
same  chapter  wherein  is  found  the  sublime  declaration,  "  I  am 
the  resurrection  and  the  life,"  it  is  recorded,  "  Jesus  wept." 
Divinity  speaks  forth  in  the  declaration  ;  humanity  sorrow- 
fully manifests  itself  in  the  brief,  simple  record. 

Though,  as  we  read  the  gospel  narrations,  we  can  readily 
believe  the  Saviour  to  be  "  a  man  of  sorrows  and  acquainted 
with  grief,"  we  never  realize  how  closely  his  nature  is  allied 
to  our  own  until  we  see  him  weeping  in  sympathy  with  others 
over  a  friend  dead.  Christ  healing  the  sick,  making  the  blind 
to  see,  causing  the  lame  to  walk,  and  performing  all  those  God- 
like miracles  which  so  clearly  prove  his  superior  power,  wins 
our  most  devout  worship;  Christ  sorrowing  as  we  sorrow, 
stricken  in  heart  with  a  grief  so  common  to  us  all,  calls  out 
our  deepest  and  warmest  love. 

Human  grief  is  so  very  human  that  it  moves  us  with  a 
strange  control.  We  cannot  look  upon  it  in  idle  indifference. 
Griefs  are  of  many  kinds,  however,  and  not  all  move  us  alike. 
Sorrow  born  of  death  has  the  strongest  influence.  Speaking 
of  this  sorrow,  one  said  once,  in  our  hearing,  "  When  a  friend 
dies,  it  is  not  so  much  that  one  we  love  is  dead,  but  that  a  part 
of  our  life  is  wanting."  And  so  when  we  see  stricken  ones 
mourning  over  the  part  of  their  life  which  they  miss,  our 
hearts  respond  in  sincere  sympathy.  When  the  Redeemer 
weeps  over  Jerusalem,  because  of  its  wickedness,  we  are 
touched,  but  in  only  a  slight  degree  ;  when,  with  Martha 
and  Mary,  he  weeps  over  the  dead  friend  and  brother,  we  can 
scarcely  do  other  than  add  our  tears  to  his. 


SAVED  BY  BELIEVING. 

Jesus  saith  unto  her,  Said  I  not  unto  thee,  that  if  thou  wouldest  believe, 
thou  shouldest  see  the  glory  of  God  ?  —  John  11 :  40. 

A  DOCTOR  who  was  once  visiting  a  Christian  patient  had 
himself  been  anxious  to  feel  that  he  was  at  peace  with 
41 


322  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

God  —  the  Spirit  of  God  had  convinced  him  of  sin  and  need, 
and  he  longed  to  possess  "  that  peace  which  the  world  can  not 
give."  On  this  occasion,  addressing  himself  to  the  sick  one, 
he  said,  — 

"  I  want  you  just  to  tell  me  what  it  is,  this  believing  and 
getting  happiness  —  faith  in  Jesus,  and  all  that  sort  of  thing, 
that  brings  peace." 

His  patient  replied,  "  Doctor,  I  have  felt  that  I  could  do 
nothing,  and  I  have  put  my  case  in  your  hands  —  I  am  trust- 
ing in  you.  This  is  exactly  what  every  poor  sinner  must  do 
in  the  Lord  Jesus." 

This  reply  greatly  awakened  the  doctor's  surprise,  and  a 
new  light  broke  in  on  his  soul. 

"  Is  that  all  ?  "  he  exclaimed  ;  "  simply  trusting  in  the  Lord 
Jesus  ?  I  see  it  as  I  never  did  before.  -  He  has  done  the 
work." 

Yes,  Jesus  said  on  the  cross,  "  It  is  finished."  And  "  who- 
soever believeth  in  him  shall  not  perish,  but  have  everlasting 
life."  From  that  sick-bed  the  doctor  went  a  happy  man, 
rejoicing  that  his  sins  were  washed  away  in  the  blood  of  the 
Lamb. 

I  WOULD  SEE  JESUS. 

The  same  came  therefore  to  Philip,  which  was  of  Bethsaida  of  Galilee,  and 
desired  him,  saying,  Sir,  we  would  see  Jesus.  — John  12  :.21. 

I  WOULD  see  Jesus  in  prosperity,  that  his  fascinating  light 
may  not  lead  me  to  a  dreadful  precipice ;  but  that  his  good 
Spirit  may  whisper  to  my  heart  the  noble  inducements  Chris- 
tians have  to  devise  liberal  things  ;  that  I  may  ever  be  saying, 
"  What  am  I,  0  Lord,  that  thou  shouldst  put  into  my  heart  to 
do  these  things,  when  the  earth  is  thine  and  the  fullness  there- 
of; it  is  but  thine  own  which  I  return  unto  thee?" 
9  I  would  see  Jesus  in  adversity,  because  he  is  a  friend  born 
for  such  a  state  ;  because,  when  all  the  fallacious  props  of 
happiness  give  way,  his  single  name  alone  supports  the  build- 
ing. I  would  see  Jesus  in  adversity,  that  I  might  order  my 
cause  before  him,  for  he  has  all  power  in  heaven  and  on  earth, 
and  easily  can  arrange  future  events  so  as  to  throw  a  luster  on 
the  darkest  circumstances. 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  323 

I  would  see  Jesus  in  health,  that  I  may  turn  at  his  gentlest 
reproof;  that  I  may  not  be  full  and  forget  God,  and  be  devoted, 
body  as  well  as  soul,  to  his  praise. 

I  would  see  Jesus  in  sickness,  because  he  healeth  all  my  dis- 
eases ;  he  alone  dispenses  the  balm  of  Gilead  j  he  alone  is  the 
Physician  there. 

I  would  see  Jesus  in  ordinances  ;  for  what  are  ordinances 
without  Christ  ?  He  shows  himself  through  the  lattices,  he 
appears  in  his  beauty,  he  is  as  the  dew  unto  Israel,  as  the 
shadow  of.  a  great  rock  in  a  weary  land  ;  his  people  sit  under 
his  shade  with  great  delight,  and  his  fruit  is  pleasant  to  their 
taste.  They  say  continually  in  ordinances,  "  Make  haste,  0 
my  beloved,  be  thou  like  a  young  hart  upon  the  mountains." 

I  would  see  Jesus  in  social  intercourse.  For  what  are  the 
charms  of  friendship  ?  What  the  refinements  of  taste  ?  What 
the  pleasures  of  conversation  ?  Are  they  not  all  unsatisfying 
and  delusive,  unless  sanctified  by  the  grace  of  the  Redeemer  ? 

I  would  see  Jesus  in  my  own  heart,  as  Lord  of  its  affections, 
of  its  purposes,  of  its  pleasures  ;  as  the,  mover  of  its  hopes  and 
fears,  the  author  of  its  existence  and  happiness. 

I  would  see  Jesus  in  death,  as  the  Sun  of  Righteousness, 
whose  beams  in  the  darkest  moments  can  spread  light  and 
healing.  I  would  listen  to  his  voice,  saying,  "  To  him  that 
overcometh  Avill  I  give  to  eat  of  the  tree  of  life."  "  Fear  not, 
I  have  the  keys  of  hell  and  death."  Arise,  0  thou  weary  fol- 
lower of  thy  crucified  Lord,  and  enter  into  thy  rest. 

I  would  see  Jesus  in  glory  ;  for  what  is  heaven  itself  with- 
out him  ?  But  when  we  shall  see  him  as  he  is,  then  shall  we 
be  like  him,  and  be  for  ever  happy  in  his  presence. 


IMPROVE  THE  LIGHT  NOW. 

Then  Jesus  said  unto. them,  Yet  a  little  while  is  the  light  with  you.  Walk 
while  ye  have  the  light,  lest  darkness  come  upon  you  :  for  he  that  walketh  ^n 
darkness  knoweth  not  whither  he  gocth.  —John  12  :  35. 

IT  was  day  at  Jerusalem  in  Christ's  time  ;  at  Ephesus,  in  St. 
John's  time  ;  at  Corinth,  Philippi,  <fec.,  in  St.  Paul's  time  ; 
at  Crete,  in  Titus'  time  ;  at  Alexandria,  in  St.  Mark's  time  ;  at 


324  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

Smyrna,  in  Polycarp's  time  ;  at  Pergamus,  in  Antipas'  time  ; 
at  Antioch,  in  Evodius'  and  Ignatius'  time  ;  at  Constantinople, 
in  St.  Chrysostom's  time  ;  at  Hippo,  in  St.  Augustine's  timer 
<fcc.  It  is  now  night  with  most  of  them,  and  yet  day  with  us  * 
Jerusalem  had  a  day,  and  every  city,  every  nation,  every 
church,  every  congregation,  every  man  hath  a  day  of  grace, 
if  he  have  but  grace  to  take  notice  of  it,  hath  an  accepted 
time  if  he  do  but  accept  of  it,  and  he  may  find  God  if  he  seek 
him  in  time  ;  but  if  he  let  the  Sun  of  Righteousness  go  downr 
and  work  not  out  his  salvation  whilst  it  is  called  To-day,  he 
must  look  for  nothing  but  perpetual  darkness,  when  time  will 
be  swallowed  up  in  eternity,  when  there  will  be  no  time  at 
all.  —  Things  Neic  and  Old. 


PAYSOFS  ILLUSTRATION   OF  THE  THREAD. 

He  that  rejecteth  me,  and  receiveth  not  my  words,  hath  one  that  judgeth 
"him:  the  word  that  I  have  spoken,  the  same  shall  judge  him  in  the  last 
day.  —  John  12  :  48. 


PAYSON  once  ga^  notice  in  Portland,  that  he  would  be 
glad  to  see  any  person  who  did  not  intend  to  seek  reli- 
gion. About  forty  came.  He  spent  a  very  pleasant  interview 
with  them,  saying  nothing  about  religion,  till  just  as  they  were 
about  to  leave,  he  closed  a  few  very  plain  remarks  thus  :  "  Sup- 
pose you  should  see  coming  down  from  heaven  a  very  fine 
thread  so  fine  as  to  be  almost  invisible,  and  it  should  come 
and  gently  attach  itself  to  you.  You  knew,  we  will  suppose, 
it  came  from  God.  Should  you  dare  to  put  out  your  hand  and 
thrust  it  away  ?  "  He  dwelt  for  a  few  moments  on  the  idea, 
and  then  added,  "  Now  such  a  thread  has  come  from  God  to 
you  this  afternoon.  You  do  not  feel,  you  say,  any  interest  in 
religion.  But  by  your  coming  here  this  afternoon  God  has 
fastened  one  little  thread  upon  you  all.  It  is  very  weak  and 
frail,  and  you  can  easily  brush  it  away.  But  you  will  not  do 
so  ?  No:  welcome  it,  and  it  will  enlarge  and  strengthen  itself 
until  it  becomes  a  golden  thread  to  bind  you  forever  to  a  God 
of  love  1" 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  325 

CHRIST  THE  METROPOLIS  OP  THE  SCRIPTURES. 

Ye  call  me  Master,  and  Lord  :  and  ye  say  well ;  for  so  I  am.  —  John  13  :  13. 

A  YOUNG  man  had  been  preaching  in  the  presence  of  a 
venerable  divine,  and  after  he  had  done,  he  went  to  the 
old  minister,  and  said,  — 

"  What  do  you  think  of  my  sermon  ?  " 

"  A  very  poor  sermon,  indeed,"  said  he. 

"  A  poor  sermon  ! "  said  the  young  man  ;  "  it  took  me  a  long 
time  to  study  it." 

"Ay,  no  doubt  of  it." 

"  Why,  did  you  not  think  my  explanation  of  the  text  a  very 
good  one  ?  " 

"  0,  yes,"  said  the  old  preacher,  "  very  good  indeed." 

"  Well,  then,  why  do  you  say  it  is  a  poor  sermon  ?  Didn't 
you  think  the  metaphors  were  appropriate,  and  the  arguments 
conclusive  ?  " 

"  Yes,  they  were  very  good,  as  far  as  that  goes  ;  but  still  it 
was  a  very  poor  sermon." 

"  Will  you  tell  me  why  you  think 'it  was  a  poor  sermon  ?  " 

"  Because,"  said  he,  "  there  was  no  Christ  in  it." 

"  Well,"  said  the  young  man,  "  Christ  was  not  in  the  text ; 
we  are  not  to  be  preaching  Christ  always  ;  we  must  preach 
what  is  in  the  text." 

So  the  old  man  said,  — 

"  Don't  you  know,  young  man,  that  from  every  town,  and 
every  village,  and  every  little  hamlet  in  England,  wherever  it 
may  be,  there  is  a  road  to  London  ?  " 

"  Yes,"  said  the  young  man. 

"  Ah ! "  said  the  old  divine,  "  and  from  every  text  in 
Scripture  there  is  a  road  to  the  metropolis  of  the  Scrip- 
tures —  that  is  Christ.  And,  my  dear  brother,  your  business 
is,  when  you  get  a  text,  to  say,  l  Now  what  is  the  road  k> 
Christ  ? '  and  then  preach  a  sermon,  running  along  the  road  to 
the  great  metropolis  —  Christ.  And,"  said  he,  "  I  have  not 
yet  found  a  text  that  has  not  a  road  to  Christ  in  it.  If  I 
should,  I  would  make  one.  I  would  go  over  hedge  and  ditch, 
but  I  would  get  at  my  Master,  for  the  serfnon  can  not  do  any 
good  unless  there  is  a  savor  of  Christ  in  it." 


326  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 


THE  ELEVENTH  COMMANDMENT. 

A  new  commandment  I  give  unto  you,  That  ye  love  one  another ;  as  I  have 
loved  you,  that  ye  also  love  one  another.  —  John  13  :  34.    . 

A  RCHBISHOP  USHER,  being  once  on  a  visit  to  Scotland, 
]\.  heard  a  great  deal  of  the  piety  and  devotion  of  Mr.  Sam- 
uel Rutherford.  He  wished  much  to  witness  what  had  been 
told  him,  but  was  at  a  loss  how  to  accomplish  his  design.  At 
•length  it  came  into  his  mind  to  dress  himself  like  a  pauper  ; 
and  on  a  Saturday  evening,  when  turning  dark,  he  called  at  Mr. 
Rutherford's  house,  and  asked  if  he  could  get  quarters  for  a 
night.  Mr.  Rutherford  consented  to  give  the  poor  man  a  bed 
for  the  night,  and  desired  him  to  sit  down  in  the  kitchen,  which 
he  cheerfully  did.  Mrs.  Rutherford,  according  to  custom  on 
Saturday  evening,  that  her  servants  might  be  prepared  for 
the  Sabbath,  called  them  together  and  examined  them.  In 
the  course  of  the  examination  she  asked  the  stranger  how 
many  commandments  there  were.  To  which  he  answered, 
"  Eleven."  On  receiving  this  answer,  she  replied,  "  What  a 
shame  is  it  for  you,  a  man  with  gray  hairs,  in  a  Christian 
country,  not  to  know  how  many  commandments  there  are  ! 
There  is  not  a  child  of  six  years  old  in  this  parish,  but  could 
answer  this  question  properly."  She  troubled  the  poor  man 
no  more,  thinking  him  so  very  ignorant,  but  lamented  his 
condition  to  her  servants.  After  giving  him  some  supper,  she 
desired  a  servant  to  show  him  up  stairs  to  a  bed  in  the  gar- 
ret. Mr.  Rutherford,  on  discovering  who  he  was  next  morn- 
ing, requested  him  to  preach  for  him  that  day,  which  the 
bishop  consented  to  do,  on  the  condition  that  he  would  not 
discover  him  to  any  other.  Mr.  Rutherford  furnished  the 
bishop  with  a  suit  of  his  own  clothes,  and  early  in  the  morn- 
ing he  went  into  the  fields ;  the  other  followed  him,  and 
brought  him  in  as  a  stuange  minister  passing  by,  who  had 
promised  to  preach  for  him.  Mrs.  Rutherford  found  that  the 
poor  man  had  gone  away  before  any  of  the  family  were  out 
of  bed.  After  domestic  worship  and  breakfast,  the  family 
went  to  the  church,  and  the  bishop  had  for  his  text,  John 
13  :  34,  "  A  new  commandment  I  give  unto  you,  that  ye  love 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  327 

one  another."  In  the  course  of  his  sermon  he  observed,  that 
this  might  be  reckoned  the  eleventh  commandment :  upon 
which  Mrs.  Rutherford  said  to  herself,  "  That  is  the  answer 
the  poor  man  gave  me  last  night ;  "  and  looking  up  to  the 
pulpit,  said,  "  It  can  not  be  possible  that  this  is  he  ! "  After 
public  worship,  the  strange  minister  and  Mr.  Rutherford  spent 
the  evening  in  mutual  satisfaction  ;  and  early  on  Monday  morn- 
ing the  former  went  away  in  the  dress  in  which  he  came,  and 
was  not  discovered. 


A  FINER  MANSION. 

In  my  Father's  house  are  many  mansions  :  if  it  were  not  so,  I  would  have 
told  you.     I  go  to  prepare  a  place  for  you.  —  John  14  :  2. 

ANEW  ZEALAND  chief,  Tamahana,  who  visited  England  a 
few  years  ago,  was  remarkable  for  the  deep  spirituality 
of  his  mind,  and  his  constant  delight  in  the  Word  of  God.  One 
day  he  was  taken  to  see  a  beautiful  mansion — one  of  the  show- 
places  near  London.  The  gentleman  who  took  him  expected 
to  see  him  greatly  astonished  and  much  charmed  with  its 
magnificence  and  splendor  ;  but  it  seemed,  to  his  surprise,  to 
excite  little  or  no  admiration  in  his  mind.  Wondering  how 
this  could  be,  he  began  to  point  out  to  him  its  grandeur,  the 
beauty  of  the  costly  furniture  brought  from  all  parts  of  the 
world,  the  view  from  the  windows,  &c.  Tamahana  heard  all 
silently ;  then,  looking  round  upon  the  walls,  replied,  "  Ah  ! 
my  Father's  house  finer  than  this."  "  Your  father's  house  !  " 
thought  the  gentleman,  who  knew  his  father's  home  was  but 
a  poor  mud  cottage.  But  Tamahana  went  on,  "  My  Father's 
house  finer  than  this  ;  "  and  began  to  speak  in  his  own  expres- 
sive, touching  strain  of  the  house  above  —  the  house  of  "  many 
mansions  "  —  the  eternal  home  of  the  Redeemer. 


NO  HOPE  FOR  THE  MORALIST. 

Jesus  saith  unto  him,  I  am  the  way,  and  the  truth,  and  the  life :  no  man 
cometli  unto  the  Father,  but  by  me.  —  John  14  :  6. 

A  MAN  once  dreamed  that  he  died,  and  went  into  the  other 
world.     He  saw  a  high  enclosure  surrounding  heaven, 


328  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

with  a  little  gate  through  which  he  was  about  to  pass.  As  he 
came  near  to  enter,  he  saw  written  at  the  top  of  the  gate, 
"  Without  holiness  no  man  shcdl  see  the  Lord  I  "  "  All  right/' 
said  he  ;  "  I  have  that ;  "  and  he  was  for  marching  straight  in. 
But  at  that  moment  a  man  touched  his  shoulder,  saying,  "  Stop ! 
you  think  of  entering  through  that  gate  ?  "  "  Certainly,"  said 
he  ;."  I  have  holiness  :  I  am  no  sinner."  "  But  do  you  not  re- 
member that  when  we  were  boys,  and  were  playing  together, 
you  once  cheated  me  out  of  a  marble  ?  "  "  Yes,  I  believe  I 
do."  "  There  is  one  sin,  then,"  said  the  man  ;  "  and  since  you 
have  committed  one  sin,  you  can  not  go  in  at  that  gate."  At 
this  the  moralist  was  in  trouble  and  deep  distress.  And  while 
weeping  at  his  exclusion  and  disappointment,  he  saw  another 
gate,  over  which  was  written,  "  TJie  blood  of  Jesus  Christ 
cleanseth  from  all  sin."  "  Thank  God  for  that ! "  he  cried,  and 
immediately  renounced  his  own  righteousness,  and  sought  ad- 
mittance through  Christ,  who  is  "  the  way,  and  the  truth,  and 
the  life.19 

FOR  CHARLIE'S  SAKE. 

And  whatsoever  ye  shall  ask  in  my  name,  that  will  I  do,  that  the  Father 
may  be  glorified  in  the  Son.  —  John  14  :  13. 

"  GOME  years  ago,  in  war  time,"  said  Mr.  Moody,  "  a  well- 
O  known  judge,  who  had  much  interested  himself  for  the 
welfare  of  the  suffering  soldiers,  resolved  that  while  a  certain 
case  was  pending,  he  would  turn  away  all  applicants  for  char- 
ity, that  he  might  devote  himself  wholly  to  the  duties  of  his 
profession. 

"  One  day  a  soldier  came  into  his  office,  poorly  clad,  his  face 
bearing  the  deep  lines  of  suffering.  The  judge,  pretending 
not  to  notice  him,  continued  his  work.  The  soldier  fumbled 
in  his  pockets  for  a  long  time,  and  then  said,  in  an  uncertain, 
disappointed  voice,  as  though  ho  saw  that  he  was  unwelcome, 
'  I  did  have  a  letter  for  you.'  The  judge,  acting  against  the 
prompting  of  a  warm,  generous  heart,  made  no  reply.  Pres- 
ently a  thin,  trembling  hand  pushed  a  note  along  the  desk. 
The  judge  raised  his  face  slightly,  and  was  about  to  say,  '  I 
have  no  time  for  such  matters  as  those/  when  he  discovered 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  329 

the  writing  was  that  of  his  own  son,  a  soldier  in  the  army.  He 
took  up  the  note.  It  read  in  substance,  l  Dear  father :  The 
bearer  is  a  soldier,  discharged  from  the  hospital.  He  is  going 
home  to  die.  Assist  him  in  any  way  you  can,  for  Charlie's 
sake.' 

"  All  the  tender  emotions  of  his  soul  were  laid  open.  He 
said  to  a  friend  afterward,  '  I  took  the  soldier  to  my  heart,  for 
Charlie's  sake;  I  let  him  sleep  in  Charlie's  bed.  I  clothed 
him,  and  supplied  him  with  every  comfort  for  the  sake  of  my 
own  dear  boy.' 

"  My  friends,  God  will  never  turn  the  needy  away  without 
a  blessing,  for  his  dear  Son's  sake  —  for  Jesus'  sake." 


"I  IN  YOU." 

At  that  day  ye  shall  know  that  I  am  in  my  Father,  and  ye  in  me,  and  I  in 
you.  —  John  14  :  20. 

THE  most  wonderful  event  in  the  history  of  the  universe  is 
the  Incarnation.  That  God  should  in  very  deed  dwell 
with  man,  made  the  wise  soul  of  Solomon  bow  the  lower  in 
astonishment  and  adoration.  What  if  he  had  seen  that  he 
would  dwell  in  a  Person,  selected,  created  for  this  purpose ; 
that  he  would  appear  before  all  the  hosts  of  earth,  and  heaven, 
and  hell,  not  only  the  Son  of  God,  but  the  Son  of  Man  ?  How 
far  mightier  an  awe  would  have  possessed  his  soul !  He  saw, 
as  in  a  glass  darkly,  this  strange  futurity.  Beyond  his  appre- 
hension stood  forth  the  object  of  his  faith ;  the  seed  of  the 
woman  bruising  the  head  of  sin,  and  delivering  the  soul  of  the 
sinner.  But  Christ  in  his  parting  words  goes  farther  than  the 
wisest  dare  to  dream  or  hope.  God  has  in  very  deed  dwelt 
with  man.  He  has  clothed  himself  in  the  garments  of  hu- 
manity, spirit,  and  flesh.  He  has  made  these  finite  robes 
lustrous  with  the  glory  that  shone  through  them  upon  the 
most  bleared  and  prejudiced  eyes.  Now  he  is  about  to  lay 
them  aside  for  a  season.  He  will  resume  them,  only  to  trans- 
fer them  from  the  sight  of  mortals  to  that  of  immortality.  His 
friends  gather  round  him  to  catch  his  last  words.  Sorrow  fills 
their  hearts.  Dread  of  their  enemies,  in  whose  power  they 
42 


330  NEW   TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

will  seemingly  be  left,  increases  their  grief.  Weakness  and 
anguish  come  upon  them.  Then  speaks  the  mighty  Emmanuel. 
In  this  day  of  my  departure  and  your  distress  shall  ye  know 
that  "  I  am  in  my  Father,  and  ye  in  me,  and  I  in  you." 

What  means  this  divine  enigma  ?  Will  God  in  very  deed 
dwell  with  man  ?  Will  he  reincarnate  himself  in  his  creatures  ? 
Is  the  mystery  of  Bethlehem  to  be  repeated  multitudinously 
throughout  earth  and  time  ?  So  some  fancy  who  reduce  that 
mystery  to  a  mere  inspiration  of  God  in  the  soul  of  a  Jewish 
youth.  If  we  follow  the  faith  of  Renan,  and  of  a  large  body 
of  dreamers  of  our  day,  who  call  themselves  reasoners,  all  the 
more  as  they  exhibit  the  less  of  reason,  we  can  easily  read  the 
meaning.  "  Jesus,  the  Son  of  Mary,  was  a  good  man.  His 
goodness  came  from  God.  The  influence  of  his  example  has 
affected  all  other  seekers  after  the  good,  and  so  he  dwells  in 
God,  God  in  him,  and  he  in  every  l  meek  lover  of  the  good.' ': 
Is  this  all  ?  Then  why  these  sublime  exhortations  and  prayers  ? 
Why  this  weight  of  agony  upon  both  Disciple  and  Teacher,  a 
weight  of  infinite  burden  upon  his  soul  ?  Why  this  promise 
of  the  Comforter,  not  an  effluence,  but  a  Person ;  even  the 
Spirit  of  Truth.  "  He,"  not  it,  shall  be  in  you.  No  mirage  of 
mere  breath,  however  divine,  is  this  Splendor  of  strength  and 
joy.  "  I  in  You,"  is  the  personal,  conscious  communion  of 
Christ  with  his  believer.  It  is  as  separate,  yet  as  intimate  as 
the  fellowship  of  two  kindred  souls ;  more  separate,  and  more 
intimate.  It  is  as  clearly  revealable  to  our  consciousness  as  the 
fact  of  our  own  being.  We  are  one  with  him,  yet  infinitely 
below  him.  We  are  in  perfect  communion,  and  in  ineffable 
contrast.  Our  natures  assume  his  likeness.  Our  thoughts 
are  as  his  thoughts  ;  our  ways  as  his  ways.  Not  because  they 
are  ours,  but  his. 

OBEDIENCE  THE  GREAT  TEST  OF  PIETY. 

Jesus  answered  and  said  unto  him,  If  a  man  love  me,  lie  will  keep  my 
words :  and  my  father  will  love  him,  and  we  will  come  unto  him,  and  make 
our  abode  with  him.  —  John  14  :  23. 

THE  Bible  assigns  peculiar  importance  to  the  test  of  religious 
character  which  is  furnished  in  obedience.     God  knows 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  331 

the  blindness  of  the  human  heart,  and  the  strange  exposure  of 
men  to  self-deception.  He  has  therefore  provided  that  the 
reality  of  those  dispositions  we  profess  to  cherish  toAvard  him, 
shall  be  evinced  by  corresponding  conduct.  Do  you  inquire, 
who  are  the  friends  of  Christ  ?  "  Ye  are  my  friends  if  ye  do 
whatsoever  I  command  you."  Do  you  ask,  who  are  those  that 
love  the  Redeemer?  "  He  that  loveth  me,  keepeth  my  com- 
mandments." Do  you  ask,  how  shall  we  know  that  we  pos- 
sess a  saving  knowledge  of  him  ?  "  Hereby  do  we  know  that 
we  know  him,  if  we  t  keep  his  commandments.7  ';  Would  we 
know  the  evidence  of  hostility  to  Christ  ?  "  He  that  loveth 
me  not,  keepeth  not  my  sayings."  Would  we  know  who  are 
they  that  are  deceived  or  deceivers  ?  "  He  that  saith  he 
knoweth  him  and  keepeth  not  his  commandments,  is  a  liar,  and 
the  truth  is  not  in  him."  Would  we  trace  out  the  grand  line 
of  demarkation  between  saints  and  sinners  ?  "  In  this  the 
children  of  God  are  manifest,  and  the  children  of  the  devil  — 
he  that  doeth  not  righteousness  is  not  of  God."  Would  we 
know  what  will  be  the  grand  and  universal  rule  of  trial  at  the 
final  day  ?  "  Without  respect  of  persons,  the  Father  will  judge 
every  man  according  to  his  works."  From  beginning  to  end, 
from  first  to  last,  the  great  test  of  character  is,  "  .By  their 
fruits  shall  ye  know  them," 

INTEGRITY  OF  THE  SACRED  TEXT. 

But  the  Comforter,  which  is  the  Holy  Ghost,  whom  the  Father  will  send  in 
my  name,  he  shall  teach  you  all  things,  and  bring  all  things  to  your  remem- 
brance, whatsoever  I  have  said  unto  you.  —  John  14  :  2G. 

DR.  KENNICOTTS  testimony  respecting  the  Hebrew 
Scriptures  has  been  often  quoted.  When  he  had  an  au- 
dience of  his  sovereign  to  present  his  great  work,  his  majesty 
asked  him,  What,  upon  the  whole,  had  been  the  result  of  his 
learned  and  laborious  investigation  ?  To  which  he  replied, 
that  he  had  found  some  grammatical  errors,  and  many  varia- 
tions, in  the  different  texts ;  but  not  one  which  in  the  smallest 
degree  affected  any  article  of  faith  or  practice.  Similar  is  the 
following  testimony,  recently  borne  by  a  distinguished  bibli- 
cal student,  —  James  Smith,  Esq.,  of  Jordan  Hill,  F.  R.  S. :  — 


332  NEW   TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

"  It  may  be  satisfactory  to  those  who  look  with  suspicion 
upon  the  numerous  various  readings  appended  to  critical 
editions,  to  know  that,  in  that  very  considerable  portion  of  the 
Gospels  which  I  have  copied,  I  have  not  been  able  to  detect  a 
shade  of  difference  in  the  meaning,  either  doctrinal  or  histori- 
cal. But  the  difference  between  the  earlier  and  the  later 
MSS.,  although  unimportant  as  to  the  matter,  are  of  great  im- 
portance in  an  inquiry  like  the  present"  (Origin  and  Con- 
nection of  the  Gospels),  "  where  so  much  depend  supon  verbal 
expression.7' 

PEACE  IN  JESUS. 

Peace  I  leave  with  you,  my  peace  I  give  unto  you  :  not  as  the  world  giveth, 
give  I  unto  you.  Let  not  your  heart  be  troubled,  neither  let  it  be  afraid.  — 
John  H :  27. 

BLESSED  heritage  !  The  Saviour  lays  great  stress  upon 
it.  The  apostles  speak  of  it  continually.  Scarcely  any 
word  is  so  often  repeated  in  the  Bible  as  Peace.  Every  be- 
liever ought  to  have  it.  None  ought  to  be  a  day  without  it.. 
Peace  in  Jesus  is  a  free  gift.  Simply  to  take  it  on  trust  is  to 
have  it.  Trust  brings  rest.  The  presence  of  Jesus  is  always 
manifested  to  the  trusting  soul.  Power  accompanies  his  man- 
ifested presence.  Peace  is  the  work  of  his  power. 

It  is  an  abiding  privilege.  Nor  does  it  abide  alone.  Where 
the  peace  of  God  is,  there  is  also  the  very  God  of  peace. 
Where  peace  in  Jesus  abides,  there  abides  Jesus,  the  Prince 
of  Peace.  Where  peace  keeps  the  heart  and  mind,  there 
dwells  the  Comforter,  without  whom  no  one  can  say  that  Jesus 
is  the  Son  of  God. 

The  peace  of  God  indicates  the  will  of  God.  He  who  has 
the  peace  of  God  in  him  can  not  be  out  of  his  will.  Would  you 
know  how  to  tell  when  you  are  in  God's  will?  You  can 
quickly  tell  when  you  are  not  in  his  will.  When  peace  de- 
parts from  you,  it  is  because  you  depart  from  God.  Like  the 
pillar  of  cloud  and  of  fire  over  Israel,  the  peace  of  God  abides 
with  you  while  you  abide  in  God's  will. 

It  is  also  a  great  power.  It  keeps  the  heart  and  mind  in 
love,  in  obedience,  in  the  will  of  God,  in  the  Spirit,  and  so  in 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  333 

the  power  of  God.  One  word  spoken  in  the  will,  and  in  the 
Spirit,  and  in  the  power  of  God  is  worth  a  hundred  sermons 
in  self.  One  casting  of  the  net  on  the  right  side  of  the  ship, 
in  obedience  to  the  will  of  a  present  Saviour,  is  worth  a  thou- 
sand fruitless  efforts  in  the  night  of  toil,  in  the  absence  of 
Jesus,  the  Prince  of  Peace. 


"HE  PURGETH  IT." 

Every  branch  in  me  that  beareth  not  fruit,  he  taketh  away :   and  every 
branch  that  beareth  fruit,  he  purgeth  it,  that  it  may  bring  forth  more  fruit.  — 

John  15  :  2. 

\ 

IN  a  sermon  on  "  Christ  the  True  Yine,"  by  Trench,  we  find 
this  comforting  thought,  for  those   who  watch  and  often 
wonder  at  God's  dealings  with  his  children :  — 

"  We  sometimes  wonder,  with  regard  to  some  of  God's  deal- 
ings with  the  elect,  that  he  should  cast  them  again  and  again 
into  the  crucible  of  trial.  It  seems  to  us  as  though  they  were 
already  refined  gold.  But  he  sees  that  in  them  which  we  do 
not  see,  a  further  fineness  which  is  possible ;  and  he  will  not 
give  over  till  that  be  obtained.  It  is  just  as  in  a  portrait  by 
some  cunning  artist,  which  is  now  drawing  near  to  its  com- 
pletion. Men  look  at  it,  and  count  it  perfect,  and  are  Well- 
nigh  impatient  that  the  artist  does  not  now  withhold  his  hand 
and  declare  it  is  finished,  while  he,  knowing  better,  touches 
and  re-touches,  returns  again  and  again  to  his  work.  And 
why?  Because  there  floats  before  him  an  ideal  of  possible 
excellence  at  which  he  has  not  yet  arrived,  but  which  he  will 
not  rest  nor  be  contented  till  he  has  embodied  in  his  Avork. 
It  is  thus  with  God  and  some  of  his  elect  servants.  Men 
seeing  their  graces,  which  so  far  exceed  those  of*  common  ^ 
men,  wonder  sometimes  why  they  should  suffer  still ;  why  they 
seem  to  be  ever  falling  from  one  sorrow  to  another.  But  he 
sees  in  them  that  which  no  other  eye  can  see  :  the  grace  which 
is  capable  of  becoming  more  gracious  still ;  and  in  his  very 
faithfulness  he  will  not  deprive  them,  or  suffer  them  to  come 
short  of  this.  They  are  fruit-bearing  branches,  and  because 
they  are  so,  l  he  purges  "them,  that  they  may  bring  forth 


334  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

more  fruit.'  My  brethren,  how  blessed  must  God's  service 
be,  when  he  can  give  nothing  better  to  his  servants,  in  reward 
of  their  obedience,  than  the  ability  to  serve  him  more  and 
better ! " 


PRUNING  THE  VINE. 

I  am  the  vine,  ye  are  the  branches.  He  that  abideth  in  me,  and  I  in 
him,  the  same  bringeth  forth  much  fruit ;  for  without  me  ye  can  do  nothing.  — 
John  15  :  5. 

r\  OTTHOLD,  visiting  a  person  who  was  in  deep  affliction  and 
VJ  sorrow,  was  told  by  the  family  that  he  was  in  the  garden. 
Thither  he  followed,  and  found  him  employed  in  clearing  a 
vine  of  its  superfluous  leaves.  After  a  friendly  salute,  he 
inquired  what  he  was  doing.  "  I  find,"  was  the  reply,  "  that 
owing  to  the  abundant  rain,  this  vine  is  overgrown  with  wood 
arid  leaves,  which  prevents  the  sun  from  reaching  and  ripen- 
ing the  grapes.  I  am  therefore  pruning  part  of  them  away, 
that  it  may  bring  its  fruit  to  maturity."  Gotthold  rejoined  : 
And  do  you  find  that  in  this  operation  the  vine  resists  and 
opposes  you  ?  If  not,  why  are  you*  displeased  that  a  gracious 
God  should  do  to  you,  what  your  vine  must  not  be  displeased 
that  you  do  to  it  ?  You  prune  off  the  superfluous  foliage  in 
order  that  it  may  bear  the  better  fruit ;  and  God  takes  away 
your  temporal  blessings  and  earthly  comforts,  in  order  that 
faith  may  produce  its  noble  fruits  of  love,  humility,  patience, 
hope,  and  prayer,  and  these  larger,  and  fairer,  and  sweeter  than 
before.  Let  them  talk  as  they  please.  When  a  man  has-  a 
superfluity  of  all  things,  and  is  a  total  stranger  to  the  cross, 
the  Sun  of  Righteousness,  with  its  gracious  rays,  can  scarcely 
reach  the  heart ;  and  hence  his  Christianity  usually  bears  only 
the.  harsh  and  acrid  fruits  of  hypocrisy,  pride,  ivnkindness.  and 
implacability.  Let  God,  therefore,  do  with  you  as  he  will ; 
he  will  do  you  no  harm.  You  are  now  stripping  the  vine  of 
its  leaves;  in  spring  you  hoed  it,  planted  layers,  pruned  the 
suckers,  and  bound  the  branches.  My  friend,  you  arc  yourself 
a  branch  on  the  spiritual  Vine,  which  is  the  Lord  Jesus.  God 
i>  the  dresser,  and  he  well  knows  that,  without  his  grace  and 
care,  he  can  look  for  no  good  at  your  hands.  This  is  the  reason 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  335 

why  he  employs  contempt  to  lay  you  in  the  earth,  trials  to 
prune,  affliction  to  restrain,  and  poverty  to  strip  you  of  your 
leaves.  He  intends  it  all  to  make  his  grace  sweeter  to  you, 
and  your  heart  sweeter  to  him. 


CLEAVING  TO  CHRIST. 

If  yc  abide  in  me,  and  my  Words  abide  in  you,  ye  shall  ask  what  ye  will, 
and  it  shall  be  done  unto  you.  —  John  15  :  7. 

I  HAVE  seen  a  heavy  piece  of  iron  hanging  on  another  — 
not  welded,  not  linked,  not  glued  to  the  spot,  and  yet  it 
cleaved  with  such  tenacity  as  to  bear  not  only  its  own  weight, 
but  mine  too,  if  I  chose  to  seize  it  and  hang  upon  it.  A  wire 
charged  with  an  electric  current  is  in  contact  with  the  mass, 
and  hence  its  adhesion.  Cut  that  wire  through,  or  remove  it 
by  a  hair's  breadth,  and  the  piece  of  iron  drops  dead  to  the 
ground,  like  any  other  unsupported  weight. 

A  stream  of  life  from  the  Lord,  brought  into  contact  with 
a  human  spirit,  keerJs  the  spirit  cleaving  to  the  Lord  so  firmly 
that  no  power  on  earth  or  hell  can  wrench  the  two  asunder. 
From  Christ  the  mysterious  life-stream  flows,  through  the 
being  of  a  disciple  it  spreads,  and  to  the  Lord  it  returns  again. 
In  that  circle  the  feeblest  Christian  is  held  safely,  but  if  the 
circle  be  broken  the  dependent  spirit  instantly  drops  off.  — 
Arnot. 


PRAYING  IN  THE  NAME  OF  CHRIST. 

Ye  haVe  not  chosen  me,  but  I  have  chosen  you,  and  ordained  you,  that  ye 
should  go  and  bring  forth  fruit,  and  that  your  fruit  shouhl  remain  :  that  whatso- 
ever ye  shall  ask  of  the  Father  in  my  name,  he  may  give  it  you.  — John  15  :  1(5. 

¥E  can  not  pray  in  our  own  names,  for  our  names  are  evil  : 
we  can  not  make  mention  of  our  own  righteousness,  for 
we  have  none  ;  "all  our  righteousnesses  are  as  filthy  rags  ;  "  but 
in  the  name  of  Christ  we  may  ask  what  we  will,  assured  that 
God  will  hear  us  for  the  sake  of  his  only  begotten  Son. 
Every  rJrayer,  therefore,  offered  by  the  Christian,  should  be 


336  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

definitely  presented  in  the  name  of  Jesus  Christ ;  for  there  is 
no  approach  to  -the  Father  but  by  his  Son  our  Lord. 

We  must  come  to  God  in  the  name  of  Christ,  then  he  will 
be  our  Bondsman,  Surety,  Indorser,  Intercessor  with  the 
Father.  He  will  present  our  petition,  and  plead  his  own 
merits  in  our  behalf;  and  he  never  pleads  in  vain. 

As  the  high-priest,  under  the  Levitical  dispensation,  entered 
the  Holy  of  Holies  once  a  year,  bearing  the  names  ^of  the 
chosen  tribes  on  his  breastplate,  so.  the  great  High-Priest  of 
our  profession  now  stands  in  the  holiest  of  all,  bearing  the 
name  of  every  follower  and  friend  on  his  heart.  When  you 
send  up  your  prayers,  be  sure  to  direct  them  to  the  care  of 
the  Redeemer,  and  then  they  will  never  miscarry.  —  M. 
Henry. 


EXCUSES  FOR  NOT  ATTENDING  PUBLIC  WORSHIP. 

If  I  had  not  come  and  spoken  unto  them,  they  had  not  had  sin ;  but  now 
they  have  no  cloak  for  their  sin.  —  John  15  :  22. 

OVERSLEPT  myself —  could  not  dress  in  time.  Too  cold  - 
too  hot  —  too  windy  —  too  dusty.  Too  wet  —  too  damp 
—  too  sunny  —  too  cloudy.  Don't  feel  disposed.  No  other 
time  to  myself.  Look  over  my  drawers.  Put  my  papers  to 
rights.  Letters  to  write  to  my  friends.  Taken  a  dose  of 
physic.  Mean  to  walk  to  the  canal.  Going  to  take  a  ride. 
Tied  to  business  six  days  in  the  week.  No  fresh  air  but  on 
Sundays.  Can't  breathe  in  church,  always  so  full.  Feel  a 
little  feverish.  Feel  a  little  chilly.  Feel  very  lazy.  Ex- 
pect company  to  dinner.  Got  a  headache.  Intend  nursing 
myself  to-day.  New  bonnet  not  come  home.  Tore  my 
muslin  dress  comirig  down  stairs.  Got  a  new  novel  must  be 
returned  on  Monday  morning.  Wasn't  shaved  in  time.  Don't 
like  a  liturgy  —  always  praying  for  the  same  thing.  Don't 
like  extempore  prayer  —  don't  know  what  is  coming.  Don't 
like  an  organ  —  'tis  too  noisy.  Don't  like  singing  without 
music  —  makes  me  nervous.  Can't  sit  in  a  draft  of  air  — 
windows  or  door  open  in  summer.  Stove  so  hot  in-  winter, 
always  get  a  headache.  Can't  hear  an  extempore  sermon  — . 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  337 

too  frothy.  Dislike  a  written  sermon  —  too  prosing.  Nobody 
to-day  but  our  minister.  Can't  always  listen  to  the  same 
preacher.  Don't  like  strangers  —  spurn  them  with  contempt. 
Can't  keep  awake  when  at  church.  Snored  aloud  last  time  I 
was  there  —  shan't  risk  it  again.  Mean  to  inquire  of  some 
sensible  person  about  the  propriety  of  going  to  so  public  a  place 
as  church.  Will  publish  the  result.  —  Amicus. 


THE  DIVINE  COMFORTER. 

Nevertheless  I  tell  you  the  truth  :  It  is  expedient  for  you  that  I  go  away : 
for  if  I  go  not  away,  the  Comforter  will  not  come  unto  you ;  but  if  I  depart,  I 
will  send  him  unto  you.  —  John  16  :  7. 

THE  peculiar  designafion,  "  the  Comforter,"  or  "  the  Par- 
aclete," which  is  only  the  Greek  word  put  into  an  English 
form,  given  to  the  Holy  Spirit  by  our  Lord  in  his  utterances 
on  the  night  of  his  betrayal,  is  a  good,  strong  term,  and  affords 
a  foundation  for  a  hope  of  the  largest  help.  Four  times  in  the 
three  chapters  here  alluded  to  the  word  is  applied  to  the  Holy 
Spirit ;  besides  which  it  occurs  but  once  in  the  whole  New 
Testament,  and  then  it  is  used  of  the  Lord  Jesus  as  our  "  ad- 
vocate with  the  Father."  There  is  no  single  word  in  our 
language  that  exactly  expresses  its  import ;  literally  it  signi- 
fies one  who  is  called  to  our  side  to  aid  us.  The  word  "  advo- 
cate "  suggests  the  thought  of  aid  given  us  by  one  speaking 
in  our  behalf;  and  so  Christ  does  speak  in  our  behalf  with 
God,  and  the  Holy  Spirit  speaks  in  his  behalf  with  us.  When 
we  talk  of  "  comfort,"  the  idea  is  quite  commonly  of  relief  and 
support  under  some  distress  of  body  or  mind  ;  and  the  Holy 
Spirit  does  sympathize  with  us  in  every  trouble.  But  this 
only  partly  covers  the  ground.  The  Divine  Comforter  is  sent 
to  our  side  to  aid  us  in  every  way,  and  to  help  and  strengthen 
us  in  everything  in  which  Jesus  helped  and  strengthened  his 
disciples  while  he  was  on  the  earth,  and  in  which  we  can  de- 
rive help  from  the  presence  of  our  God.  To  our  side,  we  say  ; 
and  yet  nearer  than  that  is  he  to  us,  for  Jesus  said  of  him, 
"  He  dwelloth  with  you,  and  shall  be  in  you ; "  and  the  apostle 
taught  that  the  bodies  of  believers  are  temples  of  tho  Holy 
43 


338  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

Spirit.  He  is,  then,  a  divine  indweller  and  helper,  in  whom 
God's  children  may  implicitly  trust,  in  the  expectation  of  be- 
ing upheld  and  kept  by  his  power,  and  of  finding  support  and 
the  blessedness  of  a  perfect  rest  of  soul. 


GOD  ONLY  CAN  DO  THESE  THINGS. 

All  things  that  the  Father  hath  are  mine :  therefore  said  I,  that  he  shall 
take  of  mine,  and  shall  shew  it  unto  you.  —  John  16  :  15. 

'  T  CAN  NOT  find,  in  the  lively  oracles,  a  single  distinctive 
JL  mark  of  Deity,  which  is  not  applied  without  reserve  or 
limitation,  to  the  only  begotten  Son.  l  All  things  whatsoever 
the  Father  hath  are  his.7  Who  is  that  mysterious  Word  that 
was  in  the  beginning  with  God  ?  'Vftio  is  the  Alpha  and  the 
Omega,  the  beginning  and  the  ending,  the  first  and  the  last  — 
the  Almighty  ?  Who  is  he  that  knows  what  is  in  man,  because 
he  searches  the  deep  and  dark  recesses  of  the  heart  ?  Who 
is  the  Omnipresent,  that  has  promised,  l  Where  two  or  three 
are  gathered  together  in  my  name,  there  am  I  in  the  midst  of 
them  ; '  the  light  of  whose  countenance  is  at  the  same  moment 
the  joy  of  heaven  and  the  salvation  of  earth  ;  who  is  encircled 
by  the  seraphim  on  high,  and  walks  in  the  midst  of  the  golden 
candlesticks ;  who  is  in  this  assembly  ;  in  all  the  assemblies  of 
his  people  ;  in  every  worshiping  family ;  in  every  closet  of 
prayer  ;  in  every  holy  heart  ?  Whose  hands  have  stretched 
out  the  heavens,  and  laid  the  foundations  of  the  earth  ?  Who 
hath  replenished  them  with  inhabitants,  and  garnished  them 
with  beauty,  having  created  all  things  that  are  in  both,  '  visi- 
ble and  invisible,  whether  they  be  thrones,  or  dominions,  or 
principalities,  or  powers  7  ?  ^  By  whom  do  all  things  consist  ? 
Who  is  the  Governor  among  the  nations,  having  on  his  vesture 
and  on  his  thigh,  a  name  written,  l  King  of  kings  and  Lord  of 
lords'?  Whom  is  it  the  Father's  will  that  all  men  shouhl 
honor,  even  as  they  honor  himself?  Whom  has  he  commanded 
his  angels  to  worship  ?  Whom  to  obey  ?  Before  whom  do  the 
devils  tremble  ?  Who  is  qualified  to  redeem  millions  of  sin- 
ners from  the  wrath  to  come,  and  preserve  them  by  his  grace 
to  his  everlasting  kingdom  ?  Who  raiseth  the  dead,  having 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  339 

life  in  himself  to  quicken  whom  he  will,  so  that  at  his  voice  all 
that  are  in  their  graves  shall  come  forth ;  and  death  and  hell 
surrender  their  numerous  and  forgotten  captives  ?  Wlio  shall 
weigh  in  the  balance  of  judgment  the  destinies  of  angels  and 
men,  dispose  of  the  thrones  of  paradise,  and  bestow  eternal 
life  ?  Shall  I  submit  to  the  decision  of  reason  ?  Shall  I  ask  a 
response  from  heaven  ?  Shall  I  summon  the  devils  from  their 
chains  of  darkness  ?  The  response  from  heaven  sounds  in  my 
ears  ;  reason  approves,  and  the  devils  confess  —  This,  0  Chris- 
tians, is  none  other  than  the  great  God  our  Saviour" 


HONOR  GOD  IN  ASKING  MUCH. 

Verily,  verily,  I  say  unto  you,  Whatsoever  ye  shall  ask  the  Father  in  my 
name,  he  will  give  it  you.  —  John  16  :  23. 

SMALL  attainments  in  grace,  when  "  great  grace  "  is  freely 
offered,  dishonors  God.     The  world  does  not  see  in  such 
persons  how  mightily  the  gospel  of  Christ  can  save.     God  is 
honored  when  we  ask  and  receive  large  blessings. 

"  What  would  you  think  of  one  who  was  permitted  to  light 
his  dwelling  at  night  as  brilliantly  as  he  would,  without  cost, 
who  should  only  kindle  a  solitary  jet  amid  the  darkness  of  his 
home,  and  sit  down  content  in  that  somber  twilight  ?  Or  of 
one  who  should  have  free  access  to  a  spacious  garden  filled 
with  bloom,  with  leave  to  pluck  and  gather  what  he  chose, 
who  should  only  put  one  foot  inside  the  gate,  and  take  away 
a  single  flower  ?  Or  of  one  made  welcome  to  draw  from  a 
bank  account  of  millions,  who  should  fill  his  check  for  only 
enough  to  keep  him  from  absolute  starvation  ?  Would  these 
men  be  any  wiser,  would  they  honor  their  benefactors  more 
than  we,  to  whom  Jesus  opens  all  his  stores  of  grace,  and  who 
yet  keep  so  faint  a  spark  of  spiritual  life,  and  who  experience, 
so  little  of  comfort  and  strength  ?  "  —  Rev.  A.  L.  Stone,  D.  D. 


340  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

ASK  LARGE  BLESSINGS. 

Hitherto  have  ye  asked  nothing  in  my  name  :  ask,  and  ye  shall  receive, 
that  your  joy  may  be  full.  —  John  16  :  24. 

A  LEXANDER  THE  GREAT  had  a  famous,  but  indigent, 
jLl_  philosopher  in  his  court.  This  adept  in  science  was  once 
particularly  straitened  in  his  circumstances.  To  whom  alone 
should  he  apply  but  to  his  patron,  the  conqueror  of  the  world  ? 
His  request  was  no  sooner  made  than  granted.  Alexander 
gave  him  a  commission  to  receive  of  his  treasurer  whatever 
he  wanted.  He  immediately  demanded,  in  his  sovereign's 
name,  ten  thousand  pounds.  The  treasurer,  surprised  at  so 
large  a  demand,  refused  to  comply  ;  but  waited  upon  the  king, 
and  represented  to  him  the  affair,  adding  withal,  how  un- 
reasonable he  thought  the  petition,  and  how  exorbitant  the 
sum.  Alexander  heard  him  with  patience  ;  but  as  soon  as  he 
had  ended  his  remonstrance,  replied,  "  Let  the  money  be  in- 
stantly paid.  I  am  delighted  with  this  philosopher's  way  of 
thinking  •  he  has  done  me  a  singular  honor  ,*  by  the  largeness 
of  his  request  he  shows  the  high  idea  he  has  conceived,  both 
of  my  superior  wealth  and  my  royal  magnificence."  Thus  let 
us*honor  what  the  inspired  penman  styles  the  marvelous  loving- 
kindness  of  Jehovah.  "  He  that  spared  not  his  own  Son,  but 
delivered  him  up  for  us  all,  how  shall  he  not  with  him  also 
freely  give  us  all  things  ?  " 


THROUGH  MUCH  TRIBULATION. 

These  things  I  have  spoken  unto  you,  that  in  me  ye  might  have  peace.  In 
the  world  ye  shall  have  tribulation,  but  be  of  good  cheer :  I  have  overcome 
the  world.  —  John  16:33. 

NO  one  reaches  heaven  without  passing  through  the  waters 
of  tribulation.  It  is  the  law  of  the  kingdom,  and  a  neces- 
sary law.  The  Psalmist  accounts  for  it  on  the  principle  im- 
plied in  the  declaration,  "  Because  they  have  no  changes, 
therefore  they  fear  not  God."  Yes,  changes,  sad  and  painful 
changes,  are  often  necessary  in  order  to  the  turning  the  faces 


NEW   TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  341 

of  God's  chosen  heavenward.  Said  a  Christian,  who  lost  his 
house  and  property  by  fire,  "  If  they  had  not  perished,  I  should 
have  perished  ;  "  and  another,  who  had  lost  his  eyesight,  "  I 
could  never  see  till  I  was  blind."  Thus  God  leads  through 
the  troubled  waters,  up  to  the  sunshine  and  the  peace  of  the  rest 
above.  Most  true  it  is,  through  much  tribulation  ye  shall 
enter  the  kingdom. 


CHRIST  ANTICIPATING  HIS  FINISHED  WORK. 

I  have  glorified  thee  on  the  earth :  I  have  finished  the  work  which  tliou 
gavest  me  to  do.  —  John  17  :  4. 

T)  IBLICAL  scholars  long  since  remarked  the  peculiar  majmer 
JD  of  the  Saviour,  in  the  prayer  recorded  in  this  seventeenth 
chapter  of  John.  The  form  of  the  verb,  which  he  uses  in 
speaking  of  his  own  work,  is  the  indefinite  past  (the  Aorist), 
the  Greek  tense  of  narration,  employed  in  speaking  of  events 
that  belong  to  past  time,  and  without  reference  (as  in  the  per- 
fect tense)  to  the  present.  Thus  he  says  in  verse  4,  "  I  glori- 
fied thee  on  earth :  I  finished  the  work  which  thou  hast  given 
me  to  do  ;  "  in  verse  6,  "  I  manifested  thy  name  to- the 'men 
whom  thou  hast  given  me  out  of  the  world ;  "  in  verse  "12, 
"  Those  whom  thou  hast  given  me,  I  watched  over,  and  nono 
of  them  perished  ;  "  in  verse  18,  "  As  thou  didst  send  me  into 
the  world,  I  also  send  them  into  the  world  ;  "  in  verse  25, 
"  And  the  world  knew  thee  not !  But  I  knew  thee,  and  these 
knew  that  thou  didst  send  me." 

The  key  to  this  remarkable  peculiarity  is  found  in  verse  12, 
"  While  I  was  with  them,  I  kept  them  in  thy  name."  He  was 
still  with  them,  and  still  was  keeping  them.  But  his  thoughts, 
while  thus  absorbed  in  communion  with  God,  are  withdrawn 
from  the  present,  and  contemplate  his  earthly  mission  as  a 
completed  work,  on  which  he  looks  back,  and  speaks  of  it  as 
finished  and  belonging  to  the  past.  It  is  for  this  reason  he 
says  in  verse  4,  u  I  glorified  thee  on  the  earth ;  I  finished  the 
work  which  thou  hast  given  me  to  do."  This  shows  the  con- 
sistency of  the  petition  in  verse  5  (as  also  in  verse  2),  "  And 
now,  0  Father,  glorify  thou  me  with  thine  own  self,  with  the 


342  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

glory  which  I  had  with  thee  before  the  world  was ;  "  for  in 
view  of  his  finished  work,  as  he  was  now  contemplating  it,  he 
could  claim  that  glory  which  was  to  be  its  reward.  The  whole 
passage  is  thus  clothed  with  new  light  and  beauty,  when  we 
are  permitted  to  trace  what  was  passing  in  the  Saviour's 
mind,  just  as  the  sacred  writer  himself  expressed  it. 


SCRIPTURAL  SEPARATION  FROM  THE  WORLD. 

I  have  given  them  thy  word ;  and  the  world  hath  hated  them,  because  they 
are  not  of  the  world,  even  as  I  am  not  of  the  world.  —  John  17  :  14. 

AS  truly  now  as  in  the  days  when  the  apostles  were  ac- 
counted the  "  offscouring  of  all  things "  are  the  real 
disciples  of  Jesus  a  "  separate  "  people.  And  it  is  only  by  their 
keeping  up  wisely,  kindly,  and  decidedly  this  line  of  spiritual 
separation  that  they  will  preserve  themselves  from  the  "  evil " 
of  the  world,  and  become  the  instruments  of  its  salvation. 
As  the  Father  sent  the  Son  into  the  world  to  redeem  it,  so  the 
Son  sent  his  disciples.  For  their  sakes  he  sanctified  himself, 
that  they  might  sanctify  themselves  for  the  salvation  of  their 
fellow-men.  They  were  to  be  no  more  of  the  world  than  was 
he>;  and  they  would  not,  he  assured  them,  be  specially  loved 
by  the  worldly  heart,  as  the  world  had  not  loved  him.  The 
church  will  not  save  the  world  by  yielding  to  its  demands  to 
secularize  itself,  to  conform  to  its  spirit,  to  accept  its  codes  of 
morality,  and  to  drink  from  its  fountains  of  enjoyment.  When 
the  world  has  succeeded  in  bringing  the  church  to  its  senti- 
ments as  to  all  human  relations,  and  secured  so  broad  a  creed 
as  to  cover  every  body,  what  has  it  gained  ?  It  certainly  has 
not  improved  its  own  condition,  and  it  has  destroyed  the  vital 
leaven  by  which  God  is  pleased  to  save  human  society  and 
individual  souls. 

GOD'S  WORD. 

Sanctify  them  through  thy  truth  :  thy  word  is  truth.  —  John  17  :  17. 

SEEING  a  man  reject  the  inspiration  of  the  Scriptures,  while 
he  said  he  maintained  his  belief  in  Jesus  Christ  and  his 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  343 

redemption,  I  had  compared  him  to  some  one  who  has  a  costly 
perfume  in  a  glass  vessel ;  he  breaks  the  vessel,  thinking  that 
he  can  at  the  same  time  preserve  the  perfume,  but  he  loses  it 
all.  Set  aside  the  inspiration  of  the  Scriptures,  and  all  Chris- 
tian doctrine  will  disappear.  This  is  not  a  theory,  I  have 
seen  it  to  be  a  fact ;  therefore  the  question  is  one  of  the 
greatest  importance.  I  am  not  ignorant  of  the  objections,  of 
the  difficulties  that  are  raised,  but  the  plenitude  of  the  divin- 
ity to  be  found  in  the  Scriptures  is  too  great  to  be  in  the  least 
prejudiced  by  them.  I  say  from  the  depth  of  my  heart, 
"  Thy  word  is  truth."  Not  to  believe  that  the  Bible  is  God's 
message  is  voluntarily  to  deprive  one's  self  of  all  true,  whole- 
some, well-founded  knowledge  about  God  and  our  future  state. 
It  is  returning  to  darkness ;  it  is  to  ruin  our  own  prospects, 
and  perhaps  also  the  welfare  of  many  others  with  us.  —  Merle 
D'Aubigne. 

SANCTIFICATION  THROUGH  THE  TRUTH. 

And  for  their  sakcs  I  sanctify  myself,  that  they  also  might  be  sanctified 
through  the  truth.  —  John  17  :  19. 

THE  reception  of  divine  truth,  and  its  relation  to  personal 
salvation,  are  subjects  of  the  utmost  importance.  The 
truth  of  God  as  revealed  in  the  Bible  is  operative,  not  a  mere 
idea,  or  a  dogmatic  creed ;  but  a  divine  energy  in  the  soul, 
moving  it  toward  Christ  as  a  Saviour,  and  toward  heaven  as 
its  ultimate  destiny.  When  a  person  apprehends  God's  truth 
by  a  willing  faith  and  obedient  spirit,  that  truth,  like  leaven 
in  the  meal,  begins  to  work  the  purification  of  that  soul,  as 
Jesus  prayed  that  they  "  might  be  sanctified  through  the 
truth.'''  This  shows  us  the  difference  between  truth  and  error 
in  moral  results.  Error  is  powerless  for  good,  while  truth  is 
the  power  of  God  unto  salvation.  Sanctification  through  the 
truth  is  not  the  reward  of  receiving  the  truth,  but  the  result 
of  it.  "  He  that  believeth  not  shall  be  damned,"  is  not  a  pen- 
alty for  not  believing  the  gospel,  but  the  result  of  it.  Truth 
lifts  up  the  soul,  purifies  the  heart,  clothes  with  garments  of 
righteousness,  and  prepares  us  for  heaven.  Error  has  no  such 
power.  The  five  foolish  virgins  were  not  shut  out  of  the  mar- 


344  NEW   TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

riage  festivities  because  they  went  away  to  buy  oil,  but- be- 
cause they  were  not  prepared  to  enter  at  the  only  entering 
time.  Unitarianisin  fails  to  be  a  system  of  saving  faith  be- 
cause it  exalts  and  magnifies  manhood  into  untrue  and  unnat- 
ural proportions,  lifting  it  above  where  the  Bible  puts  it,  while 
it  minifies  the  Godhead  by  denying  the  divinity  of  Christ, 
whom  the  Scriptures  call  "  The  true  God  and  eternal  life." 
So  also  of  Universalism  and  Deism ;  they  have  no  power  to 
bring  up  the  fallen  soul  into  acceptance  with  God,  but  are 
opiates  to  quiet  the  awakening  of  Conscience.  Truth  is  life- 
imparting  and  life-preserving. 


CHRISTIANS  REPRESENT  CHRIST. 

I  in  them,  and  thou  in  me,  that  they  may  be  made  perfect  in  one ;  and  that 
the  world  may  know  that  thou  hast  sent  me,  and  hast  loved  them  as  thou  hast 
loved  me.  —  John  17  :  23. 

WHILE  Christ  in  glorified  humanity  represents  his  re- 
deemed ones  before  the  throne  of  his  Father  in  heaven, 
he  leaves  them  here  to  represent  him  on  earth.  His  redeemed 
family  on  earth  are  as  truly  precious  objects  of  his  love  and 
care,  as  are  his  angel  family  in  heaven.  Angels  were  never 
redeemed,  but  proportionate  to  the  price  paid  for  man's  re- 
demption is  he  more  precious  than  even  angels  in  the  sight 
of  God.  Christ  can  just  as  fully  save  a  soul  on  earth  and  keep 
it  free  from  the  touch  of  pollution,  as  he  can  thus  save  and 
keep  a  soul  in  heaven.  "  All  power  is  given  him  in  heaven 
and  on  earth.7'  Who  would  dare  to  limit  the  power  of  Christ 
to  save  to  the  uttermost,  whether  the  subject  of  his  saving 
power  be  on  earth  or  in  heaven  ?  If,  then,  we  may  as  surely 
be  kept  and  saved  on  earth  as  though  we  were  already  in 
heaven,  who  would  not  rather  inhabit  a  human  form,  and  for  a 
short  space  do  the  will  of  God  on  earth,  and  go  about  doing 
good  ?  Surely,  it  is  more  glorious  to  be  a  representative  of 
Christ  than  a  representative  of  angels.  How  much  more  effi- 
cient in  the  work  of  saving  souls,  the  services  of  a  purified 
spirit  inhabiting  a  human  form,  than  the  services  of  the  highest 
sin-hangcl  robed  in  the  glories  of  immortality!  —  Mrs.  P. 
Palmer. 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  345 

THE  PRICELESS  GIFT. 

And  I  have  declared  unto  them  thy  name,  and  will  declare  it :  that  the  love 
wherewith  thou  hast  loved  me,  may  be  in  them,  and  I  in  them.  —  John  17  :  20. 

rflHE  Eev.  Dr.  Wentworth  relates  the  following  interesting 
JL  incident :  — 

"  The  Chinese  are  exceedingly  mercenary.  They  will  do 
almost  anything  for  money.  They  have  no  notion  of  any  man 
taking  a  course  which  does  not  tend  to  profit.  Many  of  them 
think  we  pay  people  to  become  Christians  j  that  we  hire  men 
and  women  to  receive  baptism,  and  profess  faith  in  the  doc- 
trine of  Jesus.  One  of  our  new  converts  recently  held  the 
following  dialogue  with  a  neighbor  who  attempted  to  catechise 
him  on  the- subject:  — 

" '  How  much  did  these  foreigners  give  you  to  join  their 
church  ?  —  twenty  dollars  ? ' 

"  <  More  than  that.' 

"  <  A  thousand  dollars  ? ' 

"  l  More  than  that.' 

"  l  How  much,  pray  ? ' 

"  '  More  than  the  value  of  the  weight  of  this  mountain  in 
silver  and  gold.' 

"  '  In  the  name  of  Buddha  !  what"? '  cried  the  astonished  in- 
terrogator. 

"  '  This  precious  book/  said  the  Christian2  holding  up  the 
Bible,  '  which  tells  me  of  God  and  Christ,  Calvary,  salvation, 
everlasting  life  in  heaven  ! '  " 


OUR  SORROWS  A  BITTER  CUP. 

Then  said  Jesus  unto  Peter,  Put  up  thy  sword  into  the  sheath :  the  cup 
which  my  Father  hath  given  me,  shall  I  not  drink  it?  —  John  18  :  11. 

ONE  of  the  most  eminent  divines  of  New  England  tells  us 
that  soon  after  the  death  of  his  wife  his  two  children  were 
taken  from  him  within  a  few  hours  of  each  other.     "  My  cup 
of  sorrow,"  he  says,  "  was  filled  to  the  brim.     I  stood  a  few 
moments  and  viewed  the  remains  of  my  two  darlings  who  had 
44 


346  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

gone  to  their  long  home  never  to  return.  I  felt  at  first  as  if 
I  could  not  submit  to  such  a  complicated  affliction.  My  heart 
rose  in  all  its  strength  against  the  government  of  God,  and 
then  suddenly  sunk  under  its  distress,  which  alarmed  me.  I 
sprang  up,  and  said  to  myself,  '  I  must  submit,  or  I  am  undone 
for  ever.'  In  a  few  moments  I  was  entirely  calm  and  resigned 
to  the  will  of  God.  I  never  enjoyed  greater  happiness  than 
during  that  day  and  the  next.  My  mind  was  full  of  God,  and 
I  used  to  look  toward  the  burying-ground,  and  wish  for  the 
time  when  I  might  be  laid  by  the  side  of  my  departed  wife 
and  little  ones." 

There  is  a  great  beauty  in  such  religion  as  this  j  for  the 
grace  of  submission  to  a  bereaving  father  is  the  hardest  and 
rarest  of  Christian  attainments.  There  is  such  a  temptation 
to  angry  rebellion  when  the  blow  cuts  deep.  A  wife  is  sud- 
denly taken ;  a  crib  is  left  empty,  or  a  cradle  deepens  into  a 
grave.  A  noble,  gifted  son  is  cut  off  in  his  sinewy  prime  ;  a 
son  who  was  all  the  world  to  her  who  leaned  upon  him.  A 
lovely  daughter  withers  and  droops ;  her  beauty  falls  off  like 
the  rose-leaves,  and  presently  she  goeth  down  to  darkness  and 
the  worm. 

Beside  such  new-made  graves  unbelief  utters  its  reproaches, 
"  not  loud,. but  deep."  But  submission  whispers  with  faltering 
lips  and  choking  utterance,  "  The  cup  that  my  Father  hath 
given  me,  shall  I  not  drink  it  ? "  The  will  of  the  Lord  be 
done. 

SUPERSTITION  AND  CONSCIENCE. 

Then  led  they  Jesus  from  Caiaphas  unto  the  hall  of  judgment :  and  it  was 
early;  and  they  themselves  went  not  into  the  judgment-hall,  lest  they  should 
be  defiled ;  but  that  they  might  eat  the  passover.  —  John  18  :  28. 

A  LATE  narrative  of  travels  in  Russia  contains  the  follow- 
ing illustration  of  religious  fervor  in  that  country :  - 
"  A  lady  on  leaving  a  private  party  in  St.  Petersburg,  at  a 
rather  advanced  hour  in  the  morning,  called  a  droschke,  and 
having  given  directions  to  the  driver,  the  latter  proceeded 
toward  her  home,  as  she  thought,  instead  of  which  he  drove 
her  to  a  rather  deserted  part  of  the  city,  when  he  'suddenly 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  347 

turned  round  and  cut  her  throat,  the  sable -lined  cloak  in  which 
she  was  enveloped  having  excited  his  cupidity.  Having 
divested  her  of  this,  he  dragged  the  body  to  the  brink  of  the 
canal,  and  threw  her  into  it.  On  his  way  back  to  the  stand 
he  was  hailed  by  a  gentleman,  and  however  reluctant,  obliged 
to  take  him  as  a  fare.  The  gentleman  not  only  noticed  the 
cloak,  but  touching  it  found  his  fingers  stained  with  blood. 
He  said  nothing  till  he  reached  a  police  station,  where,  having 
ordered  the  driver  to  stop,  he  gave  him  into  custody  on  sus- 
picion. The  gentleman  was  the  husband  of  the  lady,  and 
recognized  the  cloak  as  belonging  to  his  wife.  The  tragedy 
happened  during  Lent,  when  meat  -is  forbidden.  The  mur- 
dered lady  had  a  little  basket  with  her  which  contained  a  pie. 
Having  been  asked  by  the  commissary  why  he  had  not  eaten 
the  pie,  l  How  could  I  think  of  eating  the  pie  ! '  replied  the 
assassin,  l  it  may  contain  meat,  and '  —  devoutly  crossing  him- 
self— '  I  am,  thank  God,  a  good  Christian  ' !  " 


CHRIST'S  KINGDOM  FOUNDED  IN  THOUGHT. 

Jesus  answered,  My  kingdom  is  not  of  this  world:  if  my  kingdom  were  of 
this  world,  then  would  my  servants  fight,  that  I  should  not  be  delivered  to  the 
Jews  :  but  now  is  my  kingdom  not  from  hence.  —  John  18  :  36. 

EEV.  WILLIAM  ARTHUR  lately  said  in  a  speech,  "  The 
Lord  founded  a  kingdom,  very  unlike  any  other  kingdom. 
He  founded  it  without  drum,  or  trumpet,  or  banner,  or  scep- 
ter, or  throne,  or  crown.  He  founded  it  without  geographical 
limits  —  without  fortress,  without  fleets.  He  founded  it  as  a 
kingdom  whose  foundations  were  laid  in  thought ;  as  a  king- 
dom whose  wars  were  to  be  carried  on  in  thought ;  as  a  king- 
dom whose  instruments  were  those  of  thought ;  whose  sword 
was  not  the  sword  in  hand,  but  the  sword  that '  proceedeth 
out  of  the  mouth  of  God  ; '  whose  charter  was  the  power  of 
the  Word  ;  whose  battle-field  was  only  and  ever  the  battle- 
field of  thought.  Into  this  world  of  thought  Christ's  kingdom 
came,  to  attack  all  who  opposed  ;  and  in  its  own  calm,  search- 
ing, but  irrepressible  way,  with. a  word,  with  a  message,  with 
an  invitation,  with  an  argument,  with  an  exhortation,  with  an 


348  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

entreaty,  with  a  continuous  pointing  upward  —  upward,  as  if 
it  had  a  distinct  connection  with  invisible  powers,  which  it 
had  ;  and  '  bringing  into  captivity  every  thought  to  the  obedi- 
ence of  Christ,'  —  thoughts  high,  thoughts  deep,  thoughts  old, 
thoughts  built  upon  the  foundations,  as  men  supposed,  of  ever- 
lasting principles, —  thoughts  certainly  reared  up  with  all  the 
elaborate  beauty  of  human  genius  and  of  vast  national  toil,  — 
thoughts  consolidated  by  the  suffrage  of  ages,  and  thoughts 
adorned  and  enriched  by  the  splendor  of  empires  !  What  was 
the  result  ?  Of  all  other  powers  none  has  the  hold  upon  hu- 
man thought  that  Christ  has  at  this  moment,  and  there  is  none 
advancing  year  by  year  as  is  the  kingdom  of  the  Lord  Christ. 
The  world  has  been  always  talking  of  its  feebleness  and  fail- 
ure, but  where  is  the  power  that  will  venture  at  this  moment 
to  say,  '  I  will  sweep  Christ  out  of  human  thought ;  ?  " 


WHAT  IS  TRUTH? 

Pilate  saith  unto  him,  What  is  truth?  And  when  he  had  said  this,  he  went 
out  again  unto  the  Jews,  and  saith  unto  them,  I  find  in  him  no  fault  at  all.  — 
John  18 :  38. 

THERE  is  a  circle  of  earthly  truths,  —  the  dust,  the  shell  of 
things,  —  and  inward  lies  the  "  pearl  of  great  price,"  the 
truth  of  truths,  that  leadeth  up  to  God  ;  that  grows  more  and 
more  glorious,  through  the  endless  cycles  of  eternity — through 
Christ's  eternal  salvation. 

That  truth  is  eternal,  because  it  is  from  God,  and  ends  in 
God  —  surrounded  by  infinite  mind,  infinite  love,  infinite 
glory,  infinite  peace  and  bliss.  The  panorama  of  the  world 
—  its  wisdom  —  the  scene  of  the  stars  —  all  things  of  time  — 
will  be  as  nothing  compared  with  an  eternal  communion  witli 
God  by  the  souls  of  "just  men  made  perfect  by  the  blood  of 
Christ."  Why  not,  0  man  !  seek  this  truth  ?  You  love  the 
truth  ;  and  do  you  not  think  that  the  loving  and  truthful  Jesus 
spoke  the  truth  when  he  said,  "  I  am  the  truth  "  ?  O,  how 
sweet  is  that  truth  ;  how  glorious  is  its  author  !  He  shed  his 
precious  blood  on  the  cross  to  prove  it,  and  save  all  who  come 
by  that  way  !  More  than  eighteen  centuries  have  passed 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  349 

away,  and  now,  in  the  midst  of  the  nineteenth  century,  and 
all  its  civilization,  learning,  and  grandeur,  we  can  do  nothing, 
see  nothing,  learn  nothing,  beyond  the  grave,  if  we  accept 
not  the  truth  as  it  is  in  the  Lord  Jesus,  who  is  the  resurrec- 
tion and  life  from  God  to  every  man  who  confesseth  hirn;  and 
consents  to  walk  with  him  in  spirit. 


DESCRIPTION  OF  OUR  SAVIOUR. 

And  Pilate  saith  unto  them,  Behold  the  man !  —  John  19  :  5. 

THE  following  epistle  was  taken  by  Napoleon  from  the  public 
records  of  Rome,  when  he  deprived  that  city  of  so  many 
valuable  manuscripts.  It  was  written  at  the  time  and  on  the  spot 
where  Jesus  Christ  commenced  his  ministry,  by  Publius  Len- 
tullus,  the  emperor.  It  was  the  custom  in  those  days  for  the 
governor  to  write  home  of  any  event  of  importance  which  tran- 
spired while  he  held  office  :  — 

"  Conscript  Fathers  :  There  has  appeared  in  these  our  days 
a  man  named  Jesus  Christ,  who  is  yet  living  among  us,  and  of 
the  Gentiles  is  accepted  as  a  prophet  of  great  truth ;  but  his 
own  disciples  call  him  the  Son  of  God.  He  hath  raised  the 
dead,  and  cured  all  manner  of  diseases.  He  is  a  man  of  na- 
ture somewhat  tall  and  comely,  with  a  very  ruddy  counte- 
nance, such  as  the  beholder  may  both  love  and  fear.  His  hair 
is  the  color  of  the  filbert  when  fully  ripe,  plain  to  his  ears, 
whence  downward  it  is  more  orient  of  color,  curling  and  wav- 
ing about  his  shoulders  ;  in  the  middle  of  his  head  is  a  seam 
or  partition  of  long  hair,  after  the  manner  of  the  Nazarites. 
His  forehead  is  plain  and  delicate  ;  his  face  without  spot  or 
wrinkle,  beautified  with  a  comely  red  ;  his  nose  and  mouth  are 
exactly  formed  ;  his  beard  is  of  the  color  of  his  hair,  and  thick 
—  not  of  any  great  length,  but  forked.  In  reproving,  he  is 
terrible  ;  in  admonishing,  courteous  ;  in  speaking,  very  modest 
and  wise  ;  in  proportion  of  body,  well  shaped.  None  have 
seen  him  laugh,  but  many  have  seen  him  weep.  A  man,  for 
his  surpassing  beauty,  excelling  the  children  of  men." 


350  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 


CRUCIFIXION  DESCRIBED. 

And  he  bearing  his  cross  went  forth  into  a  place  called  the  place  of  a  skull, 
which  is  called  in  the  Hebrew,  Golgotha :  where  they  crucified  him,  and  two 
others  with  him,  on  either  side  one,  and  Jesus  in  the  midst.  —  John  19  :  17,  18. 

MR.  JAMES  JONES  of  Amoy,  an  eye-witness,  says,  "  The 
cross  was  of  the  Latin  form,  the  foot  being  inserted  in  a 
stout  plank ;  and  the  criminal,  standing  on  a  board,  had  nails 
driven  through  his  feet,  his  hands  stretched  and  nailed  to  the 
cross-beam.  His  legs  were  fastened  to  the  cross  with  an  iron 
chain,  and  his  arms  bound  with  cords  ;  and  on  the  cord  round 
his  waist  was  inserted  a  piece  of  wood,  on  which  was  written 
his  name  and  offense.  A  similar  piece  on  his  right  arm  con- 
tained his  sentence  ;  namely,  to  remain  on  the  cross  day  and 
night  until  he  died  :  another  on  his  left  arm  had  the  name  of 
the  judge,  with  his  titles  and  offices.  The  criminal  was  nailed 
to  the  cross  inside  the  yamun,  in  the  presence  of  the  magis- 
trate, and  then  carried  by  four  coolies  to  one  of  the  principal 
thoroughfares  leading  from  the  city,  where  he  was  left  during 
the  day,  but  removed  at  night  inside  the  prison  for  fear  of  his 
friends  attempting  to  rescue  him,  and  again  carried  forth  at 
daylight  in  charge  of  two  soldiers.  He  was  crucified  at  noon 
on  Wednesday,  and  at  five  in  the  evening  complained  of  pain 
in  the  chest,  and  thirst.  On  Thursday  he  slept  for  some  hours, 
when  the  cross  was  laid  down  within  the  jail  enclosure.  No 
one  was  allowed  to  supply  him  with  food  or  drink ;  and  dur- 
ing the  day  there  was  quite  a  fair  in  front  of  the  cross,  peo- 
ple being  attracted  from  a  distance,  and  the  sweetmeat  vend- 
ers driving  a  large  trade.  On  Saturday  he  was  still  alive, 
when  the  taotal  was  appealed  to  by  a  foreigner  to  put  an  end 
to  the  wretch's  sufferings  ;  and  he  immediately  gave  orders 
that  vinegar  should  be  administered,  which  he  expected  would 
produce  immediate  death  ;  but  the  result  was  otherwise  ;  and 
at  sunset,  when  the  cross  was  taken  within  the  jail,  two 
soldiers,  with  stout  bamboos,  broke  both  his  legs,  and  then 
strangled  him."  —  Foster's  Cyclopedia. 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  351 

UNCONSCIOUS  INFLUENCE. 

Then  cometh  Simon  Peter  following  him,  and  went  into  the  sepulcher,  and 
seeth  the  Ifnen  clothes  lie ;  and  the  napkin  that  was  about  his  head,  not  lying 
with  the  linen  clothes,  but  wrapped  together  in  a  place  by  itself.  Then  went 
in  also  that  other  disciple  which  came  first  to  the  sepulcher,  and  he  saw,  and 
believed.  —  John  20  :  G-8. 

IT  is  said  that  among  the  high  Alps  at  certain  seasons  the 
traveler  is  told  to  proceed  very  quietly,  for  on  the  steep 
slopes'  overhead  the  snow  hangs  so  evenly  balanced  that  the 
sound  of  a  voice  or  the  report  of  a  gun  may  destroy  the  equi- 
librium, and  bring  down  an  immense  avalanche  that  will  over- 
whelm everything  in  ruin  in  its  downward  path.  And  so 
about  our  way  there  may  be  a  soul  in  the  very  crisis  of  its 
moral  history,  trembling  between  life  and  death,  and  a  mere 
touch  or  shadow  may  determine  its  destiny.  A  young  lady 
who  was  deeply  impressed  with  the  truth,  and  was  ready, 
under  a  conviction  of  sin,  to  ask,  "  What  must  I  do  to  be 
saved  ?  "  had  all  her  solemn  impressions  dissipated  by  the  un- 
seemly jesting  and  laughter  of  a  member  of  the  church  by  her 
side  as  she  passed  out  of  the  sanctuary.  Her  irreverent  and 
worldly  spirit  cast  a  repellent  shadow  on  that  young  lady  not 
far  from  the  kingdom  of  God.  How  important  we  should 
always  and  everywhere  walk  worthy  of  our  high  calling  as 
Christians ! 

"  So  let  our  lives  and  lips  express 
The  holy  gospel  we  profess." 

Let  us  remember  that  we  are  always  casting  the  shadow  of 
our  real  life  upon  some  one  ;  that  somebody  is  following  us,  as 
John  followed  Perter  into  the  sepulcher.  Happy  if,  when  all 
the  influences  of  life  flow  back  and  meet  us  at  the  judgment, 
we  can  lift  up  clean  hands  and  spotless  robes,  and  say,  "  I  am 
free  from  the  blood  of  all  men  ! "  Happy  then  to  hear  even 
one  soul  saying  to  us  out  of  the  great  multitude,  that,  follow- 
ing the  shadow  of  our  Christian  life  and  devotion,  he  found 
Jesus  and  heaven.  —  Rev.  T.  Stork,  D.  D. 


352  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 


SUNDAY  AFTER  THE  RESURRECTION. 

Then  the  same  day  at  evening,  being  the  first  day  of  the  week,  when  the 
doors  were  shut  where  the  disciples  were  assembled  for  fear  of  the  Jews,  came 
Jesus  and  stood  in  the  midst,  and  saith  unto  them,  Peace  be  unto  you.  — 
John  20 :  19. 

4 

THE  second  appearance  of  our  Lord  after  his  resurrection 
was  on  the  eighth  day,  or  on  the  second  Sunday  of  the 
Christian  dispensation.  "  The  Sunday  after  the  Sunday  of 
the  resurrection,  the  second  Christian  Sabbath  or  Lord's  day. 
It  has  not  ceased  to  be  commemorated  from  that  time  to  this, 
as  a  holy  day  in  the  tradition  of  the  Christian  church.  The 
fourth  commandment  requires  that  one  day  in  seven  should  be 
Sabbath  ;  the  Jewish  church,  under  divine  guidance,  fixed  that 
seventh  upon  Saturday,  the  Christian  church  upon  Sunday." - 
Whedon. 

"  Where  Christ  was  during  these  eight  days,  and  the  rest 
of  the  time  of  his  abode  on  earth,  would  be  folly  to  inquire, 
and  presumption  to  determine.  He  deferred  his  second  ap- 
pearance so  long  as  seven  days,  for  three  reasons  :  — 

"First.  That  he  might  put  a  rebuke  on  Thomas  for  his  in- 
credulity, and  perhaps  also  for  his  negligence. 

"Second.  That  he  might  try  the  faith  and  patience  of  the 
rest  of  the  disciples. 

"Third.  That  he  might  put  an  honor  upon  the  first  day  of 
the  week,  and  give  a  plain  intimation  of  his  will,  that  it  should 
be  observed  in  his  church  as  the  Christian  Sabbath,  that  is, 
the  weekly  day  of  holy  rest  and  holy  convocations.  That  one 
day  in  seven  should  be  religiously  observed,  was  an  appointment 
from  the  beginning,  as  old  as  innocence  ;  and  that,  in  the  king- 
dom of  the  Messiah,  the  first  day  in  the  week  should  be  that 
solemn  day,  Christ's  meeting  his  disciples  in  a  religious  as- 
sembly once  and  again  on  that  day,  was  indication  sufficient. 

"  Add  to  this,  it  is  highly  probable,  that  in  his  former  ap- 
pearance to  them  he  had  ordered  them  to  come  together 
again  that  day  seven-night,  and  had  promised  to  meet  them, 
and  also  that  he  appeared  to  them  every  first  day  of  the  week 
during  forty  days.  And  the  religious  observance  of  that  day 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  353 

has  been  from  thence  transmitted  down  to  us  through  every 
age  of  the  church.  This,  therefore,  is  the  clay  which  the  Lord 
has  made  sacred,  and  appointed  for  his  peculiar  worship  and 
service."  —  Benson. 


CHRIST'S  COMING  AT  THE  SEA. 

But  when  the  morning  was  now  come,  Jesus  stood  on  the  shore ;  but  the 
disciples  knew  not  that  it  was  Jesus.  —  John  21 :  4. 

I  SUPPOSE  there  is  no  event  in  the  whole  life  of  Christ  to 
which,  in  hours  of  fear  or  doubt,  men  turn  with  more  anx- 
ious thirst  to  know  the  close  facts  of  it,  or  with  more  earnest  and 
passionate  dwelling  upon  every  syllable  of  its  recorded  narra- 
tive, than  Christ's  showing  himself  to  his  disciples  at  the  Lake 
of  Galilee.  There  is  something  preeminently  open,  natural, 
full,  fronting  our  disbelief  in  this  manifestation.  The  others, 
recorded  after  the  resurrection,  were  sudden,  phantom-like, 
occurring  to  men  in  profound  sorrow  and  wearied  agitation  of 
heart;  not,  it  might  seem,  safe  judges  of  what  they  saw.  But 
the  agitation  was  now  over.  They  had  gone  back  to  their 
daily  work,  thinking  still  their  business  lay  net- ward,  unmeshed 
from  the  literal  rope  and  drag.  "  Simon  Peter  said  unto  them, 
I  go  a-fishing."  They  say  unto  him,  "  We  also  go  with  thee." 
True  words  enough,  and  having  far  echo  beyond  those  Galilean 
hills.  That  night  they  caught  nothing;  but  when  morning 
came,  in  the  clear  light  of  it,  behold  a  figure  stood  on  the 
shore.  They  were  not  thinking  of  any  thing  but  their  fruit- 
less hauls.  They  had  no  guess  who  it  was.  It  asked  them 
simply  if  they  had  caught  anything.  They  said,  No.  And  it 
tells  them  to  cast  yet  again.  And  John  shades  his  eyes  from 
the  morning  sun  with  his  hand  to  see  who  it  is ;  and  though 
the  glistening  of  the  sea,  too,  dazzles  him,  he  makes  out  who 
it  is  at  last;  and  poor  Simon,  not  to  be  outrun  this  time, 
tightens  his  fisher's  coat  about  him  and  dashes  in,  over  the  nets. 
One  would  have  liked  to  see  him  swim  those  hundred  yards, 
and  stagger  to  his  knees  on  the  beach.  Well,  the  others  got 
to  the  beach  too,  in  time,  in  such  slow  way  as  men  in  general 
do  in  this  world,  to  its  true  shore,  much  impeded  by  that  won- 
45 


354  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

derful  "  dragging  the  net  with  fishes,"  but  they  get  there  — 
seven  of  them  in  all  —  first  the  denier,  and  then  the  slowest  be- 
liever, and  then  the  quickest  believer,  and  then  the  two  throne- 
seekers,  and  two  more,  we  know  not  whom.  They  sit  down  on 
the  shore,  face  to  face  with  him,  and  eat  their  broiled  fish  as 
he  bids.  And  then,  to  Peter,  all  dripping  still,  shivering  and 
amazed,  staring  at  Christ  in  the  sun  on  the  other  side  of  the 
coal  fire  —  thinking  a  little,  perhaps,  what  happened  by 
another  coal  fire,  where  it  was  cooler,  and  having  had  no 
word  once  changed  with  him  by  his  Master  since  that  look 
of  his  —  to  him,  so  amazed,  comes  the  question,  "  Simon, 
lovest  thou  me  ?  "  Try  to  feel  that  a  little,  and  think  of  it  until 
it  is  true  to  you.  —  Ruskin* 


"FEED  MY  LAMBS." 

So  when  they  had  dined,  Jesus  saith  to  Simon  Peter,  Simon  son  of  Jonng, 
lovest  thou  me  more  than  these?  He  saith  unto  him,  Yea,  Lord  :  thou  know- 
est  that  I  love  thee.  He  saith  unto  him,  Feed  my  lambs.  —  John  21 :  15. 

T)ARENTS,  Pastors,  Teachers  :  Do  you  hear  these  stirring 
JL  and  imperative  words  of  Jesus,  "  Feed  my  lambs  "  ?  The 
clear  little  souls  that  cluster  around  you  are  the  lambs  of  Jesus, 
the  great  Shepherd. 

Should  not  every  pastor  feel  that  it  is  his  duty  and  privilege, 
simply  but  faithfully  to  preach  such  sermons  as  the  youthful 
part  of  his  flock  can  fully  understand?  Sermons  that  will  tell 
upon  their  young  and  tender  hearts,  and  which  shall  help  to  lead 
the  lambs  of  Jesus  into  the  green  pastures  of  his  love,  and  by 
the  side  of  the  still  waters  of  his  salvation?  Then  in  the  Sabbath 
school,  and  in  the  common  schools,  as  opportunities  serve, 
should  he  not  still  press  eternal  truths  upon  the  rising  race, 
and  also  from  house  to  house  ?  Where  can  he  find  a  more 
promising  field?  How  easy  children  maybe  converted  by 
wise  arid  proper  care,  and  also  kept  from  falling  back  !  x 

But  a  great  share  of  the  duty  of  feeding  these  precious 
lambs  of  Jesus  devolves  upon  parents  and  teachers.  They 
can  impart  knowledge  which  none  else  can,  and  which  chil- 
dren will  not  otherwise  obtain. 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  355 

FATE  OF  THE  APOSTLES. 

Jesus  saith  unto  him,  If  I  will  that  he  tarry  till  I  come,  what  is  that  to 
thee?  follow  thou  me.  —  John  21 :  22. 

ALL  the  apostles  and  evangelists  were  assaulted  by  the  en- 
emies of  their  Master.  They  were  called  to  seal  their 
doctrines  with  their  blood,  and  nobly  did  they  bear  the  trial. 
Schumacher  says,  — 

"  Matthew  suffered  martyrdom  by  being  slain  with  a  sword 
at  a  distant  city  of  Ethiopia. 

"  Mark  expired  at  Alexandria,  after  having  been  cruelly 
dragged  through  the  streets  of  that  city. 

"  Luke  was  hanged  upon  an  olive  tree  in  the  classic  land  of 
Greece. 

'•  John  was  put  into  a  caldron  of  boiling  oil,  but  escaped 
death  in  a  miraculous  manner,  and  was  afterward  banished  to 
Patraos. 

"  Peter  was  crucified  at  Rome  with  his  head  downward. 

"  James  the  Greater  was  beheaded  at  Jerusalem. 

"  James  the  Less  was  thrown  from  a  lofty  pinnacle  of  the 
temple,  and  then  beaten  to  death  with  a  fuller's  club. 

"  Bartholomew  was  flayed  alive. 

"  Andrew  was  bound  to  a  cross,  whence  he  preached  to  his 
persecutors  until  he  died. 

"  Thomas  was  run  through  the  body  with  a  lance  at  Coro- 
mandel  in  the  East  Indies. 

"  Jude  was  shot  to  death  with  arrows." 


MINISTERS  BAPTIZED  OF  THE  HOLY  GHOST. 

And  being  assembled  together  with  them,  commanded  them  that  they 
should  not  depart  from  Jerusalem,  but  wait  for  the  promise  of  the  Father, 
which,  saith  he,  ye  have  heard  of  me.  —  Acts  1 :  4. 

THE  difference  in  moral  results,  between  a  minister  bap- 
tized of  the  Holy  Ghost,  and  not  so  baptized,  is  thus  de- 
scribed :  — 

"  Wesley,  the  learned,  the  prayerful,  watching,  fasting,  alms- 
giving, visiting  the  sick  and  imprisoned,  economical  of  mo- 


356  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS, 

ments,  but  unfruitful  in  saving  souls,  is  a  type  of  a  ministry 
unbaptized  from  on  high :  Wesley,  adding  to  these  a  "  heart 
strangely  warmed,"  going  forth  full  of  the  Holy  Ghost  and  of 
faith,  and  setting  the  kingdom  in  a  blaze,  the  spiritual  father 
of  thousands  and  millions  who  have  now  risen  up  and  call  him 
blessed,  is  the  representative  of  the  ministry  that  must  con- 
quer the  world.  Of  two  ministersr  one  learned  and  the  other 
unlearned,  the  Holy  Spirit  being  upon  them  alike,  we  cannot 
question  which  will  accomplish  the  most  for  the  church.  A 
Wesley  without  the  Holy  Spirit  could  not  hold  his  own  ;  an 
Abbott  with  the  Holy  Spirit  shook  all  New  Jersey.  Let  our 
ministry  be  thus  endowed  from  on  high,  and  the  weakest  will 
become  strong,  while  our  strong  men  will  become  mighty. 
We  are  building  and  enriching  our  schools  in  the  hope  of  a 
future,  of  a  higher  and  more  complete  culture,  but  it  must 
be  a  culture  of  heart  as  well  as  brain,  through  the  sanctifica- 
tion  of  the  Holy  Spirit."  —  Rev.  D.  Curry,  D.  D. 


¥HAT  THE  CHURCH  MOST  NEEDS. 

But  ye  shall  receive  power  after  that  the  Holy  Ghost  is  come  upon  yon : 
and  ye  shall  be  witnesses  unto  me,  both  in  Jerusalem,  and  in  all  Judea,  and  in 
Samaria,  and  unto  the  uttermost  part  of  the  earth.  —  Acts  1 :  8. 

EEV.  B.  F.  CRARY,  D.  D.,  editor  of  the  Central  Christian 
Advocate,  thus  speaks  of  the  need  of  the  church  at  this 
time :  — 

"  The  great  institutions  of  the  church  need  not  be  changed, 
but  we  need  most  of  all  the  outpouring  of  the  Holy  Gfrost 
upon  all  our  ministers  and  members.  Methodism  with  the 
Pentecostal  baptism  would  make  a  world-wide  impression. 
Now  she  sheds  a  feeble  light ;  then  she  would  spread  such  a 
fire  as,  by  the  grace  of  God,  would  be  seen  over  the  whole 
earth.  Our  prime  want  is  not  more  machinery,  but  more  of 
the  Holy  Ghost  in  our  lives  and  preaching.  We  feel  a  sort  of 
dread  when  wo  see  the  church  hoping  or  depending  on  any 
other  means  of  saving  sinners  than  the  Holy  Ghost.  T^iy, 
scholastic  preaching,  devoid  of  spiritual  power  and  unction, 
will  only  paralyze  the  churck  It  is  a  sad  thing  to  see  any 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  357 

church  trying  to  live  without  the  life  which  Christ  imparts. 
There  is  but  one  spiritual  life,  and  that  is  Christ  Jesus  himself. 
He  lives  in  us,  if  we  are  his.  Our  strength  and  hope  are  in 
him.  We  need  not  more  machinery,  but  more  power,  and 
power  is  the  indwelling  of  the  Holy  Ghost.  If  the  church 
drifts  away  from  the  old  doctrine  and  the  old  experience  of 
the  regenerating,  sanctifying  effects  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  she 
will  perish,  for  she  has  no  real  glory,  no  real  power  but  this. 
All  else  is  but  the  walls  and  trappings  of  the  temple,  this  is 
the  Shekinah  on  the  mercy -seat,  the  light  and  fire  on  our 
altars." 

The    above    primal    need    is  as  true  concerning  all  other 
churches  as  that  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church. 


HEAVEN  A  LOCALITY. 

Which  also  said,  Ye  men  of  Galilee,  why  stand  ye  gazing  up  into  heaven? 
this  same  Jesus  which  is  taken  up  from  you  into  heaven,  shall  so  come  in  like 
manner  as  ye  have  seen  him  go  into  heaven.  —  Acts  1:11. 

IT  has  been  made  a  question  whether  heaven  —  this  term 
denoting  in  general  the  happy  condition  of  the  righteous 
after  death,  either  before  or  after  the  resurrection  —  has  any 
locality,  or  is  only  a  state.  But  no  question  seems  to  us  more 
idle.  Certainly,  the  Scriptures,  in  the  phrase  "  a  better  coun- 
try," and  in  other  instances,  assign  a  place  to  them  or  assign 
them  to  a  place.  The  Saviour,  at  his  second  coming,  and  even 
on  their  departure  from  this  world,  will  receive  them  to  him- 
self, in  order  that,  as  he  said,  they  may  "  be  with  me  where 
I  am,"  "  that  where  I  am,  there  ye  may  be  .also."  "  To-day," 
said  he  to  the  penitent  thief,  "  thou  shalt  be  with  me  in  Para- 
dise." There  would  have  been  no  doubt  as  to  the  obvious 
meaning  of  these  and  other  representations,  but  for  the  meta- 
physical notion  that  space  and  time  belong  to  our  present 
mode  of  being,  and  can  not  be  as  positively  affirmed  of  any 
other.  Hence  some  persons  count  it  philosophical  to  limit  the 
idea  of  heaven  to  that  of  a  mental  state,  and  would  construe 
the  inspired  language  accordingly.  But  it  never  can  be 
shown  that  space  is  not  as  real  in  all  other  modes  of  .being  as 


358  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

in  ours,  or  that  we  can  ever  possibly  exist  without  it.  Nor 
can  we  so  much  as  conceive  of  our  existence,  now  or  here- 
after, apart  from  any  place.  That  we  can  not  determine  our 
future  locality,  unless  it  be  the  renovated  earth,  is  not  im- 
portant. Of  course,  no  mere  place,  apart  from  a  suitable 
mental  state,  can  ever  be  to  us  a  heaven  ;  our  heavenly  condi- 
tion can  not  be  external  only,  but  must  be  internal  also  ;  yet 
still  we  must  conceive  of  the  mental  place  as  having  also  its 
"own  place."  Even  if  the  Scriptures  had  not  used  the 
language  of  locality  in  this  connection,  in  entertaining  the 
subject  itself,  we  could  not  rid  our  minds  of  the  notion.  We 
have  no  right,  therefore,  to  reject  or  overlook  it  in  their  rep- 
resentations ;  we  ought  to  receive  them  in  this  their  obvious 
import.  It  is  both  scriptural  and  rational  to  speak  intelligibly 
and  familiarly,  as  we  may,  of  our  final  home  as  another  country 
and  a  better  country. 


WOMEN  AS  HELPERS  IN  THE  CHURCH. 

These  all  continued  with  one  accord  in  prayer  and  supplication,  with  the 
women,  and  Mary  the  mother  of  Jesus,  and  with  his  brethren.  —  Acts  1 :  14. 

THE  faith,  devotion,  and    Christian  zeal  of  godly   women 
have  greatly  aided  the  cause  of  God. 

"  The  strength  of  the  church  has  always  largely  been  in  its 
women ;  from  the  time  when  they  lovingly  ministered  to  the 
Saviour,  in  life  and  at  death,  met  with  the  apostles  for  prayer 
prior  to  the  Pentecostal  baptism,  and  were  the  comforts  and 
helpers  of  Paul  in  his  missionary  labors,  down  to  the  present 
day.  They  have  so  lived  and  worshiped,  have  so  exemplified 
the  virtues  of  the  wife  and  mother,  have  so  illustrated  the 
beauty  of  holiness,  have  so  trained  for  the  church  its  noblest 
men,  that  they  have  compelled  the  admiration  of  the  worldling 
and  the  skeptic.  Many  a  man  has  found  that  the  last  link 
which  still  bound  his  believing  mind  to  some  intellectual  faith 
in  Christianity  was  the  remembrance  of  his  mother's  piety,  or 
the  daily  vision  of  the  purity  of  his  wife.  The  eulogy  of  Li- 
banus,  pronounced  upon  the  Christian  women  of  the  primitive 
churches,  has  lost  none  of  its  meaning  in  this  nineteenth  cen- 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  359 

tury.  In  chasteness  of  morals,  general  intelligence,  social 
culture,  self  denying  benevolence,  and  genuine  and  unaffected 
piety,  our  Christian  women  are  the  glory  of  the  age;  and  it  is 
at  once  the  honor  and  the  triumph  of  the  missionary  work 
that  it  is  rapidly  raising  the  converted  women  of  heathen 
lands  to  a  similar  level." 


WESLEY'S  TESTIMONY  AGAINST  INTOXICATING 
LIQUOR. 

Now  this  man  purchased  a  field  with  the  reward  of  iniquity ;  and  falling 
headlong,  he  burst  asunder  in  the  midst,  and  all  his  bowels  gushed  out.  — 
Acts  1:18. 

¥E  may  not  sell  anything  which  tends  to  impair  health. 
Such  is,  eminently,  all  that  liquid  fire  commonly  called 
drams  or  spirituous  liquors.  It  is  true  these  may  have  a  place 
in  medicine ;  they  may  be  of  use  in  some  bodily  disorders, 
although  there  would  rarely  be  any  occasion  for  them,  were 
it  not  the  unskillfulness  of  the  practitioner.  Therefore,  such 
as  prepare  and  sell  only  for  this  use  may  keep  their  con- 
sciences clear.  But  who  are  they  ?  Who  prepare  them  only 
for  this  end  ?  Do  you  know  ten  such  distillers  in  England  ? 
Then  excuse  these.  But  all  who  sell  them  in  the  common 
way,  to  any  that  will  pay,  are  poisoners- general.  They  murder 
his  majesty's  subjects  by  wholesale,  neither  does  their  eye 
pity  or  spare.  They  drive  them  to  hell  like  sheep.  And  what 
is  their  gain  ?  Is  it  not  the  blood  of  these  men  ?  Who,  then, 
would  envy  their  large  estates  and  sumptuous  palaces?  A 
curse  is  in  the  midst  of  them.  The  curse  of  God  cleaves  to 
the  stones,  the  timber,  the  furniture  of  them  !  The  curse  of 
God  is  in  their  gardens,  their  walks,  their  groves  ;  a  fire  that 
burns  to  the  nethermost  hell !  Blood,  blood  !  is  there.  The 
foundation,  the  floor,  the  walls,  the  roof,  are  stained  with 
blood  ?  And  canst  thou  hope,  and  thou  man  of  blood,  though 
thou  art  "  clothed  in  scarlet  and  fine  linen,  and  farest  sump- 
tuously every  day,"  canst  thou  hope  to  deliver  down  thy 
fields  of  blood  to  the  third  generation  ?  Not  so  ;  for  there  is 


360  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

a  God  in  heaven,  therefore  thy  name  shall  soon  be  rooted  out. 
Like  as  those  whom  thou  hast  destroyed,  body  and  soul,  "  thy 
memorial  shall  perish  with  thee."  —  J.  Wesley. 


A  MODERN  PENTECOST. 

And  when  the  day  of  Pentecost  was  fully  come,  they  were  all  with  one 
accord  in  one  place.  —  Acts  2  :  1. 

IN  one  of  the  German  churches,  just  as  the  company  who 
had  been  together  from  the  station  and  out-stations  were 
about  to  break  up  to  take  a  little  refreshment  and  then  depart, 
a  young  lad  came  to  the  minister,  and  said,  "  We  must  put  off 
the  eating  and  drinking,  and  keep  on  praying.  There  is  a 
little  cloud,  as  big  as  a  man's  hand,  and  it  is  going  to  rain." 
While  he  was  speaking,  another  came  with  a  more  pressing 
message,  and,  as  the  German  brother  said,  they  had  to  "  let 
their  coffee  grow  colder  while  their  hearts  grew  warmer."  It 
was  like  another  Pentecost.  They  fell  down  together  before 
God,  and  for  two  hours  continued  in  prayer  and  supplication 
with  thanksgiving.  An  unconverted  spectator  might  have  said, 
as  they  did  anciently,  "  These  men  are  full  of  new  wine."  At 
the  close  twenty-two  persons  were  found  to  have  been  "  bap- 
tized with  the  Holy  Ghost  and  with  fire,"  happy  in  a  new 
life,  and  they  went  on  their  way  rejoicing. 


PENTECOSTAL  GIFTS. 

And  they  were  all  filled  with  the  Holy  Ghost,  and  began  to  speak  with 
other  tongues,  as  the  Spirit  gave  them  utterance.  —  Acts  2  :  4. 


descent  of  the  Holy  Spirit  on  the  apostles  is  generally 
JL  supposed  to  have  been  about  the  fiftieth  day  from  the  res- 
urrection of  Christ,  the  latter  end  of  May,  and  about  nine 
o'clock  in  the  morning.  Now,  on  this  day,  let  us  view  them 
all  humbly  waiting  at  the  footstool  of  God's  throne,  in  obedi- 
ence to  their  Master's  command,  and  in  full  expectation  of  the 
fulfillment  of  his  promise,  perfectly  in  the  use  of  their  reason, 


JVEIV  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  361 

and  feeling  a  sweet  unanimity  and  love  among  themselves. 
And,  behold  !  how  suddenly  they  were  all  filled  with  the  Holy 
Spirit.  Here  were  twelve  apostles  and  seventy  disciples,  with 
thirty-eight  other  Christians,  which  amounted  to  one  hundred 
and  twenty  of  the  faithful  followers  of  Christ.  The  apostles  and 
disciples  were  poor  illiterate  men,  who  had  never  been  at  any 
college  of  learning  in  their  lives,  and  yet  in  a  moment  they 
were  enabled  to  speak  with  fluency  and  propriety  no  less  than 
fifteen  languages,  and  were  capable  of  addressing  these  dif- 
ferent nations  in  their  respective  tongues ;  and  in  these  lan- 
guages of  the  east,  the  west,  the  north,  and  the  south,  they 
proclaimed  the  wonderful  works  of  redemption  and  salvation. 
Let  us  contemplate  with  the  utmost  veneration  this  illustrious 
day,  and  glory  in  such  a  clear  evidence  of  the  truth  and  excel- 
lence of  the  Christian  religion.  —  Ryland. 


"IT  MUST  RAIN  FASTER." 

And  it  shall  come  to  pass  in  the  last  days,  saith  God,  I  will  pour  out  of  my 
Spirit  upon  all  flesh :  and  your  sons  and  your  daughters  shall  prophesy,  and 
your  young  men  shall  see  visions,  and  your  old  men  shall  dream  dreams.  — 

Acts  2 :  17. 

MANY  of  our  readers  will  remember  this  characteristic  ex- 
pression  of  Dr.  Lyman  Beecher,  in  describing,  a  few  years 
ago,  at  a  public  meeting  in  New  York,  the  necessity  of  increased 
revivals.  Regarding  our  past  history,  the  growth  of  our  popu- 
lation, the  multiplying  inroads  of  skepticism,  indifferentism, 
and  worldliness,  he  cast  his  eyes  with  a  somewhat  prophetic 
ken  into  the  future,  exclaiming,  in  view  of  the  religious  affla- 
tus that  is  needed  to  keep  alive  and  expand  the  flame  of  god- 
liness, "  It  must  rain  faster."  The  demands  of  Christ's  cause 
call  not  for  occasional  but  for  frequent  and  copious  effusions 
of  the  Holy  Spirit.  Well  might  such  an  utterance  from  one 
who  combined  so  much  experience,  wisdom,  and  zeal  in  the 
kingdom  of  his  Master,  come,  as  it  did,  with  the  force  of  an 
oracle. 

46 


362  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 


INSPIRATION. 

And  on  my  servants,  and  on  my  hand-maidens,  I  will  pour  out  in  those  days 
of  my  Spirit ;  and  they  shall  prophesy.  —  Acts  2 :  18. 

REV.  DR.  FLOY  is  much  pleased  with  the  character  of 
some  of  the  most  pious  negroes  in  the  South.     The  fol- 
lowing opinion  is  worthy  of  thought :  — 

"  And  here  I  will  place  on  record  my  own  deliberate  convic- 
tion as  to  the  means  by  which  so  much  gospel  light  has  pene- 
trated the  thick  darkness  in  which  these  people  have  dwelt 
from  generation  to  generation.  By  all  who  associate  with 
them  and  listen  with  unprejudiced  ears  to  their  religious  con- 
versation, it  is  an  unceasing  source  of  wonder  that  they  are 
so  well  acquainted  with  the  great  truths,  the  practical  teach- 
ings of  Christianity,  and  many  of  the  deep  things  of  God.  Not 
from  the  written  word  did  they  derive  this  knowledge,  for 
probably  not  one  in  a  thousand  knows  a  letter  of  the  alphabet ; 
and  as  certainly  not  from  oral  instructions,  which  are  always 
meager  —  the  merest  skimming  upon  the  surface.  My  opin- 
ion is,  that  God  himself  teaches  them,  even  as  he  taught  the 
bondrnen  in  Egypt,  and  our  fathers  in  the  olden  time  when  as 
yet  there  was  no  Bible.  Many  of  the  elders  among  these  de- 
graded people  talk  of  revelations  from  the  Lord.  They  profess 
to  have  dreams  and  visions  in  the  night  season.  Christians 
brand  all  these  assertions  as  absurd,  arid  ridicule  them  as  the 
results  of  distempered  brains  and  ignorant  superstition.  I 
think  there  were  among  the  ancient  Israelites  those  who  thus 
regarded  that  strange  story  told  by  Moses  about  the  burning 
bush.  Possibly,  too,  Jacob's  vision  at  Bethel  would  be  placed 
by  many,  even  at  this  day,  in  the  same  category,  were  it  not 
recorded  in  a  book  that  we  deem  divine.  There  can  be  no 
doubt  that  our  heavenly  Father  could,  if  it  pleased  him,  by 
similar  methods  reveal  himself,  and  make  known  his  will  to 
those  bondmen  for  whom  Christ  died  ;  and  it  seems  to  me 
perfectly  consistent,  and  in  harmony  with  all  his  glorious  per- 
fections, that  he  should  do  so." 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  363 


UNITARIANISM  NOT  SUCCESSFUL. 

Now  when  they  heard  this,  they  were  pricked  in  their  heart,  and  said  unto 
Peter  and  to  the  rest  of  the  apostles,  Men  and  brethren,  what  shall  we  do?  — 
Acts  2 :  37. 

"VTO  wonder  Unitarians  are  studying  the  genius  of  Method- 
-Ll  ism,  and  lamenting  the  comparatively  insignificant  practi- 
cal results  of  their  own  system.  There  are  some  considerations 
which  might  have  led  to  the  anticipation  that  Unitarianism 
would  be  a  very  popular  religion.  It  has  intelligence  and 
wealth.  It  is  exceedingly  easy  in  its  demands  on  the  moral 
conduct  of  its  adherents,  and  grants  unbounded  license  in 
belief.  The  religion  it  teaches  is  of  a  very  satisfactory  sort 
to  the  natural  heart ;  there  is  nothing  humiliating  nor  hard 
about  it ;  it  is  the  religion  of  natural  goodness,  self-culture, 
and  universal  salvation.  If  any  one  had  been  asked  before- 
hand how  such  a  religion  would  succeed,  the  answer  would 
probably  have  been,  "  Men  will  like  it ;  it  will  be  a  popular 
panacea  for  wounded  consciences  ;  it  will  soon  outnumber  all 
other  denominations."  Ah,  the  aching  heart  of  man  spurns 
the  counterfeit,  apprehending  that  it  is  cheap  because  it  is 
worthless  !  It  has  less  than  fifty  thousand  communicants  in 
this  country,  and,  so  far  as  we  know,  not  a  single  mission  sta- 
tion in  all  the  heathen  world. 

The  plain,  searching  declaration  of  the  Bible  about  the  de- 
pravity of  the  heart,  about  our  guilt  and  peril,  about  the  need 
of  a  new  birth  and  a  divine  Saviour,  find  a  ringing  answer  in 
men's  experience.  The  heart  hates  the  gospel,  but  feels  it  to 
be  true.  And  so  the  world  sees  plain,  blunt  Methodism  start- 
ing among  the  lowly,  and  multiplying  to  more  than  two  mil- 
lions ;  and  cultured  Unitarianism,  sneering  at  depravity,  prat- 
ing of  self-culture,  denying  a  divine  Saviour,  throwing  down 
all  barriers  to  church  membership,  and  managing  to  rally  to 
its  standard  a  pitiful  and  motley  fifty  thousand  !  —  licv.  D. 
Gurrig,  D.  D. 


364  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 


HOW  TO  HAVE  A  REVIVAL  CHURCH. 

And  they  continued  steadfastly  in  the  apostles'  doctrine  and  fellowship,  and 
in  breaking  of  bread,  and  in  prayers.  —  Acts  2  :  42. 


Pulpit  and  the  Pew  thus  discourses  on  the  method  of 
-L   securing  a  revival  :  — 

"  That  pastor  can  not  fail  who  understands  how  to  develop 
the  powers  of  his  people.  1  1  envy  Dr.  S.  more  than  any  other 
minister  in  New  York/  said  the  late  Dr.  Alexander,  '  for  he  has 
the  art  of  keeping  all  his  people  at  work.'  It  is  a  rare  art,  and 
one  acquired  by  prayer  and  experience.  The  most  effectual 
way  to  make  a  working  church  is  to  feed  the  church  into 
strength  with  solid  gospel  food,  and  to  fire  it  into  enthusiasm 
kindling  in  their  souls  the  love  of  Jesus.  This  is  the  one  un- 
dying inspiration.  If  you  want  a  revival,  give  your  people 
searching,  arousing,  practical  discourses.  Use  God's  fire,  and 
not  your  own  devices.  When  you  get  the  most  bountiful 
contributions  to  a  benevolent  cause,  it  will  not  be  by  elabo- 
rate begging  ;  it  will  be  after  you  have  roused  and  kindled 
their  hearts  by  the  glorious  gospel  of  Christ.  Pitch  your 
preaching  to  a  heavenly  key  !  Magnify  the  cross  of  Calvary  ! 
Pour  on  your  people's  hearts  overwhelming  claims  of  God. 
Come  to  them  every  Sabbath  with  Christ  in  your  heart,  and 
Christ  on  your  tongue.  The  l  power  from  on  high  '  will  then 
come  with  you,  and  the  baptism  of  fire  will  give  you  a  pen- 
tecost.  The  church  that  is  mighty  in  prayer  is  mighty  in 
work." 


PRAYER  AN  EXTRAORDINARY  ACT. 

Now  Peter  and  John  went  up  together  into  the  temple,  at  the  hour  of 
prayer,  being  the  ninth  hour.  —  Acts  3  :  1. 


late  Professor  Peabody,  of  Dartmouth  College,  in  a  dis- 
_L  course  published  by  the  Congregational  .Journal,  remarks, 
that  "  Prayer  is  one  of  the  most  natural,  and,  at  the  same 
time,  one  of  the  most  extraordinary  acts  of  life.  It  is  one  of 
the  most  natural  :  for  what  is  it  but  the  cry  of  helplessness  for 
succor  —  of  guilt  for  pardon  —  of  anguish  for  relief?  And  it 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  365 

is  one  of  the  most  extraordinary  acts ;  for  what  can  be  more 
wonderful  than  an  earthborn  creature  approaching,  with  un- 
shrinking assurance,  the  infinite  God  —  a  self-ruined  sinner 
laying  hold  of  the  Almighty  arm  as  if,  in  the  agony  of  inter- 
cession, to  modify  the  dispensations  of  providence  and  grace  ! 
Here  we  see  absolute  weakness  maintaining  its  cause  before 
omnipotent  sovereignty  ;  a  mere  particle  of  intelligent  being, 
stained  with  sin,  and  conscious  of  death- worthiness,  entering 
into  the  presence  and  seeking  a  special  interest  for  itself,  or  for 
others  like  itself,  in  the  government  of  the  eternal,  omniscient 
mind.  Thus  it  is,  that  in  the  duties  as  well  as  in  the  doc- 
trines of  religion,  the  finite  and  the  infinite  are  brought  into 
close  conjunction :  a  circumstance  which,  while  it  may  offend 
and  perhaps  disgust  the  unbeliever,  imparts  a  sublimity  to  our 
faith,  and  a  perfection  to  the  character  founded  upon  it,  which 
nothing  else  can  supply. 

"  Prayer  is  the  link  between  our  own  littleness  and  the  vast 
resources  of  power  and  grace  above  us.  It  is  an  acknowledg- 
ment of  what  we  are,  and  an  apprehension  of  what  we  are 
allied  to,  and  what  we  may  secure  in  the  spiritual  world.  It 
is  the  labor  of  a  poor  helpless  spirit,  striving  to  reunite  the 
broken  chain  between  itself  and  God,  to  regain  his  forfeited 
favor  and  lost  image.  It  is  the  medium  through  which  celes- 
tial light  is  conveyed  into  the  darkened  understanding,  and 
the  riches  of  unbounded  love  poured  into  the  desolate  soul." 


LOOKING  ONLY  TO  CHRIST. 

Ye  men  of  Israel,  why  marvel  ye  at  this?  or  why  look  ye  so  earnestly  on 
us,  as  though  by  our  own  power  or  holiness  we  had  made  this  man  to  walk?  — 
Acts  3:12. 

A    GENTLEMAN  said  he  heard  Rev.  Mr.  Spurgeon,  in  Lon- 
IJL.   don,  relate  the  following  in  regard  to  Whitefield  :  — 

"  It  had  come  to  be  believed  among  the  common  people  of 
England  in  general,  that  Mr.  Whitefield  never  staid  over  a 
night  in  a  family  that  he  did  not  have  them  all  converted 
when  he  left  them  the  next  morning.  A  well-to-do  family  had 
heard  this  same  thing,  and  they  believed  it.  They  were  not 


366  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

indifferent  on  the  subject  of  religion,  but  were  anxious.  So 
the  husband  said  one  day,  '  Wife,  I  am  not  a  Christian,  nor  are 
either  of  our  five  children.  Now  let  us  send  for  Mr.  White- 
field,  and  ask  him  to  stay  over  night.'  So  they  sent  an  earnest 
invitation  to  him  to  come  and  spend  three  days,  and  they  would 
do  all  they  could  to  make  him  comfortable. 

"  When  Mr.  Whitefield  came,  in  obedience  to  this  invita- 
tion, they  did  all  they  could  to  make  him  happy.  They  were 
intelligent  people,  and  knew  how  to  do  it.  The  first  day 
passed  away,  and  Mr.  Whitefield  said  nothing  on  the  subject 
of  religion.  On  the  next  their  attentions  were  redoubled,  but 
salvation  was  not  named.  The  third  day  passed  in  the  same 
way.  They  were  sedulous  and  anxious,  but  religion  was  not 
named  ;  and  the  hour  of  his  departure  came,  and  he  was  gone. 

"  These  people  were  in  sore  distress,  and  they  said  to  each 
other,  l  What  does  this  mean  ?  Three  days,  and  he  has  not 
said  a  word  about  religion  —  not  a  word.' 

"  Mr.  Whitefield,  just  before  leaving,  had  written  on  the 
window-pane  of  the  room  where  he  lodged,  with  his  diamond 
ring,  these  words,  l  One  thing  thou  lackest.' 

"  The  host,  in  looking  over  the  room  where  the  good  man 
had  slept,  discovered  these  words,  and  called  to  his  family 
below,  '  Come  up  here  !  come  right  up  here,  every  one  of  you  ! 
Come  up  here  ! '  And  when  they  came,  the  good  man.  of  the 
house  said, '  Here  is  Mr.  Whitefield's  message.  It  is  true  — 
every  word  true  ;  we  all  lack  the  one  thing  needful.' 

"  The  wife  said,  '  I  thought  how  sad  he  looked,  0,  so  sad  ! 
Now  I  know  why  he  looked  so.' 

" l  0,  let  us  pray/  said  the  husband,  '  for  that  one  thing 
needful,  and  choose  to  day  the  good  part  that  shall  never  be 
taken  away.' 

"  They  fell  on  their  knees  around  the  bed,  and  there  they 
gave  themselves  to  Christ,  and  afterward  proved  the  sincerity 
of  their  consecration  in  their  earnest  Christian  lives." 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  367 

CONVERSION. 

Repent  ye  therefore,  and  be  converted,  that  your  sins  may  be  blotted  out, 
when  the  times  of  refreshing  shall  come  from  the  presence  of  the  Lord.  — 
Acts  3 :  19. 

IN  St.  Dennis  Hotel,  once,  in  Broadway,  New  York,  I  was 
summoned  to  visit  a  sick  young  man,  who  came  from 
Charleston  with  a  widowed  mother.  I  had  known  them  there 
—  the  mother,  not  the  youth.  They  had  been  a^  Saratoga, 
and  had  come  back  to  New  York,  and  in  this  hotel  the  young 
man  was  lying  to  die.  His  mother  had  sent  for  another 
clergyman  to  visit  him,  and  that  clergyman  said  that  the 
poor  young  man  was  crazy  ;  and  when  I  asked  that  religious 
brother,  "  What  did  you  do  to  him .?  "  he  said,  "  Do  ?  I  tried 
to  pacify  him  ;  I  tried  to  quiet  him  ;  I  said,  '  We  will  not  talk, 
but  say  a  little  prayer/  and  I  left  him  in  peace."  His  mother 
was  not  satisfied,  and  sent  for  me.  He  lay  before  me,  a  splen- 
did youth  of  nineteen,  his  eyes  like  jets  of  the  brilliancy  of  a 
diamond.  "  Dr.  Tyng,"  said  the  young  man,  "  my  mother  has 
always  told  me  that  I  must  be  converted :  that  I  could  not  be 
saved  except  I  was  converted.  I  am  not  converted.  How 
can  I  be  converted  ?  Can  I  be  converted  ?  0,  tell  me  —  how, 
how  can  I  be  converted  ?  " 

I  sat  by  a the  side  of  that  youth,  and  told  him  the  story  of 
Jesus.  I  showed  him  the  simplicity  of  the  gospel  plan  of 
salvation.  I  bade  him  realize  that  his  heavenly  Father  had 
received  and  accepted  him  in  Christ  when  Christ  willingly 
died  to  bear  his  load,  and  he  was  to  come  in  the  simplest  faith 
of  a  little  child,  and  rest  himself  gratefully,  hopefully  upon  it. 
We  spent  an  hour  in  conversation.  Twenty-four  hours  after 
I  called  again.  0,  how  changed  that  face  !  It  shone  like  an 
angel's.  He  reached  out  his  long,  tapering  hand  to  me  with 
the  sweetest  possible  smile,  and  said,  "  0,  sir,  I  understand  it ! 
I  understand  it.  Love  for  Jesus  is  conversion  !  Love  for 
Jesus  is  conversion  !  Sir,  all  night  I  was  asking  Jesus  to  let 
me  love  him  ;  to  show  me  how  to  love  him  ;  and  I  feel  to-day 
as  if  my  whole  soul  was  overflowing  with  love  to  Jesus.  Is 
that  conversion  ?  "  "  My  dear  Julian,  that  is  conversion."  — 
Dr.  Tyng. 


3G8  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

IMPORTANCE  OF  REVIVAL  LABORS. 

Howbeit,  many  of  them  which  heard  the  word,  believed ;   and  the  number 
of  the  men  was  about  five  thousand.  —  Acts  4  :  4. 

CJTRANGE,  indeed,  is  it  that  any  professing  to  be  Christians 
O  should  not  desire  what  are  popularly  termed  revivals,  when 
the  very  commencement  of  the  church  was  with  such  a  blessed 
outpouring  of  the  Spirit.  Men  may  talk  about  constant  re- 
vivals, and"  the  superior  advantages  of  a  regular  increase,  by 
the  use  of  ordinary  means,  as  much  as  they  please,  there  never 
was  a  truly  prosperous  age  of  vital  piety  that  was  not  charac- 
terized by  revivals,  and  the  constitution  of  human  nature 
must  be  changed  before  the  work  of  God  can  truly  advance 
without  them.  So  long  as  man  is  a  social  being,  and  men  are 
moved  by  men,  there  will  be  times  when  masses  will  be 
influenced  by  the  same  impulses,  when  the  attention  of  many 
will  at  once  be  directed  to  religion,  and  when  the  prayers  of 
the  faithful  will  arise  with  unwonted  fervency,  and  when  the 
sluggish  will  be  aroused  to  activity,  and  when  the  Spirit  will 
display  its  mightiest  power,  and  when  souls  will  be  added  to 
the  church  daily  of  such  as  are  saved ;  and  then  is  the  time 
for  Christians,  if  need  be,  to  make  extraordinary  sacrifices  to 
God.  Such  was  the  occasion  when  the  apostles  first  unfolded 
to  the  world  the  banner  of  the  gospel,  and  to  carry  on  the 
work,  the  first  subjects  of  it  contributed  all  they  had.  —  Rev. 
E.  0.  Haven. 


CHRIST  THE  ONLY  NAME. 

Neither  is  there  salvation  in  any  other ;  for  there  is  none  other  name  under 
heaven  given  among  men^  whereby  we  must  be  saved.  —  Acts  4 :  12. 

A  FEW  persons  were  collected  round  a  blind  man,  who  had 
taken  his  station  on  a  bridge  and  was  reading  from  a 
Bible  with  raised  letters.  While  he  received  from  the  passers- 
by  of  their  carnal  things,  he  ministered  1<>  them  spiritual 
things.  A  gentleman  on  his  way  home  from  the  city  was  led 
•by  curiosity  to  the  outskirts  of  the  crowd.  Just  then  the  poor 
man,  who  was  reading  the  fourth  chapter  of  the  Acts,  lost  his 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  369 

place,  and  while  trying  to  find  it  with  his  fingers,  kept  repeating 
the  last  clause  he  had  read,  "  None  other  name  —  none  other 
name  —  none  other  name."  Some  of  the  people  smiled  at  the 
blind  man's  embarrassment,  but  the  gentleman  went  away 
deeply  musing.  He  had  lately  become  convinced  that  he  was 
a  sinner  ;  he  had  been  trying  in  many  ways  to  obtain  peace  of 
mind ;  but  religious  exercises,  good  resolutions,  altered  habits, 
all  were  unable  to  relieve  his  conscience  of  its  load,  and  enable 
him  to  rejoice  in  God. 

The  words  he  had  heard  from  the  blind  man,  however,  rang 
like  solemn  music  in  his  soul  —  "  None  other  name."  When 
he  reached  his  home  and  retired  to  rest,  these  words  were  still 
heard:  "  None  other  name  —  none  other  name  —  none  other 
name."  And  when  he  awoke,  the  strain  continued :  "  None 
other  name  —  none  other  name  —  none  other  name."  The 
music  entered  his  soul,  and  by  the  blessing  of  God  he  awoke 
to  a  new  life.  "  I  see  it  all,"  said  he  ;  "  I  see  it  all !  I  have 
been  trying  to  be  saved  by  my  own  works,  my  repentance, 
my  prayers,  my  reformation.  I  see  my  mistake.  It  is  Jesus 
who  alone  can  save.  To  him  I  will  look.  Neither  is  there 
salvation  in  any  other.  For  there  is  none  other  name — none 
other  name  —  none  other  name  under  heaven  given  among 
men  whereby  we  must  be  saved." 


UNLEARNED,  YET  POWERFUL. 

Now,  when  they  saw  the  boldness  of  Peter  and  John,  and  perceived  that 
they  were  unlearned  and  ignorant  men,  they  marveled ;  and  they  took  knowl- 
edge of  them,  that  they  had  been  with  Jesus.  —  Acts  4 :  13. 

THE   apostles   were,  for   the  most   part,  unlearned,  in   the 
worldly  acceptation  of  that  term,  and  yet  a  more  efficient 
class  of  ministers  never  existed.     And  what  great  numbers, 
both  of  ministers  and  laymen,  unlearned  in  human  science, 
have  been  among  the  most  efficient  and  powerful  ministers 
and  laymen  in  the  church  of  God ;  while,  for  the  most  part, 
men  that  have  been  the  most  famed  for  human  learning,  have 
been,  in  a  great  measure,  inefficient  and  useless  in  the  church 
of  God.     This  by  no  means  proves  that  human  learning  is 
47 


370  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

unimportant,  but  it  does  prove,  beyond  all  gainsaying,  the 
paramount  importance  of  the  baptism  of  the  Holy  Ghost. 

I  would  therefore  repeat,  with  great  emphasis,  what  I  said 
at  first,  that  the  difference  in  the  efficiency  of  ministers  does 
not  consist  so  much  in  the  difference  of  intellectual  attain- 
ments, as  in  the  measure  of  the  Holy  Spirit  which  they  enjoy. 
And  how  abundantly  do  the  facts  that  lie  right  upon  the  face  of 
the  church's  history  demonstrate  the  truth  of  the  assertion  !  I 
do  not  hesitate  to  say,  that  whatever  the  age  or  the .  learning 
of  ministers  may  be,  he  is  a  mere  child  in  spiritual  knowledge, 
experience,  and  qualifications  for  his  office,  without  the  bap- 
tism of  the  Holy  Ghost.  He  certainly  will,  and  must  for  ever 
remain  so.  Until  he  knows  what  it  is  to  be  "  filled  with  the 
Spirit,"  "  to  be  led  by  the  Spirit,"  "  to  be  endued  with  power 
from  on  high,"  to  fulfill  his  high  and  reasonable  functions,  he 
is  a  mere  child,  and  by  no  means  qualified  to  be  a  leader  in 
the  church  of  God. 

A  thousand  times  as  much  stress  ought  to  be  laid  upon  this 
part  of  a  thorough  preparation  for  the  ministry  as  has  been. 
Until  it  is  felt,  acknoAvledged,  and  proclaimed  upon  the  house- 
tops, run  through  our  halls  of  science,  and  sounded  forth  in  our 
theological  seminaries  that  this  is  altogether  an  indispensable 
part  of  the  preparation  for  the  work  of  the  ministry,  we  talk  in 
vain  and  at  random  when  we  talk  of  the  necessity  of  a  thor- 
ough preparation  and  course  of  training.  —  Rev.  C*  G.  Finney* 


DID  HE  NOT  DO  RIGHT? 

But  Peter  and  John  answered  and  said  unto  them,  Whether  it  be  right 
in  the  sight  of  God  to  hearken  unto  you  more  than  unto  God,  judge  ye.  — 
Acts  4 :  19. 

/GEORGE  WALKER,  who  died  in  1651,  aged  seventy  years, 
U  was  called  by  Anthony  Wood,  "  A  learned  man,  but  a 
severe  Puritan."  He  merited  the  title  by  his  earnest  opposi- 
tion to  popery,  his  zeal  for  the  observance  of  the  Sabbath,  and 
his  belief  that  we  ought  to  obey  God  rather  than  men.  For 
urging  the  necessity  of  observing  the  Sabbath,  he  was  called 
before  Laud,  and  received  canonical  admonition.  He  was 


NE W  TESTAMENT  ILL  USTRA  TIONS.  371 

afterward  called  before  the  star-chamber.  He  had  preached 
in  his  own  church  a  sermon  to  prove  "  that  it  was  a  sin  to 
obey  the  greatest  monarch  upon  earth,  in  those  things  which 
stand  opposed  to  the  command  of  God."  For  this  heinous 
offense  he  was  arrested  and  kept  in  prison  ten  weeks,  when 
he  was  brought  to  trial,  as  it  was  called.  His  living  was 
taken  from  him,  and  he  was  compelled  to  enter  into  bonds  for 
a  thousand  pounds  to  confine  himself  to  his  brother's  house  in 
Cheswick.  He  continued  thus  a  prisoner  for  two  years,  when 
he  was  released  by  order  of  Parliament.  The  House  of  Com- 
mons declared  his  prosecution  and  imprisonment  illegal  and 
unjust,  and  that  he  ought  to  receive  reparation  for  the  dam- 
ages he  had  sustained.  After  his  release,  he  returned  to  his 
ministerial  charge,  and  continued  it  to  the  close  of  his  life 
without  molestation. 


TEMPTATIONS  TO  UNFAITHFULNESS  IN  THE 
MINISTRY. 

And  now,  Lord,  behold  their  threatenings :  and  grant  unto  thy  servants, 
that  with  all  boldness  they  may  speak  thy  word.  —  Acts  4  :  29. 

MEN  do  not  like  to  have  their  sins  brought  to  light  and  re- 
buked, or  to  be  hard  pressed  with  the  humiliating  and 
self-denying  doctrines  of  the  gospel ;  and  yet,  many  who 
cleave  to  their  sins  often  become  the  most  liberal  patrons  of 
the  ministry,  and  when  rich  and  influential  —  and  some  such 
are  found  in  most  congregations,  especially  in  our  cities  — 
how  great  the  temptation  to  the  servant  of  God  to  yield  to 
their  demand  that  he  prophesy  to  them  smooth  things.  Alas, 
this  has  been  the  bane  of  the  church  in  all  ages !  It  was  so 
in  the  time  of  Israel's  apostasy,  and  so  it  was  with  the  church 
of  Rome,  and  so,  to  a  greater  or  less  extent,  has  it  always 
been.  Witness  the  silence  of  the  American  pulpit,  for  more 
than  a  half  century,  upon  the  great  sin  of  the  nation,  a  sin 
which  at  length  brought  upon  it  the  overwhelming  calamities 
of  civil  war. 


372  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 


CHILDREN  AND  CHRISTIANITY. 

By  stretching  forth  thine  hand  to  heal ;  and  that  signs  and  wonders  may 
be  done  by  the  name  of  thy  holy  child  Jesus.  —  Acts  4 :  30. 

IX  an  address  at  the  late  anniversary  of  the  American  Sun- 
day School  Union,  Rev.  Dr.  Armitage  said,  — 

"  I  find  a  child  in  no  religion  but  in  the  religion  of  Jesus.. 
Mohammed  seemed  to  know  nothing  about  a  child.  The  hea- 
then seemed  to  know  nothing  about  children  in  their  mytholo- 
gy. Their  gods  were  not  born  as  children.  They  were  never 
clothed  with  the  sympathies  of  children.  They  were  never 
endowed  with  the  attributes  of  children.  They  never  threw 
themselves  into  the  social  ties  of  children.  0,  no !  That 
would  not  have  been  natural.  That  would  not  have  been 
divine,  in  their  conception.  And  hence  they  make  no  pro- 
vision for  children. 

"  But  the  great  elemental  fact  of  Christianity  is  the  holy 
Child  Jesus.  Born  of  a  woman,  born  under  the  law,  in  total 
helplessness,  physically,  laid  in  a  manger,  cared  for  by  no  many 
but  the  Child  of  the  everlasting  Father  and  the  Prince  of 
Peace.  So  that  the  gospel  of  Jesus  is  the  only  religion  on 
earth  that  makes  provision  for  a  child,  and  is  the  only  religion 
in  which  a  child  is  laid  at  the  basis  and  foundation  of  its  faith. 

"  The  Bible  is  the  child's  book  as  well  as  the  philosopher's 
book ;  and  if  the  stern  facts  of  the  Bible,  beautiful  in  love, 
came  to  the  heart  of  the  sturdy  old  tinker  in  Bedford  jail,  they 
also  stole  upon  the  heart  of  his  little  blind  Mary  at  his  feet ! 
So  that  the  philosopher  and  the  child  stand  on  equal  ground 
in  the  matter  of  salvation.  A  child  is  not  expected  to  depend 
upon  the  faith  of  mystery,  but  the  faith  of  great,  grand  moral 
facts.  The  Saviour  is  a  fact ;  Sin  is  a  fact  —  not  a  doctrine, 
nor  a  theory,  merely ;  God  is  a  fact ;  Holiness  is  a  fact ;  Heaven 
and  Hell,  and  Christ,  and  Faith,  and  Love  are  all  facts ;  and 
when  a  child  feels  that  he  is  a  living  fact,  and  a  loving  God 
inspires  him  with  love,  with  faith,  with  obedience,  what  can 
Gabriel  more  than  love,  and  believe,  and  obey  God  in 
return  ?  " 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  373 

POWER  OF  PRAYER. 

And  when  they  had  prayed,  the  place  Avas  shaken  whera  they  were  assem- 
bled together ;  and  they  were  all  filled  with  the  Holy  Ghost,  and  they  spake 
the  word  of  God  with  boldness.  —  Acts  4:31. 

THE  Bible  account  of  the  power  of  prayer  is  the  best  we 
have,  or  can  have. 

Abraham's  servant  prays  —  Rebekah  appears. 

Jacob  prays  —  the  angel  is  conquered  ;  Esau's  revenge  is 
changed  to  fraternal  love. 

Joseph  prays  —  he  is  delivered  from  the  prison  of  Egypt. 

Moses  prays  — Amalek  is  discomfited  ;  Israel  triumphs. 

Joshua -prays  —  the  sun  stands  still ;  victory  is  gained. 

Hannah  prays  —  the  prophet  Samuel  is  born. 

David  prays  —  Ahithophel  goes  out  and  hangs  himself. 

Asa  prays  —  Israel  gains  a  glorious  victory. 

Jehoshaphat  prays  —  God  turns  away  his  anger,  and  smiles. 

Elijah  prays  —  the  little  cloud  appears  j  the  rain  descends 
upon  the  earth. 

Elisha  prays  —  the  waters  of  the  Jordan  are  divided ;  a 
child  is  restored  to  life. 

Hezekiah  prays — one  hundred  and  eighty-five  thousand  As- 
syrians are  dead. 

Hezekiah  prays  —  the  sun-dial  is  turned  back ;  his  life  is 
prolonged. 

Mordecai  prays — Haman  is  hanged  ;  Israel  is  free. 

Nehemiah  prays  —  the  king's  heart  is  softened  in  a  minute. 

Ezra  prays  —  the  wall  of  Jerusalem  begins  to  rise. 

The  church  prays  —  the  Holy  Ghost  is  poured  out. 

The  church  prays  again  —  Peter  is  delivered  by  an  angel. 

Paul  and  Silas  pray  —  the  prison  shakes  j  the  door  opens, 
every  man's  bands  are  loosed. 


THE  PRIMITIVE  CHURCH  AND  THEIR  PROPERTY. 

Having  land,  sold  it,  and  brought  the  money,  and  laid  it  at  the  apostles' 
feet.  —  Acts  4  :  37. 

E  believe  that  the  primitive  converts  who   sold   their 
possessions,  lands,  and  goods,  and  laid  the  price  at  the 


374  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

apostles'  feet  for  distribution,  were  impelled  to  that  act  by  the 
Holy  Spirit ;  that  not  enthusiasm  but  genuine  piety  moved 
them,  and  that  for  that  act  they  deserve  not  our  pity,  but  our 
highest  praise.  Moreover,  the  fruit  of  their  generosity  suf- 
ficiently exhibits  its  true  glory ;  for  we  are  told  in  immediate 
connection,  "  And  the  Lord  added  to  the  church  daily  such  as 
should  be  saved." 

It  is  necessary,  if  we  would  correctly  appreciate  the  true 
spirit  of  this  history,  that  we  should  have  an  exact  understand- 
ing of  the  event  itself.  It  is  evident  that  it  was  voluntary. 
It  Avas  not  an  express  or  implied  condition  of  membership  with 
Christ's  followers  to  sell  every  or  any  possession,  and  throw 
the  proceeds  into  the  common  fund.  The  act  does"  not  seem 
to  have  emanated  from  the  command,  or  even  the  advice,  of 
the  apostles.  There  is  no  intimation  of  the  kind  in  the  history. 
On  the  other  hand,  Peter  said  to  Ananias,  who  sold  his  land 
and  brought  only  a  part  of  the  price  of  it  to  the  apostles, 
"  While  it  remained  was  it  not  thine  own  ?  and  after  it  was 
sold  was  it  not  in  thine  own  power  ?  "  Implying  clearly  that 
if  Ananias  had  let  his  land  remain  without  sale,  he  would  not 
have  sinned,  and  even  if  after  the  sale  he  had  retained  the 
whole  price  for  himself,  he  would  have  incurred  no  blame. 
But  he  could  not  have  remained  out  of  the  church  of  Christ 
without  sin ;  certainly  he  could  not  have  refused  Christ  with- 
out sin ;  therefore  he  might  have  been  a  Christian,  and  yet 
not  sold  his  land.  The  sin  of  Ananias  was  lying  —  bringing 
only  a  part  of  the  price,  under  the  pretense  that  it  was  the 
whole  price;  had  he  brought  a  part,  and  openly  avowed  that 
it  was  but  a  part,  he  would  have  been  free  from  blame.  The 
whole  act  was  voluntary,  and  seems  to  have  proceeded  from 
a  spontaneous  impulse,  felt  by  the  Christians  themselves, 
prompted,  we  suppose,  by  the  Holy  Spirit.  —  Rev.  E.  O.  Haven. 

JUDGMENTS  OF  GOD  MANIFESTED. 

A/id  Ananias  hearing  these  words,  fell  down,  and  gave  up  the  ghost.  And 
great  fear  came  on  all  them  that  heard  these  things.  —  Acts  5  :  5. 

ALTHAZAR'S  quaffing  in  the  church  plate  proved  a  fatal 
draught  unto  him.     Korah,  Dathan,  and  Abiram  had  no 


B 


NEW   TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  375 

sooner  opened  their  rebellious  mouths  against  Moses,  but  the 
earth  opened  her  mouth,  and  swallowed  them  up  quick.  An- 
anias and  Sapphira  had  no  sooner  told  a  lie,  and  stood  to  it, 
but  the/  are  struck  dead  to  the  ground.  Herod  had  scarcely 
made  an  end  of  his  oration  to  the  people,  and  received  their 
applause,  but  the  angel  of  the  Lord  smote  him,  and  made  an 
end  of  him.  0,  that  sinners  of  all  sorts,  blasphemous  swearers, 
bloody  murderers,  unclean  adulterers,  and  sacrilegious  church 
robbers,  when  the  devil  eggs  them  on  to  any  impiety  or  vil- 
lainy, would  but  cast  this  rub  in  their  way,  and  say  to  them- 
selves, What  if  God  should  take  me  in  the  manner,  and  strike 
me  in  the  very  act,  and  cast  me  into  the  dungeon  of  hell,  there 
to  be  tormented  with  the  devil  and  his  angels  for  evermore  ? 
Do  I  not  provoke  him  to  do  it  ?  Do  I  not  dare  him  ?  hath  he 
not  threatened  as  much?  hath  he  not  done  as  much?  That 
which  is  one  man's  case,  may  be  any  man's  case,  <fcc.  —  Things 
New  and  Old. 


BE  TRUE  IN  PREACHING  FUNERAL  SERMONS. 

And  the  young  men  arose,  wound  him  up,  and  carried  him  out,  and  buried 
him.  —  Acts  5:6.  % 

¥E  all  know  the  feeling  of  mingled  surprise  and  incredu- 
lity with  which  we  have  listened,  at  the  obsequies  of  some 
friend  or  neighbor,  to  eulogiums  of  the  dead  that  would  seem 
rather  extravagant  if  pronounced  over  the  ashes  of  even  a  Paul 
or  a  Judson.  Could  such  a  paragon  of  all  Christian  graces,  we 
have  asked  ourselves,  have  walked  with  us  so  long,  and  we 
not  know  it  ?  For  the  moment,  we  have  been  quite  cast  down 
by  our  seeming  lack  of  discernment ;  but  then  the  recollection 
that  extravagance  of  eulogy  is  the  custom  in  such  cases 
comes  to  our  aid,  and  we  are  comforted.  Of  course,  every 
one  is  aware  that  the  speaker  does  not  really  intend  to  present 
a  false  picture  of  character,  and  that  the  suppression  of  all 
dark  shades  is  due  simply  to  a  desire  to  spare  the  feelings  of 
sorrow-stricken  relatives ;  but  inasmuch  as  a  false  impression 
is  thereby  actually  made,  or  the  listeners  are  led  to  doubt  the 
sincerity,  or  to  question  the  truth  of  what  is  said,  wou'd  it  not 


876  NEW   TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

be  the  better  course  either  to  make  no  personal  allusions  at 
all,  or,  if  that  be  out  of  the  question,  to  be  more  truthful  in 
making  them  ? 

We  cannot  but  admire  the  bluff  honesty  of  the  old  Scotch 
divine  who,  when  asked  to  preach  the  funeral  sermon  of  a 
young  scapegrace  of  his  parish,  at  first  declined,  but  on  being 
pressed  satisfied  at  once  his  conscience  and  the  truth  in  the 
following  brief  discourse  :  "  Well,  Jock  is  dead  ;  speak  gude 
of  him  I  canna;  speak  ill  of  him  I  winna ;  but  he's  gane  to  his 
fathers." 


DR.  BEECHER  ON  REVIVALS. 

And  believers  were  the  more  added  to  the  Lord,  multitudes  both  of  men 
and  women.  —  Acts  5  :  14. 

MY  brethren,  we  must  have  revivals  !     It  must  rain  faster, 
or  we  perish  with  drought !     There  is  no  such  thing  as  a 
growing,  progressive  church  without  them ;  no  such  thing  as 
a  prosperous   country  without  them.     God  has  never  multi- 
plied his  people,  never  built  up  his  kingdom  rapidly  without 
them,  and  never  will.     This  is  the  thought  Ijwould  impress 
upon  those  who  hear  me  —  the  indispensable  necessity  of  re- 
vivals of  religion  to  perpetuate  the  church  and  to  convert  the 
.world. 

Revivals  are  necessary  as  a  kind  of  substitute  for  miracles. 
God  is  the  author  of  conversion ;  but  not  in  the  way  of  mira- 
cles —  not  without  referencje  to  and  conformity  with  the  laws 
of  mind.  Miracles  can  not  convert  the  soul.  How  many  of 
those  who  witnessed  the  miracles  of  Christ,  do  you  suppose, 
were  converted  by  the  prodigies  that  astounded  them  ?  Mir- 
acles had  their  use,  but  that  use  was  not  the  conversion  of  the 
soul.  But  now  their  object  is  accomplished ;  the  gospel  is 
authenticated  ;  the  work  is  under  motion.  Hear  the  world 
roar  as  it  rushes  along ;  and  see,  as  civilization  advances, 
wealth  accumulates,  luxury  abounds,  and  society  rises  higher 
and  higher,  how  men  dislike  the  humbling  doctrines  of  the 
cross  !  Religion  becomes  offensive  ;  the  gospel  is  odious ;  and 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  377 

if  they  go  on,  they  will  scout  it  out  of  the  world  with  their 
sneers  and  contempt.  How  are  you  to  make  head  against  all 
this  accumulating  hatred  ?  By  jogging  along  in  the  old  orthodox 
way  ?  No ;  men  will  go  to  hell  by  whole  generations  if  some- 
thing be  not  done.  But  go  into  a  church  filled  with  these  gay, 
self- sufficient,  contemptuous  schemers,  when  the  Spirit  of  God 
is  abroad,  and  the  atmosphere  of  revivals  envelops  the  mass. 
Then  see  how  they  stir ;  what  an  arrest  is  put  upon  the  cur- 
rent of  their  worldliness  !  The  whole  town  is  affected.  Con- 
viction spreads'  from  heart  to  heart,  like  a  fire  in  a  dry  forest. 
Everybody  feels,  and  you  can  not  tell  why.  In  Litchfield, 
during  a  great  revival,  I  would  hear  of  conversions  taking 
place  simultaneously  ten  miles  apart,  without  any  contact  or 
intercommunion.  The  gospel  then  took  hold.  It  was  invested 
with  a  kind  of  almightiness.  It  is  impossible  for  the  truth  to 
make  such  an  impression  at  any  other  time.  We  must  have 
revivals,  if  the  world  is  ever  to  be  converted.  To  wait  till 
the  church  is  filled  with  the  droppings  of  the  sanctuary  is  to 
wait  for  ever. 


STAND  UP  FOR  JESUS. 

Saying,  Did  not  we  straitly  command  you,  that  ye  should  not  teach  in  this 
name?  and  behold,  ye  have  filled  Jerusalem  with  your  doctrine,  and  intend 
to  bring  this  man's  blood  upon  us.  Then  Peter  and  the  other  apostles  an- 
swered and  said,  We  ought  to  obey  God  rather  than  men.  —  Acts  5 :  28,  29. 

THE  Emperor  Vespasian  commanded  a  certain  senator  not 
to  appear  at  the  senate,  or  if  he  did  come,  not  to  speak 
anything  the  emperor  would  not  approve. 

To  this  the  senator  bravely  replied  that,  "  As  he  was  a  sen- 
ator, it  was  fit  he  should  appear  at  the  senate ;  and  if,  being 
there,  he  was  required  to   give  his  advice,  he  must  speak 
freely  what  his  conscience  commanded  him." 
"  Then  you  shall  die,"  said  the  enraged  ruler. 
"  I  have  never  professed  to  be   immortal,"  was  the  reply. 
"  Do  what  you  will,  -and  I  will  do  what  I  ought.     It  is  in 
your  power  to  put  me  to  death  unjustly,  and  in  my  power  to 
die  constantly." 

If  this  heathen,  with  no  gospel  sun-ray  to  lighten  the  dark 
48 


378  NEW   TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

valley,  could  thus  stand  firm  to  his  principles  in  the  very  face 
of  death,  surely  we  should  not  shrink  from  duty  because  of  a 
few  straws  of  opposition  in  our  way.  If  we  would  come  after 
Christ,  we  must  take  up  our  cross  and  so  follow  him. 

At  a  certain  council  of  war,  it  was  remarked  by  a  lord 
present  that  the  enemy  had  many  pieces  of  ordnance  planted 
in  a  certain  place  where  it  would  be  very  dangerous  to  fight. 

"  My  lords,"  said  the  valiant  commander,  Sir  Horace  Vere, 
"  if  you  fear  the  mouth  of  a  cannon,  you  must  never  come  into 
the  field." 

So  the  Christian  must  nerve  himself  for  strong  opposition 
from  the  great  enemy  if.  he  seeks  to  be  useful  to  his  Master. 
He  can  not  stand  up  manfully  for  Jesus  without  having  many 
seek  to  cast  him  down,  and  the  worst  foe,  of  all  will  be  found 
in  his  own  bosom. 

"  Thanks  be  unto  God  who  -giveth  us  the  victory  through 
our  Lord  Jesus  Christ." 


EXALTED  TO  GIVE. 

Him  hath  God  exalted  with  his  right  hand  to  be  a  Prince  and  a  Saviour,  for 
to  give  repentance  to  Israel,  and  forgiveness  of  sins.  —  Acts  5  :  31. 

WHEN  the  Jewish  rulers,  who  had  sworn  the  life  of  Jesus 
away  before  the  tribunal  of  the  Roman  governor,  heard 
first  of  his  resurrection,  they  remonstrated  with  the  witnesses, 
"  Ye  intend  to  bring  this  man's  blood  upon  us."  The  resur- 
rection of  Jesus  had  no  other  meaning  to  them  than  vengeance. 
They  reasoned,  "  If  he  whom  we  slew  is  exalted,  woe  unto 
us!"  But  to  these  very  men  the  apostles  preached  pardon. 
They  proclaimed  that  Jesus  is  exalted  for  the  purpose  of 
showing  mercy  to  his  murderers.  He  is  exalted  to  give,  and 
he  gives  even  to  them.  He  gives  to  all,  and  upbraideth  not. 
Now  that  he  is  exalted,  and  his  enemies  are  in  his  power,  in- 
stead of  taking  vengeance,  he  gives  remission  of  sins. 

The  water  is  exalted  into  the  heavens  in  order  that  it  may 
give  rain  upon  the  earth  —  it  is  exalted  to  give.  It  is  drawn 
up  as  by  a  resurrection,  and  arises  pure  into  the  heavens, 
that  it  may  be  in  a  capacity  to  send  refreshing  to  the  thirsty 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  379 

ground.  In  the  same  way  he  who  comes  as  rain  on  the  mown 
grass  was  exalted  that  he  might  give — that  he  might  give 
Himself,  as  the  living  water,  to  his  own.  —  Arnot. 


HOW  MUCH  A  CHRISTIAN  IS  WORTH  TO  THE 
CHURCH. 

And  they  departed  from  the  presence  of  the  council,  rejoicing  that  they 
were  counted  worthy  to  suffer  shame  for  his  name.  —  Acts  5 :  41. 

LET  us  examine  ourselves  a  little,  to  see  if  we  are  not  a 
little  deceived  in  ourselves.  Do  we  not  think  we  are  brave 
because  we  go  with  the  tide  in  the  hour  of  prosperity  ?  Are 
we  not  all  the  while  apologizing  for  ourselves  because  we  feel 
all  the  heroism  pressed  out  of  us  in  the  day  of  adversity? 
Then  let  every  one  say  to  himself,  "  I  am  worth  to  the  church 
and  its  Master  just  what  I  am  willing  to  do  and  suffer  in  its 
hour  of  need  —  and  nothing  more."  Let  every  man  remem- 
ber that  he  who  would  have  a  mighty  influence  for  good,  who 
would  have  men  repose  fullest  confidence  in  his  Christian  in- 
tegrity, must  keep  his  heart  strong  under-  all  clouds ;  who 
is  unfaltering  in  his  attachment  to,  and  service  for,  the  Re- 
deemer and  his  cause. 

Many  were  ready,  in  the  days  when  the  Saviour  appeared  in 
the  flesh,  to  be  his  followers,  and  share  his  kingdom,  when 
they  dreamed  it  to  be  an  earthly  kingdom,  to  come  in  great 
pomp  and  triumph ;  but  when  the  cross  was  revealed,  "  they 
all  forsook  him  and  fled."  In  all  ages,  the  "  day  of  adversity  " 
has  winnowed  the  church.  If  a  deal  of  chaff  has  been  blown 
away,  some  wheat  has  remained,  and  this  has  always  been  the 
"  seed  of  the  church." 

Don't  think  that  you  are  good  and  brave  because  the  tides 
of  prosperity  in  the  church  are  bearing  you  along.  Find  out 
how  much  you  are  willing  to  do.  More,  find  out  how  much 
you  are  willing  to  bear  and  suffer ;  find  out  in  earnest  heart- 
searchings  in  your  closets  before  God,  how  much  you  are 
doing  and  suffering  for  him  and  his  church,  and  reckon  your 
strength  by  this  test.  For  remember,  "  if  thou  faint  in  the 
day  of  adversity,  thy  strength  is  small." 


380  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 


A  MINISTER  REPROVED  BY  HIS  DREAM. 

Then  the  twelve  called  the  multitude  of  the  disciples  unto  them,  and  said, 
It  is  not  reason  that  we  should  leave  the  word  of  God,  and  serve  tables.  — 
Acts  6  :  2. 


was,  some  years  since,  a  revival  of  religion  in  a 
JL  neighboring  town,  and  a  protracted  meeting  was  in  prog- 
ress. A  messenger  was  sent  to  request  a  certain  minister, 
whom  I  know,  to  visit  the  place,  and  assist  in  holding  the 
protracted  meeting  in  which  the  brethren  were  engaged.  He 
excused  himself  from  going,  stating  that  he  had  some  business 
to  which  he  must  attend,  which  would  render  a  compliance 
with  their  wishes  exceedingly  difficult.  This  was  true,  but  it 
was  temporal  business  to  which  he  alluded  ;  business  which  re- 
lated to  his  own  personal  comfort.  However,  he  invited  the 
messenger  to  stay  with  him,  and  not  depart  until  the  next 
morning,  and  the  messenger  complied  with  his  request. 

That  night  the  minister  dreamed  that  he  was  in  a  place  of 
worship,  and  was  engaged  in  administering  the  sacrament  of 
the  Lord's  Supper,  and  that  two  or  three  younger  brethren 
were  assisting  him.  He  thought  he  was  distributing  the 
bread,  and  it  seemed  to  him  that  as  he  proceeded,  the  bread 
became  more  and  more  unlike  bread,  and  unsuitable  for  food, 
until  it  seemed  more  like  chips  or  slivers  of  wood  than  like 
bread.  When  he  had  got  partly  through  distributing  the 
bread,  he  left  the  altar,  around  which  the  people  were  kneel- 
ing, thinking  his  younger  brethren  might  finish  the  work. 
He  found  himself  in  the  outskirts  of  the  congregation,  busily 
engaged  in  transacting  some  worldly  business.  After  being 
thus  engaged  for  a  considerable  while,  he  cast  his  eyes  toward 
the  altar,  and  observed  the  people  who  had  come  forward  to 
receive  the  sacrament  were  still  on  their  knees  around  the 
altar,  just  as  he  had  left  them,  waiting  for  their  minister  to 
return  ;  for  all  the  other  preachers  had  followed  his  example  : 
they,  too,  had  left  the  work,  and  had  gone  to  attend  to  their 
secular  concerns.  He  felt  ashamed  that  he  had  set  such  a 
poor  example  to  his  younger  brethren  in  the  ministry  ;  and  it 
especially  mortified  his  feelings  that  he  had  left  a  large  and 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  381 

solemn  assembly  so  long  in  waiting,  and  so  many  on  their 
knees,  with  the  sacramental  services  but  half  finished.  He 
immediately  hastened  back  to  the  altar  to  finish  his  work, 
and  while  he  was  confessing  his  fault  in  neglecting  them,  he 
awoke. 

I  need  not  say  this  dream  was  a  powerful  reproof  to  him  ; 
how  could  it  be  otherwise  ?  In  the  morning  he  told  the  mes- 
senger he  had  concluded  to  accompany  him  ;  he  did  so.  He 
remembered  the  Macedonian  cry,  "  Come  over  and  help  us," 
and  he  felt  the  power  of  the  words  of  the  apostle :  "  It  is 
not  reason  that  we  should  leave  the  word  of  God  and  serve 
tables." 

The  above  is  not  a  fiction  —  the  writer  knows  it  to  be  a 
fact.  —  T.  S. 


UNDIVIDED  ATTENTION  TO  THE  MINISTRY  OP  THE 

WORD. 

But  \ve  will  give  ourselves  continually  to  prayer,  and  to  the  ministry  of  the 
word.  —  Acts  6  :  4. 


Holy  Ghost  gives  edge  and  power  to  the  word.  One 
JL  Sabbath  morning,  while  the  Rev.  Dr.  Bedell,  of  Philadel- 
phia, was  preaching,  a  young  man  passed  by,  with  a  number 
of  companions  as  gay  and  thoughtless  as  himself.  One  of 
them  proposed  to  go  into  the  church,  saying,  "  Let  us  go  and 
hear  what  this  man  has  to  say,  that  everybody  is  running 
after."  The  young,  man  made  this  awful  answer,  "  No,  I  would 
not  go  into  such  a  place  if  Christ  himself  was  preaching." 
Some  weeks  after,  he  was  again  passing  the  church,  and  be- 
ing alone,  and  having  nothing  to  do,  he  thought  he  would  go 
in  without  being  observed.  On  opening  the  door,  he  was 
struck  with  awe  at  the  solemn  silence  of  the  place,  though  it 
was  much  crowded.  Every  eye  was  fixed  on  the  preacher, 
who  was  to  begin  his  discourse.  His  attention  was  instantly 
caught  by  the  text,  "  I  discerned  among  the  youths  a  young 
man  void  of  understanding."  (Prov.  7  :  7.)  His  conscience 
was  smitten  by  the  power  of  truth.  He  saw  that  he  was  the 
young  man  described.  A  view  of  his  profligate  life  passed 


382  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS'. 

before  his  eyes,  and  for  the  first  time  he  trembled  under  the 
feeling  of  sin.  He  remained  in  the  church  till  the  preacher 
and  congregation  had  passed  out ;  then  slowly  returned  to  his 
home.  He  had  early  received  infidel  principles,  but  the  Holy 
Spirit  who  had  aroused  him  in  his  folly,  led  him  to  a  constant 
attendance  on  the  ministry  of  Dr.  Bedell,  who  had  been  the 
instrument  of  awakening  his  mind.  He  cast  away  his  beset- 
ting sin,  and  gave  himself  to  a  life  of  virtue  and  holiness.  He 
afterward  declared  openly  his  faith  in  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ, 
and  his  desire  to  devote  himself  to  his  service.  —  Arvine's 
Cyclopedia. 

READY  TO  DIE. 

And  all  that  sat  in  the  council,  looking  steadfastly  on  him,  saw  his  face  as 
it  had  been  the  face  of  an  angel.  —  Acts  6  :  15. 

A  LADY  once  asked  Mr.  Wesley,  "  Supposing  that  you  knew 
that  you  were  to  die  at  twelve  o'clock  to-morrow  night, 
how  would  you  spend  the  intervening  time  ? "  "  How, 
madam?"  he  replied.  "Why,  just 'as  I  intend  to  spend  it 
now.  I  should  preach  this  evening  at  Gloucester,  and  again 
at  five  to-morrow  morning ;  after  that  I  should  ride  to  Tewks- 
bury,  preach  in  the  afternoon,  and  meet  the  societies  in  the 
evening.  I  should  then  repair  to  friend  Martin's  house,  who 
expects  to  entertain  me,  converse  and  pray  with  the  family  as 
usual,  retire  to  my  room  at  ten  o'clock,  commend  myself  to 
my  heavenly  Father,  lie  down  to  rest,  and  wake  up  in  glory." 
Such  a  man  has  his  house  "  set  in  order."  Living  to  such 
a  man  is  not  the  end  of  his  life,  nor  is  dying  the  destruction 
of  his  hopes.  He  lives  for  eternity,  and  dies  to  enter  it,  and 
live  for  ever  with  the  Lord.  "  Let  me  die  the  death  of  the 
righteous,  and  let  my  last  end  be  like  his." 


GOD  WITH  HIS  PEOPLE. 

And  the  patriarchs,  moved  with  envy,  sold  Joseph  into  Egypt :  but  God 
was  with  him.  —  Acts  7  :  9. 

CD   did  not  prevent  Joseph's  sale  to  the  Ishmaelites,  and 
his  bondage  in  Egypt,  but  he  was  with  him  there,  which 


NEW   TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  383 

was  better.  God  did  not  take  up  the  three  Hebrews  out  of 
the  furnace  of  fire,  but  he  came  down  and  walked  with  them 
in  it.  He  did  not  remove  Daniel  from  the  den  of  lions,  but  he 
sent  his  angel  to  close  the  mouths  of  the  beasts.  He  did  not 
answer  the  prayer  of  Paul,  by  removing  "  the  thorn  in  the 
flesh,"  but  he  gave  him  superior  grace  to  bear  it.  He  did 
not  protect  the  apostles  and  early  Christians  from  the  suffer- 
ings of  martyrdom,  but  he  sustained  them  in  those  sufferings, 
and  made  their  death  turn  to  the  furtherance  of  the  gospel. 

He  does  not  keep  us  from  dying,  but  will  raise  us  up  from 
the  grave  in  the  resurrection  —  "at  the  last  day."  He  does 
not  bring  heaven  down  to  earth  to  make  our  paradise  here, 
but  he  takes  us  to  be  with  him  where  he  is  ;  that  we  may  be 
"  for  ever  with  the  Lord."  How  much  better  are  his  ways 
than  our  ways  ?  We  shall  be  Christ-like  when  we  can  say 
from  the  heart,  "  Thy  will  be  done." 


PRESERVATION  OF  MOSES. 

In  which  time  Moses  was  born,  and  was  exceeding  fair,  and  nourished  up 
in  his  father's  house  three  months.  —  Acts  7  :  20. 

JOSEPHUS  tells  us  that  the  name  of  the  princess  who  pre- 
served Moses  was  Thermutis.  He  adds  that  the  child 
grew  up  surpassingly  beautiful ;  "  so  charming,  that  those 
who  met  him  in  the  road  would  turn  back  to  gaze  after  him  ; 
and  people  working  by  the  wayside  would  leave  what  they 
were  about,  to  stand  and  admire  him.  It  is  worth  while  to 
note  that  nothing  is  said  in  the  Old  Testament  about  the  per- 
sonal beauty  of  Moses.  Our  Bible  authorities  for  this  fact 
are  Stephen  (Acts  7  :  20)  and  Paul  (Heb.  11  :  23),  with  whom 
Josephus  here  accords. 

The  introduction  of  the  child  Moses  to  Pharaoh  is  thus  re- 
lated by  the  Jewish  historian.  Thermutis  led  him  to  Pharaoh, 
her  father,  and  said,  — 

"  I  have  brought  a  child  who  is  of  a  heavenly  form  and  of  a 
generous  mind  ;  and  as  I  have  received  him  in  a  wonderful 
manner  from  the  bounty  of  the  river,  I  have  thought  proper  to 
adopt  him  for  my  son,  and  the  heir  of  thy  kingdom." 


384  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

On  this  the  king  took  the  child  in  his  arms  and  caressed 
him,  putting  the  royal  crown  playfully  upon  Moses'  head. 
But  the  little  boy  seized  the  diadem,  threw  it  to  the  ground, 
and  playfully  trampled  upon  it.  This  made  Pharaoh  grave, 
as  he  fancied  it  to  be  a  bad  sign  for  the  kingdom.  Others, 
standing  by,  prophesied  that  the  child  was  born  to  bring  evil 
upon  Egypt,  and  advised  that  he  should  be  put  to  death.  But 
Thermutis  snatched  her  favorite  away,  and  Pharaoh,  out  of 
love  to  his  daughter,  disregarded  the  cruel  advice  ;  "  God  him- 
self, whose  providence  protected  Moses,  inclining  the  king  to 
spare  him." 

HOW  TO  READ  THE  SCRIPTURES. 

And  the  next  day  he  shewed  himself  unto  them  as  they  strove,  and  would 
have  set  them  at  one  again,  saying,  Sirs,  ye  are  brethren ;  why  do  ye  wrong 
one  to  another?  —  Acts  7  :  26. 

TT7HEN  Moses  saw  an  Egyptian  and  an  Israelite  striving 
VV  together,  he  killed  the  Egyptian,  and  saved  the  Israelite. 
(Exod.  2  :  12.)  But  when  he  saw  two  Israelites  striving  to- 
gether, he  labored  to  reconcile  them,  saying,  Ye  are  brethren, 
why  do  yc  strive  ?  So  when  we  read  or  see  the  Apocryphal 
books,  or  heathen  story,  or  popish  traditions,  contradicting 
Scripture  —  as,  for  instance,  Jacob  cursed  Simeon  and  Levi 
for  murdering  the  Shechemites  (Gen.  49:7)  —  and  Judith 
blessed  God  for  killing  of  them  (Judith  9).  Here}  and  in  such 
like  places,  let  us  kill  the  Egyptian,  but  save  the  Israelite  ;  set 
a  value  on  the  Scriptures,  but  slight  the  Apocrypha.  But 
when  we  meet  with  any  appearance  of  seeming  contradiction 
in  the  canon  of  Scripture  —  as  where  it  is  said,  God  tempted 
Abraham  (Gen.  21  :  1)  —  and  God  tempteth  no  man  (James 
1:13)  —  here  now,  and  in  many  other  places,  we  must  be 
reconcilers,  and  distinguish  betwixt  a  temptation  of  trial  which 
is  from  God,  and  a  temptation  of  seducement,  which  is  by  the 
devil,  and  these  two  seeming  different  friends  will  appear  to 
be  brethren,  and  agree  well. 


NEW   TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  385 

PREACHING  THE  MAIN  THING. 

Therefore  they  that  were  scattered  abroad  went  everywhere  preaching  the 
word.  —  Acts  8  :  4. 

ITIAKE  heed  to  your  preaching.  This  is,  after  all,  the  main 
JL  thing.  If  you  are  no  preacher,  you  are  nothing.  Let  the 
pulpit  be  your  throne.  Who  says  that  the  pulpit  has  become 
effete  ?  or  that  it  has  lost  its  power?  God  himself  has  put  the 
pulpit  on  the  throne.  The  preacher  is  not  the  lecturer,  nor 
the  philosopher,  nor  the  critic,  but  the  lifter  up  of  the  cross  of 
the  Saviour.  This  is  your  work.  0,  if  you  fail  here,  you  miss 
your  way.  If  there  be  anything  in  our  ministry  which  does 
not  lead  to  Christ,  it  is  strange  doctrine ;  God  himself  will 
destroy  it ;  it  is  a  blemish  which  disfigures  the  whole ;  it  is 
but  as  the  meteor  of  the  marsh,  which  may  beguile,  but  can  not 
dissipate  the  darkness.  It  suggests  the  idea  of  darkness  in 
the  blaze  of  day,  like  the  glare  of  the  city  gaslight  kindled  in 
the  mockery  of  noon.  Then  preach  Christ.  You  ask  me  how 
to  preach  Christ  ?  In  your  own  style.  If  you  have  the  imagi- 
nation of  the  poet,  use  it ;  if  you  have  the  eloquence  of  a 
Cicero,  use  it  j  if  you  have  a  quiet  style  of  your  own,  then  be 
yourself.  If  you  have  the  polish  in  the  grain,  bring  it  out ; 
don't  let  the  pine  grain  sneer  at  the  mahogany  grain.  Don't 
let  us  have  the  class  of  revival  and  non-revival  brethren.  Be 
lucid  as  Matthew,  if  you  can  ;  logical  as  Paul,  poetic  as  Isaiah, 
tender  and  melting  as  John  the  beloved,  stern  and  fiery  as 
Ezekiel ;  only  let  us  feel  the  power!  You  need  power  — 
power  over  the  conscience.  If  you  -speak  to  the  imagination, 
the  poet  will-  beat  you ;  if  you  speak  to  the  disputer,  you  will 
be  worsted ;  but  speak  to  the  conscience,  and  no  man  can 
rival  you  there.  You  are  a  czar  of  many  lands. 

Above  all,  be  in  earnest.  Preach  wisely ;  aim  at  the  fifth 
rib  ;  let  there  be  no  affectation  ;  not  the  bursting  of  a  volcano, 
but  the  gentle  dawning  of  the  light,  that,  while  it  would  not 
wake  the  slumbering  babe,  would  fill  the  world  with  glory. 

Aim  at  success.     God's  word  promises  it :  "  As  I  live,  saith 

the  Lord,  my  word   shall  not  return  unto  me  void."     Trust 

God.     The  husbandman  patiently  waiteth,  believeth,  for  the 

precious  fruits  of  the  earth  j  so  may  you.     Expect  success. 

49 


386  NEW   TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

You  have  the  promise.  May  God  save  us  from  invoking  ex- 
cuses for  want  of  success,  when  our  barrenness  should  drive 
us  to  our  knees  !  Let  us  dread  above  all  things  the  curse  of  an 
unfaithful  ministry.  Preach  the  gospel.  Don't  fear  because 
of  the  pride  of  rank  or  wealth  ;  don't  be  afraid  of  them,  lest 
you  have  the  guilt  of  souls  on  your  hands.  "  Deliver  me  from 
bloodguiltiness,  0  God,  thou  God  of  my  salvation."  He  who 
labors  for  God  will  get  souls.  0  that  you  may  invoke  the 
baptism  of  the  Holy  Ghost  upon  these  brethren !  and  let  the 
people  say  Amen. 


RELIGIOUS  EXCITEMENT  JUSTIFIABLE. 

And  there  AVRS  great  joy  in  that  city.  —  Acts  8:8. 

REV.  DR.  STORES,  of  Brooklyn,  in  a  recent  sermon,  met 
the  objection  to  excitement  in  religion,  made  by  those  who 
hold  "  that  imperturbable  coolness  is  essential  to  manly  nature, 
and  that  appeals  to  the  feelings  of  men  in  preaching  the  gos- 
pel are  unwise,"  by  the  timely  and  pertinent  illustration  of  the 
gold  panic.  He  pictured  the  scene  when  sedate  men,  who  had 
a  hundred  thousand  dollars  to  pay  in  gold  that  had  risen  from 
thirty  to  sixty,  rushed  about  the  streets  "  as  though  they  were 
shot  out  of  artillery ; "  and  when  an  "  assembly  of  decorous, 
well-established,  successful  men  resolved  itself,  as  it  were,  into 
a  menagerie  of  struggling,  screeching  animals,"  and  said,  "  I 
do  not  quarrel  with  that ;  but  don't  talk  to  me  of  the  impro- 
priety of  excitement  on  religion,  where  more  is  at  stake  than 
in  millions  of  money.  Excitement  is  not  only  natural  and  rea- 
sonable, but  it  is  necessary,  and  a  lack  of  it  is  a  discredit  to 
the  gospel,  a  shame  to  human  nature,  and  infidelity  to  God." 

DO  NOT  LEAVE  CHRIST  OUT. 

But  when  they  believed  Philip,  preaching  the  tilings  concerning  the  king- 
dom of  God,  and  the  name  of  Jesus  Christ,  they  were  baptized,  both  men  and 
women.  —  Acts  8  :  12. 

THE  people  want  the  everlasting   gospel  in  one  form  or 
another,  fully  brought  out  every  Sabbath  —  as  much,  at 
least,  as  would  save  those  hearers  who,  by  the  providential 


NEW   TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  387 

appointment  of  God,  are  never  to  hear  another  sermon  ere 
they  pass  into  eternity.  Well  does  the  writer  remember  hear- 
ing a  remarkable  illustration  of  these  words  from  the  lips  of  a 
faithful  servant  of  God,  long  since  departed.  On  one  Monday 
morning  he  was  informed  that  a  man  who,  the  preceding 
evening,  had  listened  to  his  discourse  in  his  usual  health,  had 
suddenly  been  ushered  into  eternity.  His  personal  responsi- 
bility to  preach  the  gospel  to  men,  as  dying  men  —  as  to  those 
who,  for  aught  he  knew,  might  be  about  to  appear  at  the  bar 
of  God  —  at  once  flashed  on  his  mind.  Rising  anxiously  from 
his  seat,  he  proceeded  to  examine  the  manuscript  of  the  ser- 
mon which  the  departed  soul  had  last  heard,  with  the  intensely 
earnest  hope  that  he  should  find  in  it  as  much  gospel  truth  as, 
had  it  been  there  and  then,  through  the  grace  of  God,  under- 
stood and  believed  by  the  departed  hearer,  would  have  saved 
his  soul.  To  his  inexpressible  grief,  after  the  examination 
was  over,  he  found  the  contrary.  He  saw  that  the  hearers 
might  have  believed  every  word  of  that  discourse,  and  re- 
mained unsaved.  The  sermon  was  scriptural,  and  well  pre- 
pared, lacking  in  nothing  save  the  gospel  suited  to  a  dying 
man.  Penetrated  with  a  sense  of  his  unfaithfulness  on  that  one 
occasion  (for  generally  he  was  distinguished  for  the  constancy, 
ardor,  and  faithfulness  with  which  he  preached  the  glorious 
gospel,  and  for  very  many  seals  to  his  ministry),  he  burst  into 
a  flood  of  tears,  and,  falling  down  at  the  mercy^seat,  confessed 
before  God,  with  much  contrition,  his  dread  omission ;  and  ere 
he  rose  from  his  knees,  he  made  the  solemn  vow  that,  with 
divine  help,  to  the  day  of  his  death,  he  would  never  preach  a 
sermon  without  setting  forth  as  much  of  the  glorious  gospel  as 
would,  if  truly  believed,  save  any  unre  gene  rated  soul  then 
present  .who  might  be  about  to  enter  the  world  of  spirits, 


SINCERITY  NOT  A  SAVIOUR. 

Thou  hast  neither  part  nor  lot  in  this  matter :  for  thy  heart  is  not  right  in 
the  sight  of  God.  —  Acts  8  :  21. 


I 


N  morals  the  motive   is  an  effective  constituent  of  every 
transaction;  and  if  a  man  endeavor  to  form  a  right  judg- 


388  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

ment,  and  yet  fall  into  error,  will  not  his  sincerity  exempt  him 
from  the  consequences  of  his  mistake?  This  supposition  is 
contrary  both  to  the  testimony  of  the  word,  and  to  the  analogy 
of  nature.  It  sets  up  willful  fancy  against  uniform  fact.  A 
man  contracts  and  pays  for  a  ship  of  first-rate  material  and 
workmanship.  In  due  time  a  vessel  is  delivered  to  him  of 
goodly  appearance,  but  built  of  unseasoned  material,  and  not 
water-tight  in  the  joints.  He  embarks- with  his  family  and  his 
goods  in  the  treacherous  bottom.  When  he  is  out  of  sight,  and 
the  storm  has  begun  to  blow,  the  truth  begins  to  circulate 
from  lip  to  lip  among  his  former  neighbors  that  the  ship  is  not 
seaworthy,  and  the  question  is  anxiously  discussed  whether 
she  can  accomplish  the  voyage.  If  one  of  them  should  reason 
that  because  the  man  did  his  best,  and  honestly  believed  the 
ship  was  good,  a  just  God,  overruling  ail,  would  not  permit  the 
innocent  to  be  drowned,  while  the  guilty  stood  on  dry  land 
safe,  the  suggestion  would  be  scouted  by  common  consent  as 
an  unsubstantial  dream.  We  all  know  that  the  laws  of  nature 
do  not  turn  aside  to  shield  a  man  from  the  consequences  of 
his  error,  because  his  intention  was  good.  Every  man,  also, 
may,  by  a  little  consideration,  come  to  see  that  this  arrange- 
ment is  best  for  the  interests  of  all.  Such  is  the  principle 
that  operates  with  undeviating  uniformity  in  all  the  region 
which  lies  within  the  view  of  man ;  and  what  ground  have  we 
for  believing  that  order  will  be  exchanged  for  anarchy  in  the 
government  of  God,  whenever  it  steps  over  the  boundary  of 
things  seen  and  temporal  ? 


PREACHING  TO  A  SINGLE  HEARER. 

Then  Philip  opened  his  mouth,  and  began  at  the  same  Scripture,  and 
preached  unto  him  Jesus.  —  Acts  8  :  35. 

A  CHRISTIAN  laborer  related  the  following:  "One  Sab- 
bath evening,  while  returning  from  public  worship,  I 
overtook  a  young  man,  a  stranger  to  me,  and  invited  him  to  a 
seat  in  my  carriage.  After  a  brief  conversation,  I  introduced 
the  subject  of  personal  piety,  by  inquiring  if  he  enjoyed  the 
consolations  of  religion.  His  reply  was,  that,  though  the  im- 


NEW   TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  389 

portance  of  a  change  of  heart  had  long  been  impressed  on  his 
mind,  he  had  not  become  a  Christian.  I  urged  him  to  come  to 
a  speedy  decision,  to  seek  God  with  all  his  heart,  to  make  a 
preparation  for  heaven  the  first  and  great  object  of  life.  I 
endeavored  to  direct  him  to  the  Saviour  as  able,  willing,  and 
waiting  to  save  every  penitent  sinner  that  would  trust  in  him ; 
and  urged  him  to  improve  all  the  means  of  grace,  and  cease 
no  effort  till  he  should  find  peace  with  God.  We  parted. 
The  next  morning  he  left  the  place  to  reside  in  another  town. 
He  followed  the  advice  given,  and  in  a  few  days  was  happy 
in  the  forgiveness  of  sin.  A  few  months  subsequent  to  this 
time  he  called  on  me,  and  after  informing  me  of  his  conversion, 
and  his  delight  in  the  service  of  Christ,  he  alluded  to  our 
former  conversation.  l  That/  said  he,  '  was  the  first  time  I 
was  ever  addressed  directly  on  the  subject  of  personal  piety, 
and  but  for  that  inquiry  and  advice  of  yours,  I  might  never 
have  obtained  religion.'  My  heart  was  filled  with  gratitude 
that  God  had  rendered  that  interview  instrumental  in  his  con- 
version. Other  reflections  also  passed  through  my  mind. 
How  many  opportunities  of  addressing,  not  only  him  but 
others,  had  Christians  and  ministers  neglected !  '  I  may  be 
repulsed/  l  It  will  do  no  good/  say  they,  while  the  friend  or 
the  stranger  may  be  desirous  of  obtaining  direction  and  en- 
couragement in  seeking  salvation.  Diligence  and  improving 
providential  opportunities,  and  faithfulness  in  recommending 
religion,  will  turn  many  to  righteousness,  will  lead  many  souls 
to  heaven." 


"I  AM  JESUS." 

And  he  said,  Who  art  thou,  Lord?     And  the  Lord  said,  I  am  Jesus  whom 
thou  persecutest.     It  is  hard  for  thee  to  kick  against  the  pricks.  —  Acts  9  :  5. 

TMMANUEL  presents  himself,  and  tells  us  he  is  exactly 
J_  suited  to  us,  whatever  may  be  our  circumstances  or  feel- 
ings. He  says,  "  I  am  Jesus."  Are  you  seeking  the  Lord  ? 
He  is  Jesus,  the  gracious,  powerful,  tender-hearted,  ready  and 
willing  Saviour.  Are  you  tried,  troubled,  and  cast  down  ? 
He  is  Jesus,  the  constant,  sympathizing,  present,  wise,  and 


390  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

unchangeable  friend.  Are  you  a  returning  backslider,  filled 
with  your  own  ways  ?  He  is  Jesus,  and  he  says,  "  I  will  re- 
ceive you  ;  I  will  heal  you ;  I  will  restore  you ;  I  will  rejoice 
over  you,  as  the  shepherd  over  the  sheep  he  had  lost."  Be- 
loved, Jesus  is  the  Lord  our  God,  our  all  in  all ;  our  God  is 
Jesus  the  Saviour,  merciful,  kind,  and  tender ;  this  procla- 
mation is  cheering  to  the  sinner,  and  delightful  to  the  saint. 
Let  us  remember,  whoever  may  change,  whatever  may  change, 
he  is  Jesus  still ;  still  touched  with  the  feeling  of  our  infirmi- 
ties ;  still  able  and  willing  to  help  us  ;  still  full  of  compassion 
and  plenteous  in  mercy  unto  all  them  that  call  upon  him ; 
still  ready  to  forgive,  waiting  to  be  gracious,  full  of  pity,  and 
pledged  to  receive  us. 


CHRIST  THE  SOUL-PHYSICIAN. 

And  Peter  said  unto  him,  Eneas,  Jesus  Christ  maketh  thee  whole :  arise, 
and  make  thy  bed.  And  he  arose  immediately.  —  Acts  9  :  34. 

THERE  are  physicians  who  prescribe  for  the  symptoms  only 
of  their  patients,  who  leave  the  deep-seated  disease  un- 
touched, and  thereby  furnish  more  subjects  for  the  undertaker 
than  they  restore  to  friends  and  society.  Such  medical  pre- 
tenders are  a  disgrace  to  the  honorable  profession,  and  should 
never  enter  a  sick-room.  But  there  is  another  class  of  quack 
doctors  more  hurtful  than  these,  because  their  blundering 
ignorance  of  spiritual  things  is  more  fatal  in  results.  These 
are  those  self-constituted  preachers  who  direct  their  ministra- 
tions to  the  symptoms  of  a  disease  deep-seated  in  the  heart ; 
who  claim  they  are  doing  a  good  work  because  they  expatiate 
on  the  beauties  of  morality,  while  they  neglect  or  repudiate 
that  change  of  heart  from  which  only  a  correct  morality  can 
proceed.  Such  pretenders  are  doctoring  the  symptoms  only. 
The  vices  of  society  are  but  the  development  of  the  "  ovil 
heart  of  unbelief  in  departing  from  the  living  God."  A  head 
faith  can  never  cure  an  unbelieving  "  evil  heart." 

The  true  cure  for  symptom  vices  is  that  described  in  the 
word  of  God :  "  I  will  take  the  stony  heart  out  of  their  flesh, 
and  will  give  them  a  heart  of  flesh  :  that  they  may  walk  in 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  391 

my  statutes,  and  keep  mine  ordinances,  and  do  them."  (Ezek. 
11  :  19,  20.)  This  doctrine,  when  re-stated  in  the  New  Testa- 
ment, is  called  "  the  washing  of  regeneration  and  the  renew- 
ing of  the  Holy  Ghost."  (Titus  3:5.) 

It  is  in  this  way  Christ  is  our  soul-physician.  How  incon- 
sistent and  blind  are  many  persons  1  They  would  not  call  a 
quack  doctor  into  their  family  in  case  of  sickness,  but  do  ac- 
cept, as  a  religious  adviser  and  spiritual  guide,  a  mere  quack 
in  divine  knowledge,  without  a  Christian  experience,  and 
whose  declamations  from  the  pulpit  are  as  powerless  to  save 
the  soul  as  prescribing  to  the  symptoms  is  powerless  in  healing 
the  patient.  Such  blindness  was  foretold  by  our  Lord  when 
he  said,  "  And  this  is  the  condemnation,  that  light  is  come 
into  the  world,  and  men  love  darkness  rather  than  light,  be- 
cause their  deeds  were  evil."  Christ,  as  the  soul-physician, 
makes  an  entire  cure.  "  And  Peter  said  unto  him,  Eneas, 
Jesus  Christ  maketh  thee  whole."  (Acts  9  :  34.) 


FATHER  SEWALL'S  GIVING. 

And  when  he  looked  on  him,  he  was  afraid,  and  said,  What  is  it,  Lord? 
And  he  said  unto  him,  Thy  prayers  and  thine  alms  are  come  up  for  a  memo- 
rial before  God.  —  Acts  10  :  4. 

THE  venerable  Father  Sewall,  of  Maine,  once  entered  a 
•  meeting  held  for  the  benefit  of  foreign  missions,  just  as 
the  collectors,  having  received  the  contributions,  were  re- 
suming their  seats.  The  chairman  of  the  meeting  requested 
Father  Sewall  to  lead  in  prayer.  The  old  gentleman  stood 
hesitating,  as  if  he  had  not  heard  the  request.  It  was  re- 
peated in  a  louder  voice,  but  there  was  no  response.  Father 
Sewall  all  this  time  was  diligently  feeling  about  his  pockets, 
and  presently  he  produced  a  piece  of  money,  which  he  depos- 
ited in  the  contribution  box.  The  chairman,  thinking  he  had 
not  been  understood,  said  loudly,  — 

"  I  didn't  ask  you  to  give,  Father  Sewall ;  I  asked  you  to 
pray ! " 

"  0,  yes,"  he  replied  ;  "  I  heard  you  ;  but  I  can't  pray  till  I 
have  given  something." 


392 


NEW   TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 


If  Father  Se wall's  principles  were  universally  adopted, 
would  there  be  more  giving  or  less  praying  ?  Some  people 
give  prayers  without  alms,  others  give  alms  without  prayers ; 
but  as  prayer  without  effort  is  as  wrong  as  effort  without 
prayer,  the  better  way  seems  to  be  to  put  prayer  and  alms 
together,  thus  praying  and  giving,  giving  and  praying. 


PRAY. 

On  the  morrow,  as  they  went  on  their  journey,  and  drew  nigh  unto  the  city, 
Peter  went  up  upon  the  house-top  to  pray,  about  the  sixth  hour.  —  Acts  10 :  9. 

1VTEVER  mind  what  scientific  men  say  against  prayer,  pray. 
JLl  Law  and  order  there  is  ;  but  the  Lord  of  law  and  order 
prayed,  and  says  pray.  He  lived  and  died  praying.  He 
prayed  in  the  garden  and  on  the  cross.  He  prayed  early  in 
the  morning,  in  the  evening,  and  even  continued  all  night  in 
prayer.  Privately,  with  his  disciples,  and  in  public,  he  prayed. 
For  his  friends  and  his  enemies,  he  prayed.  In  duties,  ordi- 
nances, enterprises,  trials,  he  prayed.  What  a  lovely  and  forci- 
ble example  of  prayer  he  has  given  to  men  ! 

As  he  practised,  so  he  preached.  He  taught  men  to  pray. 
An  inimitable  form  and  model  is  given,  and  placed  upon  the 
sacred  record.  He  taught  that  men  ought  always  to  pray,  and 
not  to  faint. 

Pray  often.  Wait  not  the  compulsory  hour  of  accident,  or 
danger,  or  bereavement.  In  every  time  of  need,  pray.  At 
the  commencement  of  enterprises,  during  their  continuance, 
with  their  ending,  pray.  Afflicted,  surrounded  by  enemies, 
attending  ordinances,  pray.  In  every  labor,  sorrow,  and  joy, 
pray.  Live  by  prayer.  Walk  as  Jesus  walked.  Pray  with- 
out ceasing. 

Pray  boldly.  Prayer  is  placed  among  the  Christian  equip- 
ments for  Christian  conflict.  Enemies  will  often  quail  before 
the  bold  requests  of  the  followers  of  Christ.  Whatever  an  1 
whoever  opposes  Christianity,  fear  not.  Boldly  go  to  the 
throne  of  grace  with  the  necessity  of  the  ,  hour  and  place. 
Make  large  and  distinct  and  impressive  requests.  Let  the 
world  of  sinners  know  the  greatest  blessings  for  immortals  are 


NEW   TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  393 

within  the  power  of  believing  pra}Ter.  Let  God  be  glorified 
among  men  in  the  answer  of  your  bold  requests. 

Pray  short.  Let  words  be  few.  Especially  ought  this  to 
be  the  case  in  social  prayer.  Short  prayers  place  something 
distinctly  before  the  minds  of  all  who  believe.  United  prayer 
is  thus  secured.  Length  of  prayer  is  not  strength  of  prayer. 
Faith  may  be  weakened  by  the  want  of  brevity,  as  the  mind 
may  lean  on  the  work  of  long  praying  in  expecting  an  answer. 
Do  not  expect  answer  of  prayer,  because  of  prayer,  but  only 
and  solely  because  of  the  word  of  God. 

Pray  in  faith.  Believe  when  ye  pray.  Believe  the  divine 
promises  unhesitatingly,  fully.  Believe  because  God  says  so 
and  so.  It  is  better  ground  than  your  sight,  feelings,  or 
reason.  Each  of  these  may  deceive  you.  The  word  of  God 
has  no  such  liability.  It  is  truth.  Rest  on  the  word  of  God. 
It  is  the  body  of  true  religious  faith.  Without  that  word,  this 
faith  cannot  subsist. 

Pray  in  Jesus1  name.  The  Mediator  must  be  now  honored 
in  prayer.  He  is  clearly  revealed.  Men  may  despise  him 
when  they  pray.  They  may  cast  out  his  name.  But  they 
ask  amiss.  They  will  get  no  answer  from  the  Infinite  Throne. 
Their  case  will  receive  no  gracious  attention  from  the  Lord 
our  God.  Let  Jesus  be  the  authority  for  prayer  as  well  as 
faith.  Let  his  merits  be  always  before  the  mind  in  prayer. 
The  reconciliation  of  his  death,  and  the  intercessions  of  his 
life,  give  human  prayer  its  opportunity  to  prevail. 


PREACHING  PEACE  BY  JESUS  CHRIST. 

The  word  which  God  sent  unto  the  children  of  Israel,  preaching  peace  by 
Jesus  Christ :  (he  is  Lord  of  all.)  —  Acts  10  :  36. 

[  ISTEN,  dear  reader  !  I  have  a  message  for  you.  Not  from 
JU  your  chief  magistrate,  nor  from  your  general ;  but  from  the 
King  of  kings  ;  a  gracious  and  tender  invitation  which  comes 
to  you  from  God  the  Father,  from  his  Son  Jesus- Christ,  arid 
from  the  Holy  Spirit,  echoed  back  and  urgently  enforced  by 
the  pleadings  of  pious  friends,  perhaps  a  Christian  mother. 
"  Let  the  wicked  forsake  his  way,  and  the  unrighteous  man 
50 


394 


NEW   TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 


his  thoughts  ;  and  let  him  return  unto  the  Lord,  and  he  will 
have  mercy  upon  him,  and  to  our  God,  for  he  will  abundantly 
pardon.  Arid  the  Spirit  and  the  bride  say,  Come.  And  let 
him  that  heareth  say,  Come.  And  let  him  that  is  athirst, 
come.  And  whosoever  will,  let  him  take  the  water  of  life 
freely."  There  can  be  no  mistake ;  these  words  are  for  you, 
if  you  are  a  sinner  and  need  a  Saviour.  God  invites  ;  stay  not 
therefore  to  inquire  if  you  feel  the  need  of  salvation  sufficient- 
ly. That  feeling  is  only  sufficient  when  it  leads  you  to  come  ; 
linger  not  in  the  vain  attempt  to  find  something  to  give  in 
exchange  for,  or  to  merit,  this  salvation.  The  price  is  already 
paid,  even  the  precious  blood  of  Christ.  His  righteousness 
only  can  avail.  Like  the  seamen  in  a  storm  on  the  coast, 
delay  not,  when  a  pilot  is  offered  you,  to  say,  Do  I  feel  my 
need  of  him  sufficiently  ?  Can  I  do  something  to  save  my- 
self? If  you  linger,  your  doom  will  be  sealed.  Hasten,  then, 
to  take  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ  as  your  Pilot,  your  Guide,  your 
All,  remembering  that  this  salvation  is  all  of  grace  —  the  sin- 
ner is  nothing,  and  can  do  nothing.  All  is  done,  and  Christ 
must  be  all  in  all ! 

"  Come,  ye  weary,  heavy  laden, 

Lost  and  ruined  by  the  fall ; 

If  you  tarry  till  you're  better, 

You  will  never  come  at  all." 

—  By  the  author  of  " He  is  my  Christ" 


•    POWER  OF  A  GOOD  MAN'S  LIFE. 

For  he  was  a  good  man,  and  full  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  and  of  faith :  and  much 
people  was  added  unto  the  Lord.  —  Acts  11 :  24. 

"  HHHE  beauty  of  a  holy  man's  life,"  says  Chalmers,  "  consti- 
J_  tutes  the  most  eloquent  and  effective  persuasion  to  re- 
ligion, which  one  human  being  can  address  to  another.  We 
have  many  ways  of  doing  good  to  our  fellow-creatures,  but 
none  so  efficacious  as  leading  a  virtuous,  upright,  and  well- 
ordered  life.  There  is  an  energy  of  moral  suasion  in  a  good 
man's  life  passing  the  highest  efforts  of  the  orator's  genius. 
The  seen  but  silent  beauty  of  holiness  speaks  more  eloquently 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  395 


of  God  and  duty  than  the  tongues  of  men  and  angels.  Let 
parents  remember  this.  The  best  inheritance  a  parent  can 
bequeath  to  a  child  is  a  virtuous  example  —  a  legacy  of  hal- 
lowed remembrances  and  associations.  The  beauty  of  holiness 
beaming  through  the  life  of  a  loved  relative  or  friend,  is  more 
effectual  to  strengthen  such  as  do  stand  in  virtue's  ways,  and 
raise  up  those  that  are  bowed  down,  than  precept,  command, 
entreaty,  or  warning.  Christianity  itself,  I  believe,  owes  by 
far  the  greater  part  of  its  moral  power,  not  to  the  precepts  or 
parables  of  Christ,  but  to  his  own  character.  The  beauty  of 
that  holiness  which  is  enshrined  in  the  four  brief  biographies 
of  the  man  of  Nazareth,  has  done  more,  and  will  do  more  to 
regulate  the  world,  and  bring  in  an  everlasting  righteousness, 
than  all  other  agencies  put  together.  It  has  done  more  to 
spread  his  religion  in  the  world  than  all  that  has  ever  been 
written  on  the  evidences  of  Christianity." 


WILLING  TO  BEAR  HIS  PROPORTION. 

Then  the  disciples,  every  man  according  to  his  ability,  determined  to  send 
relief  unto  the  brethren  which  dwelt  in  Judea.  —  Acts  11 :  29. 

A  GENTLEMAN  of  wealth  who  had  been  much  addicted  to 
IJL  frolic  and  sports,  was  converted  and  became  a  member 
of  one  of  our  congregations.  This  congregation  had  adopted 
the  ad  valorem  principle  as  a  means  of  defraying  its  expenses. 
In  a  few  months  after  this  gentleman's  conversion  the  deacons 
waited  on  him  in  order  to  make  their  assessment ;  and  know- 
ing that  he  was  rich,  and  that  his  proportion  of  the  expenses 
would  amount  to  a  pretty  handsome  sum,  they  feared  that  he 
would  not  be  willing  to  bear  it,  and  their  demand  give  him 
serious  offense,  and  prove  an  injury  to  him.  Hence  they  ap- 
proached their  business  with  some  trepidation  and  great  cau- 
tion. At  first  he  was  at  a  loss  to  ascertain  the  reasons  of  their 
apparent  diffidence.  The  deacons  perceiving  this,  became,  of 
course,  more  explicit.  The  gentleman  was  surprised.  "  What 
on  earth/'  said  he,  "  do  you  mean  ?  Do  you  suppose  that  I 
would  be  unwilling  to  pay  my  full  proportion  ?  When  I  was 
a  man  of  the  world,  and  united  with  others  in  the  scheme  of 


396  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

pleasure,  I  would  have  deemed  myself  a  mean  man  had  I  not 
paid  the  full  proportion  of  the  expense.  Go  to  the  assessor's 
book,  and  put  me  down  for  my  full  proportion  of  the  expenses 
of  the  church.  Do  you  think  that  I  intend  to  be  a  meaner 
man  now,  since  I  have  become  a  servant  of  God,  than  I  was 
when  a  servant  of  the  devil  ?  " 


MINISTERING  ANGELS. 

And,  behold,  the  angel  of  the  Lord  came  upon  him,  and  a  light  shined  in 
the  prison ;  and  he  smote  Peter  on  the  side,  and  raised  him  up,  saying,  Arise 
up  quickly.  And  his  chains  fell  off  from  his  hands.  —  Acts  12  :  7. 

THE  doctrine  of  the  ministry  of  angels  is  clearly  taught  in 
the  Scripture  of  Truth,  and  especially  in  the  Revelation  ; 
nevertheless,  little  attention  is  paid  to  that  doctrine  by  many 
professing  Christians.  Angels  appeared  to  patriarchs,  to 
Moses,  to  the  prophets,  to  our  Lord,  and  to  his  apostles. 
Sometimes,  though  ministering,  they  were  invisible,  as  when 
the  prophet  saw  encompassing  him  "  chariots  and  horses  of 
fire."  At  other  times  they  came  in  disguise,  as  unto  Abra- 
ham, and  Lot,  and  Israel.  At  other  periods  they  appeared  in 
their  proper  persons,  as  at  the  tomb  of  Jesus  ;  for  then  their 
countenances  were  as  the  lightning,  and  their  garments  white 
as  snow.  Thus,  too,  it  was  with  Lazarus,  when  they  carried 
him  from  earth  to  Abraham's  bosom. 

At  the  end  of  the  world  angels  will  come  with  Christ  (Matt. 
25  :  31)  to  gather  mankind  to  judgment  (Matt.  13  :  41)  at  the 
revelation  of  Jesus  Christ  (2  Thess.  1:7).  Angels  proclaimed 
his  birth;  they  also  will  attend  his  second  appearing.  —  Jones. 


PROVIDENTIALLY  DELIVERED. 

But  he  beckoning  unto  them  with  the  hand  to  hold  their  peace,  declared 
unto  them  how  the  Lord  had  brought  him  out  of  the  prison.  —  Acts  12  :  17. 

IN  a  village  near  Warsaw  there  once  lived  a  pious  peasant 
of  German  extraction,  by  name  Dobry.     Without  any  fault 
of  his  own,  he  had  fallen   into  arrears  with  his  rent,  and  the 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  397 

landlord  determined  to  turn  him  out ;  and  it  was  winter.  He 
went  to  him  three  times,  and  besought  him  in  vain.  It  was 
evening,  and  the  next  day  he  was  to  be  turned  out  with  all 
his  family ;  when,  as  they  sat  there  in  their  sorrow,  Dobry 
kneeled  down  in  their  midst,  and  sang,  — 

"  Commit  thou  all  thy  griefs 
And  ways  into  His  hands." 

And  as  they  came  to  the  last  verse  — 

"  When  Thou  wouldst  all  our  need  supply, 
Who  then  shall  stay  Thy  hand  ?  "  — 

there  was  a  knock  at  the  window.  It  was  an  old  friend  —  a 
raven  that  Dobry's  grandfather  had  taken  out  of  the  nest,  and 
tamed,  and  then  set  at  liberty.  Dobry  opened  the  window  ; 
the  raven  hopped  in,  and  in  his  bill  was  a  ring  set  with  pre- 
cious stones.  Dobry  thought  he  would  sell  the  ring  ;  but  he 
thought  again  that  he  would  take  and  show  it  to  his  minister ; 
and  he,  who  saw  at  once  by  the  crest  that  it  belonged  to  King 
Stanislaus,  took  it  to  him,  and  related  the  story.  The  king 
sent  for  Dobry,  and  rewarded  him  so  that  he  was  no  more  in 
need,  and  the  next  year  built  him  a  new  house,  and  gave  him 
cattle  from  his  own  herd ;  and  over  the  house-door  there  is  an 
iron  tablet  whereon  is  carved  a  raven  with  a  ring  in  his  beak, 
and,  underneath,  this  verse  :  — 

"  Thou  everywhere  hast  sway, 

And  all  things  serve  Thy  might ; 
Thy  every  act  pure  blessing  Js  — 
Thy  path  unsullied  light." 


STRIKING  RETRIBUTION. 

And  immediately  the  angel  of  the  Lord  smote  him,  because  lie  g.ive  not 
God  the  glory :  and  he  was  eaten  of  Mrorms,  and  gave  up  the  ghost.  — 
Acts  12 :  23. 

WHEN  the  darkest  of  its  many  dark  tragedies  was  en- 
acted —  the  St.  Bartholomew  massacre  —  Knox  was  still 
alive.     "  Being  conveyed  to  the  pulpit,"  says  McCrie,  "  and 
summoning  up  the  remainder  of  his  strength,  he  thundered  the 
vengeance  of  heaven  against  t  that  cruel  murderer  and  false 


398 


NEW   TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 


traitor,  the  King  of  France/  and  desired  Le  Croc,  the  French 
ambassador,  to  tell  his  master,  that  sentence  was  pronounced 
against  him  in  Scotland,  that  the  divine  vengeance  would 
never  depart  from  him,  nor  from  his  house,  if  repentance  did 
not  ensue ;  but  his  name  would  remain  an  execration  to  pos- 
terity, and  none  proceeding  from  his  loins  should  enjoy  his 
kingdom  in  peace. "  Have  the  kings  of  France  since  that  day 
reigned  in  peace,  or  descended  from  the  throne  in  years  and 
honors  ?  Charles  IX.,  by  whom  the  dreadful  tragedy  was  en- 
acted, died  soon  after  in  awful  horrors,  the  blood  flowing  from 
every  pore  in  his  body.  Henry  III.,  his  successor,  fell  by  the 
hand  of  an  assassin.  Henry  IY.,  after  a  reign  of  twenty  years 
distracted  by  civil  wars,  died  by  the  dagger  of  Ravaillac. 
His  successor,  Louis  XIII.,  after  a  reign  of  thirty-three  years, 
spent  mostly  in  warring  with  his  subjects,  died  on  his  bed. 
Of  Louis  XIY.  it  is  impossible  to  say  whether  the  opening  of 
his  career  was  the  more  brilliant,  or  its  close  the  more  dis- 
astrous and  unhappy.  The  reign  of  Louis  XV.  was  marked 
by  private  profligacy,  public  profusion,  increasing  financial 
embarrassment,  and  growing  discontent.  The  king  expired 
of  a  mortal  distemper  caught  in  the  pursuit  of  his  pleasures. 
In  the  next  reign  the  revolution  appeared  upon  the  scene,  and 
Louis  XVI.  perished  on  the  scaffold.  The  troubled  lives  and 
dishonored  ends  of  the  French  kings  since  that  period  are  too 
well  known  to  require  that  we  should  dwell  upon  them.  And 
now  the  death  of  Louis  Philippe  adds  another  to  the  list  of  dis- 
crowned heads  which  have  gone  down  in  exile  into  the  tomb. 


DOING  THE  DEVIL'S  WORK. 

But  Elymas  the  sorcerer  (for  so  is  his  nanu1  l>y  interpretation)  withstood 
them,  seeking  to  turn  away  the  deputy  from  the  faith.  —  Acts  IS  :  8. 


chief  thing  the  devil  does  in  this  world,  is  to  tempt 
JL  people  to  do  wrong.  Awful  as  it  is  to  say  this  of  any  d' 
God's  creatures,  he  lives  only  to  sin  himself  mid  to  make 
others  sin.  Is  it  not  an  awful  thing,  my  young  friends  ?  Yet 
there  are  people  in  this  world  who,  though  not  as  bad  as  the 
devil,  are  very  much  like  him,  and  take  pleasure  in  doing  his 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  399 

work  for  him.  Who  are  they  ?  Who  does  the  devil's  work 
for  him  ?  Every  person,  every  boy,  and  every  girl  who  tempts 
any  one  to  do  wrong ;  every  such  person  is  doing  the  devil's 
work.  And  of  all  awful  things  in  the  world,  is  not  this  among 
the  most  awful  ?  There  is  nothing  that  makes  one  so  like  the 
devil  as  tempting  people  to  sin. 

Now,  has  no  one  who  reads  this  sometimes  done  this  very 
thing  ?  A  boy  wants  to  stay  from  Sunday  school,  and  tries  to 
prevail  upon  some  other  to  do  the  same.  By  so  doing  he 
tempts  him,  and  thus  does  the  devil's  work.  A  little  girl  dis- 
obeys her  mother,  and  then  asks  her  sister  not  to  tell  their 
mother,  when  she  inquires  who  did  it.  And  this  little  girl 
does  the  devil's  work  by  tempting  her  sister  to  tell  a  lie.  Yes, 
every  boy  or  girl  is  doing  the  devil's  work  who  tries  to  make 
any  one  do  what  that  person  knows  to  be  wrong.  The  sin  of 
tempting  others  makes  one  like  the  devil.  0,  never  do  this. 
Never  ask  any  one,  or  try  to  prevail  upon  any  one,  to  do  wrong. 
It  is  hateful  to  God. 


JUSTIFICATION  AND  SANCTIFICATION. 

And  by  him  all  that  believe  are  justified  from  all  things,  from  which  ye 
could  not  be  justified  by  the  law  of  Moses.  —  Acts  13  :  39. 

JUSTIFICATION  regards  something  done  for  us;  sancti- 
fj  fication  something  done  in  us.  The  one  is  a  change  in 
our  state,  the  other  in  our  nature.  The  one  is  perfect,  the 
other  gradual.  The  one  is  derived  from  the  obedience  of  the 
Saviour,  the  other  from  his  spirit.  The  one  gives  us  a  title  to 
heaven,  the  other  a  meetness  for  it.  Suppose  you  had  a  son 
—  you  forbade  him  to  enter  a  place  of  contagion  on  pain  of 
losing  all  you  could  leave  him.  He  goes,  and  is  seized  with 
the  infection.  He  is  guilty,  for  he  has  transgressed  your  com- 
mand, but  he  is  also  diseased.  Do  you  not  perceive  that  your 
forgiving  him  does  not  heal  him?  He  wants  not  only  the 
father's  pardon,  but  the  physician's  aid.  In  vain  is  lie  freed 
from  the  forfeiture  of  his  estate,  if  he  be  left  under  the  force 
of  the  disorder.  —  Rev.  W.  Jay. 


400 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 


DESPISING  AND  RIDICULING  RELIGION. 

Behold,  ye  despisers,  and  wonder,  and  perish :  for  I  work  a  work  in  your 
days,  a  work  which  ye  shall  in  no  wise  believe,  though  a  man  declare  it  unto 
you.  —  Acts  13  :  41. 

NEVER  laugh  at  religion.  Never  make  a  jest  of  sacred 
things.  Never  mock  those  who  are  serious  and  in  ear- 
nest about  their  souls.  The  time  may  come  when  you  will 
count  those  happy  whom  you  laughed  at ;  a  time  when  your 
laughter  will  be  turned  into  sorrow,  and  your  mockery  into 
heaviness.  Whatever  you  please  to  laugh  at,  don't  laugh  at 
religion. 

Contempt  of  holy  things  is  the  high  road  to  infidelity.  Once 
let  a  man  begin  to  make  a  jest  and  joke  of  any  part  of  Chris- 
tianity, and  I  am  never  surprised  to  hear  that  he  has  turned 
out  a  downright  unbeliever. 

Have  you  really  made  up  your  mind  to  this  ?  Have  you 
fairly  looked  into  the  gulf  which  is  before  you  if  you  persist 
in  despising  religion  ?  Call  to  mind  the  words  of  David  : 
"  The  fool  hath  said  in  his  heart,  There  is  no  God."  (Ps.  14  : 1.) 
The  fool,  and  none  but  the  fool !  He  has  said  it,  but  he  has 
never  proved  it !  Remember,  if  ever  there  was  a  book  which 
has  been  proved  true  from  beginning  to  end,  by  every  kind  of 
evidence,  that  book  is  the  Bible.  It  has  defied  the  attacks  of 
all  enemies  and  fault-finders.  "  The  word  of  the  Lord  is  in- 
deed tried."  (Ps.  18  :  30.)  It  has  been  tried  in  every  way, 
and  the  more  evidently  has  it  been  shown  to  be  the  very 
handiwork  of  God  himself. 

Matthew  Henry  tells  a  story  of  a  great  statesman  in  Queen 
Elizabeth's  time,  who  retired  from  public  life  in  his  latter  days, 
and  gave  himself  up  to  serious  thought.  His  former  gay 
companions  came  to  visit  him,  and  told  him  he  was  becoming 
melancholy.  "  No,"  he  replied,  "  I  am  serious ;  for  all  are 
serious  around  about  me.  God  is  serious  in  observing  us, 
Christ  is  serious  in  interceding  for  us,  the  Spirit  is  serious  in 
striving  with  us,  the  truths  of  God  are  serious,  our  spiritual 
enemies  are  serious  in  their  endeavors  to  ruin  us,  and  why 
them  should  not  you  and  I  be  serious  too."  Don't  laugh  at 
religion.  —  Rev.  J.  C.  Ryle. 


NEW   TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.     .  401 

REPEATING  SERMONS. 

And  when  the  Jews  were  gone  out  of  the  synagogue,  the  Gentiles  besought 
that  these  words  might  be  preached  to  them  the  next  Sabbath.  —  Acts  13  :  42. 

A  VERY  senseless  prejudice  exists  in  many  minds  against 
11.  the  repetition  of  sermons.  The  feeling  is  peculiarly  prev- 
alent in  the  West.  In  the  East,  the  repetition  is  much  more 
common.  The  Rev.  Theodore  L.  Cuyler,  writing  from  Sara- 
toga, uses  the  following  language  with  respect  to  this  matter : 
"  A  poor,  juiceless  sermon  ought  never  to  be  preached  the 
first  time  ;  but  a  nutritious,  savory  discourse  may  be  made  all 
the  better  on  a  second  delivery.  Dr.  Addison  Alexander 
preached  his  glorious  sermon  on  the  '  Faithful  Saying '  until 
he  wore  out  the  manuscript ;  and  Dr.  Griffin  repeated  his 
elaborate  discourse  on  the  '  Worth  of  the  Soul '  ninety  times ! 
He  never  wearied  of  it  —  nor  did  his  audience  either.  As 
congregations  change  constantly,  and  memories  are  leaky,  a 
first-rate  practical  sermon  ought  to  be  repeated  (with  extem- 
pore improvements)  about  once  in  five  years.  Fewer  sermons 
and  richer  should  be  a  settled  pastor's  aim.  Whitefield  at- 
tained great  finish  and  power  by  giving  the  same  discourses 
over  and  over  again  through  all  his  missionary  tours.-" 


PROGRESS  OF  MISSIONS. 

For  so  hath  the  Lord  commanded  us,  saying,  I  have  set  thee  to  be  a  light 
of  the  Gentiles,  and  thou  shouldest  be  for  salvation  unto  the  ends  of  the 
earth.  —  Acts  13  :  47. 

SOME  years  ago  a  secretary  of  the  Home  Missionary  Society, 
who  has  since  gone  to  his  rest,  said  to  me,  "  When  I  think 
that  for  every  blow  which  the  church  strikes  in  behalf  of  mis- 
sions, God  strikes  ten,  it  overwhelms  me."     And  well  it  may 
overwhelm  us  all,  when  we   look  at  the  history  of  missions. 
Go  back,  for  instance,  thirty  years,  and  see  what  changes  God 
has  wrought  in  this  work.     Thirty  years  ago  the  missionaries 
who  had  gone  to  China  were  sitting  down  under  the  shadow 
of  those  high  walls,  patiently,  hopefully,  trustfully  waiting  for 
51 


402 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 


the  first  practical  breach.  Thirty  years  ago  the  empire  of 
Japan  was  sealed  utterly  against  the  Christian  world,  with  the 
exception  of  a  few  Dutch  traders  at  Nangasaki.  Thirty 
years  ago  Hindostan  was  held  by  the  East  India  Company  — 
that  great  corporation  that  was  so  blind  to  its  true  mission 
even  to  the  end.  But  He  that  is  glorious  in  his  apparel,  trav- 
eling in  the  greatness  of  his  strength,  has  gone  forth,  and  now 
Asia,  from  the  Mediterranean  to  the  utmost  borders  of  Niphon, 
is  trembling  under  his  footsteps.  —  Bev.  S.  B.  Treat. 


BOLDLY  CONFESSING  CHRIST. 

Long  time  therefore  abode  they  speaking  boldly  in  the  Lord,  which  "gave 
testimony  unto  the  word  of  his  grace,  and  granted  signs  and  wonders  to  be 
done  by  their  hands.  —  Acts  14  :  3. 

ONE  of  Frederick  the  Great's  best  generals  was  Hans 
Joachim  von  Zieten.  He  was  never  ashamed  of  his 
faith.  Once  he  declined  an  invitation  to  come  to  his  royal 
master's  table,  because  on  that  day  he  wished  to  present 
himself  at  the  table  of  his  Lord  and  Master  Jesus  Christ.  It 
was  sacrament  day.  The  next  time  he  appeared  at  the  palace , 
the  king,*  whose  infidel  tendencies  were  well  known,  made  use 
of  some  profane  expressions  about  the  holy  communion  of  the 
Lord's  Supper ;  and  the  other  guests  laughed  at  the  remarks 
made  on  the  occasion.  Zieten  shook  his  gray  head  solemnly, 
stood  up,  saluted  the  king,  and  then  said  with  a  firm  voice, 
"  Your  majesty  knows  well  that  in  war  I  have  never  feared 
any  danger,  and  everywhere  have  boldly  risked  my  life  for  you 
and  my  country.  But  there  is  One  above  us  who  is  greater 
than  you  or  me,  —  greater  than  all  men :  he  is  the  Saviour 
and  Redeemer,  who  has  died  also  for  your  majesty,  and  has 
dearly  bought  us  all  with  his  own  blood.  This  Holy  One  I 
can  never  allow  to  be  mocked  or  insulted;  for  on  him  ivpose 
my  faith,  my  comfort,  and  my  hope  in  life  and  death.  In  the 
power  of  this  faith,  your  brave  army  has  courageously  fought 
and  conquered.  If  your  majesty  undermines  this  faith,  you 
undermine,  at  the  same  time,  the  welfare  of  the  state.  I  salute 
your  majesty."  This  open  confession  of  his  Saviour  by  Zioten 


NEW   TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  403 

made  a  powerful  impression  on  the  king.  He  felt  he  had  been 
wrong  in  his  attack  on  the  faith  of  his  general,  and  he  was  not 
ashamed  to  acknowledge  it.  He  gave  his  hand  to  Zieten,  his 
right  hand,  placing  the  left  on  the  old  man's  shoulder,  and  said 
with  emotion,  "  0  happy  Zieten  !  how  I  wish  I  could  also  believe 
it !  I  have  the  greatest  respect  for  you.  This  shall  never 
happen  again.'7  The  king  then  rose  from  the  table,  dismissed 
his  other  guests,  but  said  to  Zieten,  "  Come  with  me  into  my 
cabinet."  What  passed  in  that  conference,  with  closed  doors, 
between  the  great  king  and  his  greater  general,  no  one  has 
ever  learned  ;  but  this  we  know,  that  the  Lord's  own  words  are 
now  verified  to  Zieten  :  "  Whosoever  shall  confess  me  before 
men,  him  will  I  confess  before  my  Father  which  is  in  heaven." 
—  British  Workman. 

GLORYING  IN  TRIBULATION. 

Confirming  the  souls  of  the  disciples,  and  exhorting  them  to  continue  in 
the  faith,  and  that  we  must  through  much  tribulation  enter  into  the  kingdom 
of  God.  —  Acts  H  :  22. 

C\  UY  DE  BREZ,  a  French  minister,  was  prisoner  in  the 
VJ  Castle  of  Tournay,  in  Belgium.  A  lady  who  visited  him  said 
she  "  wondered  how  he  could  eat,  or  drink,  or  sleep  in  quiet." 
"  Madam,"  said  he,  "  my  chains  do  not  terrify  me,  or  break 
my  sleep ;  on  the  contrary,  I  glory  and  take  delight  therein, 
esteeming  them  at  a  higher  rate  than  chains  and  rings  of  gold, 
or  jewels  of  any  price  whatever.  The  rattling  of  my  chains 
is  like  the  effect  of  an  instrument  of  music  in  my  ears ;  not 
that  such  an  effect  comes  merely  from  my  chains,  but  it  is 
because  I  am  bound  therewith  for  maintaining  the  truth  of 
the  gospel." 

SAVED  THROUGH  GRACE. 

But  we  believe,  that  through  the  grace  of  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  we  shall 
be  saved,  even  as  they.  —  Acts  15  :  11. 

WHEN  M.  Monod  and  I  attended  the  University  of  Geneva, 
there  was  a  professor  of  divinity  who  confined  himself 
to  lecturing  on  the  immortality  of  the  soul,  the   existence  of 
God,  and  similar  topics.     As  to  the  Trinity,  he  did  not  believe 


404  NEW   TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

/t 

it.  Instead  of  the  Bible,  he  gave  us  quotations  from  Seneca 
and  Plato.  St.  Seneca  and  St.  Plato  were  the  two  saints 
whose  writings  he  held  up  to  admiration.  But  the  Lord  sent 
one  of  his  servants  to  Geneva :  and  I  well  remember  the  visit 
of  Robert  Haldane.  I  heard  of  him  first  as  an  English  or 
Scotch  gentleman  who  spoke  much  about  the  Bible,  which 
seemed  a  very  strange  thing  to  me  and  the  other  students,  to 
whom  it  was  a  shut  book.  I  afterward  met  Mr.  Haldane  at 
a  private  house,  along  with  some  other  friends,  and  heard  him 
read  from  an  English  Bible  a  chapter  from  Romans,  about  the 
natural  corruption  of  man,  —  a  doctrine  of  which  I  had  never 
heard  before  ;  in  fact,  I  was  quite  astonished  to  hear  of  men 
being  corrupt  by  nature.  I  remember  saying  to  Mr.  Haldane, 
"  Now  I  see  that  doctrine  in  the  Bible."  "  Yes,"  he  replie'd  ; 
"  but  do  you  see  it  in  your  heart  ?  "  That  was  a  simple  ques- 
tion ;  but  it  came  home  to  my  conscience.  It  was  the  sword 
of  the  Spirit ;  and  from  that  time  I  saw  that  my  heart  was 
corrupt,  and  knew  from  the  word  of  God  that  I  could  be  saved 
by  grace  alone.  —  Dr.  Merle  D'Aubigne. 


OMNISCIENCE  OP  GOD. 

Known  unto  God  are  all  his  works  from  the  beginning  of  the  world.  — 
Acts  15  :  18. 


all-seeing  and  the  all-knowing  of  God  are  truths  over- 
J_  whelming  to  man.  Is  this  universe  an  unsurveyed  and  sol- 
itary waste  ?  Do  you  fancy  there  is  no  presence  to  cheer  it, 
nor  eye  to  look  upon  it  for  ever  ?  There  is  an  eye  whose 
vision  is  spread  all  over  this  amazing  scene.  There  is  a  mind 
present  unto  it  in  all  its  illimitable  extent.  The  Eternal  One, 
at  the  same  moment,  converses  with  its  immeasurably  remote 
extremes.  There  is  a  mind  to  whose  intelligence  all  this 
amazing  vast  of  worlds  on  worlds,  and  suns  on  suns,  and  sys- 
tems on  systems,  is  distinctly  apparent.  Every  atom  in  this 
magnificent  immensity,  whether  sinking  in  its  depths  or  Aspir- 
ing in  its  heights,  whether  resting  on  its  axis,  or  whirling  on 
its  verge,  is  watched  by  the  intense  and  eternal  scrutiny  of 
the  omnipresent  and  omniscient  God.  —  Bishop  Hamliue. 


NEW   TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  405 

KEY.  WILBUR  FISK,  D.  D. 

Then  pleased  it  the  apostles  and  elders,  with  the  whole  church,  to  send 
chosen  men  of  their  own  company  to  Antioch,  with  Paul  and  Barnabas  ;  name- 
ly, Judas  surnamed  Barsabas,  and  Silas,  chief  men  among  the  brethren.  — 
Acts  15  •  22. 

T)ERHAPS  no  individual,  of  any  denomination,  had  acquired 
J[  throughout  New  England  so  universally  the  esteem  and 
confidence  of  all  classes  as  did  Dr.  Fisk.  We  recollect  an 
instance  in  which  the  influence  of  his  name  was  strikingly 
exhibited.  It  occurred  during  a  trip  from  Middletown  to 
New  York,  a  short  time  before  the  General  Conference  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church  of  1832.  The  doctor  was  on 
his  way  to  the  conference.  The  number  of  passengers  was 
greater  than  usual,  and  they  all  had  assembled  in  the  cabin 
for  the  purpose  of  having  their  berths  assigned  them  for  the 
night.  Immediately  after  this  business  had  been  attended  to, 
the  clerk  of  the  boat  announced  that  Dr.  Fisk  would  perform 
religious  services  before  the  company  retired  to  rest,  and  re- 
quested those  who  were  not  favorable  to  it  to  withdraw  to  the 
forward  cal}in.  One  individual,  apparently  a  military  officer, 
availed  himself  of  this  privilege.  The  doctor  rose  near  the 
stairway,  and  after  making  a  few  remarks,  intended  to  pro- 
duce a  feeling  of  dependence  upon  God,  especially  under  the 
circumstances  by  which  we  were  then  surrounded,  he  gave 
out  an  appropriate  hymn,  in  singing  which  a  number  of  the 
passengers  united.  When  he  bowed  to  address  the  throne 
of  grace,  we  paused  a  moment  to  look  over  the  solemn  and 
unaccustomed  scene  before  us.  It  is  usual,  as  is  well  known, 
in  miscellaneous  assemblies,  for  all  to  stand  during  prayer,  but 
in  this  instance  it  was  otherwise  ;  with  scarcely  an  exception 
every  one  of  the  passengers  had  bent  themselves  before  the 
Lord,  thus  evincing  not  only  a  proper  veneration  for  religion, 
but  their  high  respect  for  the  individual  who  was  leading  the 
devotions.  Those  who  knew  the  doctor  need  not  be  told  what 
was  the  effect  of  these  services,  for  no  man  possessed  the 
faculty  of  improving  such  occasions  to  better  advantage.  We 
retired  to  rest  that  night  with  more  devotional  feelings  than 
we  ever  experienced  on  board  of  a  steamboat,  and  it  will 
be  long  befor.e  the  impression  produced  by  this  circumstance 
will  be  effaced. 


406  NEW   TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 


ESTABLISHED  IN  FAITH. 

And  so  were  the  churches  established  in  the  faith,  and  increased  in  number 
daily.  —  Acts  16  :  5. 

IF  a  man  pray  as  he  should,  it  is  "  the  prayer  of  faith."  If  a 
man  obey  as  he  should,  it  is  "  the  obedience  of  faith."  If 
a  man  war  in  the  church  militant,  it  is  "  the  fight  of  faith." 
If  a  man  live  as  a  Christian  and  holy  man,  he  "  liveth  by  faith." 
Nay,  shall  I  yet  say  more  ;  if  he  die  as  he  ought,  he  "  dieth  by 
faith."  "  These  all  die  in  faith."  What  is  that  ?  The  power 
of  faith  that  directed  and  ordered  them  in  the  cause  of  their 
death,  furnished  them  with  grounds  and  principles  of  assur- 
ance of  the  love  of  God,  made  them  carry  themselves  patiently 
in  death.  I  can  say  no  more,  but  with  the  apostle,  "  Examine 
yourselves  whether  you  be  in  the  faith."  Why  does  not  the 
apostle  say,  Examine  whether  faith  be  in  you  ;  but  "  whether 
you  be  in  faith  "  ?  His  meaning  is,  that  as  a  man  is  said  to 
be  in  drink,  or  to  be  in  love,  or  to  be  in  passion,  that  is,  under 
the  command  of  drink,  or  love,  or  passion  ;  so  the  whole  man 
must  be  under  the  command  of  faith.  If  he  pray,  faith  must 
indite  his  prayer ;  if  he  obey,  faith  must  work  ;  if  he  live,  it  is 
faith  that  must  quicken  him ;  and  if  he  die,  it  is  faith  that 
must  order  him  in  death.  And  wheresoever  faith  is,  it  will 
.do  wonders  in  the  soul  of  that  man  where  it  is  ;  it  can  not  be 
idle ;  it  will  have  footsteps  ;  it  sets  the  whole  man  on  work ;  it 
moves  feet,  hands,  eyes,  and  all  parts  of  the  body.  Mark  how 
the  apostle  disputeth  :  "  We,  having  the  same  spirit  of  faith,  ac- 
cording as  it  is  written :  I  believe,  therefore  have  I  spoken  ; 
we  also  believe,  and  therefore  speak."  The  faith  of  the  apos- 
tle, which  he  had  in  his  heart,  set  his  tongue  agoing.  If  a 
man  have  faith  within,  it  will  break  forth  at  his  mouth.  —  Thos. 
Hooker. 

SUCCESSFULLY  PREACHING  CHRIST. 

These  men  are  the  servants  of  the  most  high  God,  which  shew  unto  us  the 
way  of  salvation.  — Acts  16  :  17. 

R.    COLLINS'  preaching  was  often  attended  by  divine 
unction  almost  resistless.    Crowded  congregations  bowed 


M 


NEW   TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  407 

beneath  its  influence  as  trees  in  a  wood  before  a  mighty  wind. 
While  preaching  at  Northianl,  from  Isaiah  43  :  25,  26,  feeling 
grew  until  the  people  instinctively  rose  from  their  seats. 
During  the  final  appeal  preaching  merged  into  praying,  all 
seemed  carried  to  the  throne,  the  chapel  resounded  with  loud 
amens  and  shouts  of  glory,  glory.  Many  were  saved,  and  be- 
lieving souls  were  filled  with  glory  and  with  God. 

Success  was  not  limited  to  trophies  won  at  the  altar  for 
penitents.  A  certain  baker,  whose  wife  was  pious,  finding 
the  chapel  lit  up  late  one  evening,  walked  in.  The  flour- 
covered  garb  of  his  trade  made  the  man  very  conspicuous  as 
he  stood  curiously  and  undevotionally  gazing  in  wonder  at  the 
scene.  "  Lord,  have  mercy  on  that  baker/7  cried  Mr.  Collins. 
The  man  started  like  a  frightened  deer,  but  the  arrow  was  in 
him.  u  Lord,  have  mercy  on  that  baker,"  kept  ringing  in  his 
ears  until  he  made  the  prayer  his  own.  It  was  answered  then, 
and  a  few  weeks  after,  happy  in  God,  he  joined  the  society 
from  whose  sanctuary  in  such  scared  confusion  he  had  fled.  — 
D.  Nash. 


BIBLE  DEMONOLOGY. 

But  Paul,  being  grieved,  turned  and  said  to  the  spirit,  I  command  thee  in 
the  name  of  Jesus  Christ  to  come  out  of  her.  And  he  came  out  the  same 
hour.  —  Acts  1G  :  18. 

DR.  WHEDON,  in  his  excellent  Commentary  on  the  Gospels, 
makes  the  following  exposition  on  the  subject  of  the  New 
Testament  demons.  In  his  notes  on  Mark  5  :  2,  Dr.  Whedon 
s.\ys,  — 

u First.  The  whole  system  of  Bible  demonology  presupposes 
an  arch-enemy  of  God  and  man,  finite,  yet  powerful,  an  arch- 
angel of  evil,  who  is  the  mightiest  finite  representative  of 
wickedness  revealed  to  us  in  the  universe.  (See  note  on  Matt. 
4:1.)  He  makes  his  appearance  in  Eden  under  the  base  guise 
of  a  serpent,  and  procures  the  fall  of  man.  As  Belial,  he  is 
known  in  Old  Testament  history,  and  perhaps  as  Azazel.  He 
is  Satan,  in  the  book  of  Job.  He  is  Satan,  Beelzebub,  and 
prince  of  devils,  in  the  New  Testament. 

"Second.  Out  of  the  range  of  the  Scripture  lands,  the  powers 


408  NEW   TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

of  evil  widely  and  powerfully  ruled.  Yet  it  may  have  been 
under  other  names,  and  wearing  other  guises.  The  same 
world  of  invisible  evil  powers  in  its  great  outlines  is  dimly 
disclosed ;  but  the  demoniac  agencies  appear  in  different 
specific  modes  and  styles,  as  the  customs  and  institutes  of 
men  admitted  them.  There  were  the  oracles,  revealing  ap- 
parently more  or  less  of  hidden  truth,  and  with  their  devotees 
more  or  less  inspired  and  frenzied.  And  it  is  by  this  very 
oracular  inspiration  that  the  girl,  in  Acts  16  :  16,  was  said  to 
be  filled,  namely,  by  the  spirit  of  Pythan,  which  was  the  name 
of  the  god  of  the  oracles.  And  this  maiden  exhibited  the 
same  peculiar  phenomena  as  those  demoniac,  in  showing  a 
supernatural  knowledge  of  the  true  character  of  the  apostles, 
proclaiming  them  to  be  the  servants  of  the  Most  High,  while 
she  herself  only  professed  to  belong  to  a  far  inferior. opposing 
power. 

"  It  is  a  striking  fact  (which  we  shall  again  notice)  that  the 
Father  of  the  Christian  church  boasted  that  the  oracles  be- 
came dumb  after  the  coming  of  Christ.  This  brings  us  also 
to  another  striking  conclusion  of  the  church,  namely,  that  the 
demons  of  the  New  Testament  —  the  devils  of  Scripture  — 
lurked  under  the  guise  of  much  of  the  mythology  of  heathen- 
dom. And  in  that  view  of  the  case,  we  are  at  no  loss  to  find 
an  abundance  of  phenomena,  in  pagan  antiquity,  analogous  to 
the  possessions  in  the  New  Testament."  —  W.  Jones. 


READING  PRAYERS  UNDER  DIFFICULTIES. 

Who,  having  received  such  a  charge,  thrust  them  into  the  inner  prison, 
and  made  their  feet  fast  in  the  stocks.  And  at  midnight  Paul  and  Silas 
prayed,  and  sang  praises  unto  God :  and  the  prisoners  heard  them.  — 
Acts  16  :  24,  25. 

THE  following  witty  anecdote  is  related  of  Rev.  Dr.  Calvin 
Chapin,  formerly  a  Congregationalist  preacher  in  Albany, 
N.  Y.:  — 

"  Many  years  ago,  before  Albany  was  linked  to  .Boston  by 
iron  bands,  a  meeting  of  the  American  Board  of  Commission- 
ers for  Foreign  Missions  was  held  at  Albany,  and  Dr.  Chapin, 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  409 

with  a  number  of  other  clergymen  from  this  region,  attended, 
performing  the  journey  by  stage.  At  the  close  of  the  meet- 
ing they  returned  by  the  same  conveyance.  The  stage  started 
at  four  o'clock  in  the  morning,  which  at  that  season  of  the 
year  was  before  daylight,  Al*  the  passengers  in  the  stage 
but  one  were  Congregational  clergymen  ;  that  one  was  a  young 
Episcopal  minister.  At  first  starting,  the  passengers  were  all 
silent,  till  after  some  time  our  young  Episcopal  friend,  with 
somewhat  more  of  courage  than  of  discretion,  proceeded  to  de- 
liver himself  substantially  as  follows  :  — 

"  '  I  have  been  examining  those  portions  of  the  Scriptures, 
lately,  in  which  prayer  is  spoken  of,  and  have  satisfied  myself 
that  prayer  is  never  spoken  of  in  the  Bible  where  the  circum- 
stances do  not  render  it  probable  —  yea,  I  may  say  certain  — 
that  the  prayer  must  have  been  read.' 

"  To  this  somewhat  startling  proposition,  no  one  made  any 
reply  ;  but  our  young  friend,  nothing  daunted,  went  on :  — 

"  i  I  will  defy  any  gentleman  present  to  bring  forward  an  in- 
stance where  this  was  not  the  case.' 

"  There  was  again  a  short  silence,  which  was  broken  by  Dr. 
Chapin,  who  said  in  his  blandest  and  most  deferential  tones,  — 

"  1 1  do  not  mean  to  deny  your  position,  sir  ;  but  there  is  a 
question  I  should  like  to  ask,  if  you  will  be  so  kind  as  to  an- 
swer it.' 

"  l  0,  ask  as  many  questions  as  you  please  —  I  will  answer 
them,'  said  the  young  man. 

"  '  The  question  I  wished  to  ask,  was,'  said  Dr.  Chapin,  very 
deliberately  too,  '  who  it  was  held  the  candle  for  Jonah  when 
he  read  prayers  in  the  whale's  belly  ? ' 

"  It  is  said  that  the  juvenile  divine  maintained  a  dignified 
silence  during  the  rest  of  that  journey." 


DR,  NETTLETON'S  REPLY  TO  A  CAVILER. 

Then  ho  called  for  a  light,  and  sprang  in,  and  came  trembling,  and  fell 
down  before  Paul  and  Silas ;  and  brought  them  out,  and  said,  Sirs,  what  must 
I  do  to  be  saved?  —  Acts  16  :  29,  30. 

A    CAVILER  once  asked  Dr.  Nettleton,  "  How  came  I  by  my 
1JL    wicked  heart  ? "      "  That,"  he  replied,  "  is  a  question 
52 


410  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

which  does  not  concern  you  so  much  as  another,  namely, 
How  you  shall  get  rid  of  it.  You  have  a  wicked  heart,  which 
renders  you  entirely  unfit  for  the  kingdom  of  God  ;  and  you 
must  have  a  new  heart,  or  you  can  not  be  saved  ;  and  the 
question  which  now  most  deeply  concerns  you  is,  How  shall 
you  obtain  it  ?  "  "  But,"  says  the  man,  "  I  wish  you  to  tell  me 
how  I  came  by  my  wicked  heart."  "  I  shall  not/'  replied  Dr. 
Nettleton,  "  do  that  at  present ;  for  if  I  could  do  it  to  your 
entire  satisfaction,  it  would  not  in  the  least  help  you  toward 
obtaining  a  new  heart.  The  great  thing  for  which  I  am 
solicitous  is,  that  you  should  become  a  new  creature,  and  be 
prepared  for  heaven."  As  the  man  manifested  no  disposition 
to  hear  any  thing  on  that  subject,  but  still  pressed  the  ques- 
tion how  he  came  by  his  wicked  heart,  Dr.  Nettleton  told  him 
that  his  condition  resembled  that  of  a  man  who  is  drowning, 
while  his  friends  are  attempting  to  save  his  life.  As  he  rises 
to  the  surface  of  the  water,  he  exclaims,  "  How  came  I  here?" 
"  That  question,"  says  one  of  his  friends,  "  does  not  concern 
you  now.  Take  hold  of  this  rope."  "  But  how  came  I  here?" 
he  asks  again.  "  I  shall  not  stop  to  answer  that  question  now," 
replies  his  friend.  "Then  I'll  drown,"  says  the  infatuated  man; 
and  spurning  all  proffered  aid,  sinks  to  the  bottom. 


CHRISTIAN  EXPERIENCE  EVERYWHERE. 

And  when  he  had  brought  them  into  his  house,  he  set  meat  before  them, 
and  rejoiced,  believing  in  God  with  all  his  house.  —  Acts  16  :  34. 


prominent  features  of  religious  experience  are  the  same 
JL  among  all  Christian  people  in  every  quarter  of  the  globe. 
There  are  certain  marks  of  genuine  conversion,  which,  wherever 
appearing,  carry  with  them  irresistible  evidence  that  the  per- 
son has  indeed  become  the  workmanship  of  the  Holy  Spirit. 
In  South  Africa  I  have  met  with  many  who  know  by  happy 
experience  the  saving  power  of  godliness;  who  exemplify  its 
principles  by  their  general  walk  and  conversation,  and  in 
wliom  we  are  compelled  to  glorify  God.  They  prove  them- 
selves to  be  true  disciples  of  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ.  I 


NEW   TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  411 

remember  one  young  man,  connected  with  the  society  in  Fort 
Beaufort,  a  Fingoe,  whose  modest  spirit,  sincere  piety,  and 
consistent  deportment  won  my  ardent  affection.  He  was  a 
local  preacher,  and  evidently  lived  in  the  enjoyment  of  God's 
saving  grace.  This  young  man  'informed  me,  that  when  he 
was  awakened  to  a  sense  of  his  condition  as  a  sinner,  he  left 
his  home,  and  wandered  to  the  distant  mountains  in  search  of 
solitude  for  prayer.  There  he  continued  two  days  and  a 
night,  engaged  in  religious  meditation  and  fervent  pleading 
with  God  for  pardon,  determined  not  to  rest  until  God  had 
removed  from  his  conscience  the  burden  of  guilt.  Nor  was 
he  disappointed.  His  prayer  was  heard,  his  guilt  canceled, 
his  soul  brought  into  glorious  liberty  ;  and  he  returned  from 
the  mountains  rejoicing  in  God  his  Saviour.  This  is  the 
course  frequently  pursued  by  the  people  in  such  circum- 
stances. The  majority  of  those  whose  testimony  to  the  enjoy- 
ment of  the  divine  favor  I  have  heard,  appear  to  have  found 
the-  blessing  in  the  mountain  or  the  bush. 


WITNESSES  FOR  THE  BIBLE. 

And  Paul,  as  his  manner  was,  went  in  unto  them,  and  three  Sabbath  days 
reasoned  with  them  out  of  the  Scriptures.  —  Acts  17  :  2. 

THE  Rev.  Professor  Leonard  Woods  said,  "  When  I  com- 
menced my  duties  of  professor  of  theology,  I  feared  that 
the  frequency  with  which  I  should  have  to  pass  over  the  same 
portions  of  Scripture  would  abate  the  interest  in  my  own  mind 
in  reading  them ;  but,  after  more  than  fifty  years  of  study,  it 
is  my  experience  that  with  every  class  my  interest  increases." 

Daniel  Webster  said,  "  From  the  time  that,  at  my  mother's 
feet,  or  on  my  father's  knee,  I  first  learned  to  lisp  verses  from 
the  Sacred  Writings,  they  have  been  my  daily  study  and 
vigilant  contemplation.  If  there  be  anything  in  my  style  or 
thoughts  to  be  commended,  the  credit  is  due  to  my  kind  par- 
ents in  instilling  into  my  mind  an  early  love  of  the  Scrip- 
tures/' 

Fisher  Ames  said,  "  I  will  hazard  the  assertion  that  no  man 


412  NEW   TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

ever  did  or  ever  will  become  truly  eloquent  without  being  a 
constant  reader  of  the  Bible,  and  an  admirer  of  the  purity  and 
sublimity  of  its  language." 

The  great  Milton  said,  "  There  are  no  songs  comparable  to 
the  songs  of  Zion,  no  orations  equal  to  those  of  the  prophets, 
and  no  polities  like  those  which  the  Scriptures  teach." 

Even  the  brilliant  infidel  Rousseau  said,  "  I  must  confess  to 
you  that  the  majesty  of  the  Scriptures  astonishes  me  ;  the 
holiness  of  the  evangelists  speaks  to  my  heart,  and  has  such 
strong  and  striking  characters  of  truth,  and  is,  moreover,  so 
perfectly  inimitable,  that  if  it  had  been  the  invention  of  men, 
the  inventors  would  be  greater  than  the  greatest  heroes." 


GOD'S  WAY  TO  A  WICKED  HEART. 

God  that  made  the  world,  and  all  things  therein,  seeing  that  he  is  Lord  of 
heaven  and  earth,  dwelleth  not  in  temples  made  with  hands.  —  Acts  17 :  24. 

"  INHERE  was  an  infidel  in  England,"  said  a  speaker  in  the 
JL  Fulton  Street  prayer  meeting,  "  who  had  a  very  pious 
wife,  and  also  a  little  girl  about  twelve  years  old,  who  was  a 
great  pet  with  her  father,  and  of  whom  he  was  very  fond.  He 
would  never  allow  her  to  be  taught  to  read,  for  fear  she  might 
be  led  to  read  the  Bible,  for  he  hated  the  Bible  with  a  bitter 
hatred.  He  would  not  allow  the  name  of  Christ  to  be  spoken 
in  his  presence.  He  would  not  allow  his  wife  to  speak  to  him 
on  the  subject  of  religion.  This  poor,  anxious  woman  often 
studied  how  she  could  reach  the  heart  of  her  wretched  hus- 
band. She  had  a  pious  friend  with  whom  her  husband  was 
intimate.  So  she  resolved  to  invite  him  to  come  and  talk  with 
her  husband  about  the  salvation  of  his  soul.  She  did  so  ; 
and  the  conversation  made  no  impression  upon  him.  He  was 
very  angry  with. his  wife.  He  declared  he  would  have  no 
more  of  this ;  and  to  make  the  matter  certain,  he  took  a  piece 
of  board  and  wrote  on  it,  in  large  letters,  with  chalk,  '  God  is 
nowhere/  and  nailed  the  board  to  the  foot  of  the  bed,  so  that 
all  could  see  it  who  entered  the  room.  He  said  he  was  not 
going  to  have  his  sentiments  mistaken  ;  all  should  know  that 
lie  disbelieved  in  a  God." 


NEW   TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  413 

"  He  was  taken  very  sick,  and  even  his  little  daughter  could 
not  see  him  he  was  so  ill.  Meantime  his  daughter  began  to 
learn  to  read,  and  improved  rapidly.  One  day,  when  the 
father  had  got  better  from  his  long  sickness,  he  had  his  little 
daughter  called  into  the  room. 

"  i  What  have  you  been  doing/  said  he,  l  since  I  have  been 
sick  ?  • 

11 '  I  have  been  learning  to  read,  father,'  she  answered. 

a  i  "Well,  then,  read  what  is  written  on  the  board.'  The 
child  could  only  read  by  spelling  out  the  words.  So  she  be- 
gan :  l  God  is  now  here  '  —  reading  wrong  one  word.  But 
that  misreading  was  the  means  of  the  father's  conversion.'7 


LIFE  PROM  GOD  ALONE. 

Neither  is  worshiped  with  men's  hands,  as  though  he  needed  anything,  see- 
ing he  giveth  to  all  life,  and  breath,  and  all  things.  — Acts  17  :  25. 

IN  {he  course  of  his  address  at  the  opening  of  the  Belfast 
Methodist  College,  the  Rev.  W.  Arthur,  president,  said, 
u  No  man  knew  the  sublime  teaching  but  the  man  who  felt 
faith  in  the  active  intervention  of  God  for  the  regeneration  of 
human  beings.  Every  visitor  to  Rome  had  stood  before  that 
wonderful  horse  011  the  Capitoline  Hill,  and  almost  fancied  that 
he  saw  Michael  Angelo  standing  before  it,  and  staring  at  it  till 
it  had  impressed  itself  upon  his  soul,  and  then  saying,  'Animal, 
march,  march  ! '  This  was  not  the  utterance  of  hope,  but  of 
despair.  It  was  his  aspiration  striking  against  the  cage  that 
held  in  his  ambition.  With  what  faith  would  that  man  have 
gone  to  work  if  there  was  a  possibility  that  at  some  point  of 
his  progress,  on  the  touch  of  his  chisel,  a  fire  from  the  unseen 
world  would  enter,  and  his  work  would  begin  to  live  !  Now, 
that  was  the  position  of  the  Christian  teacher.  He  was  work- 
ing upon  an  immortal  being,  working  upon  the  image  of  God 
with  an  instrument  pointed  by  God,  and  moment  by  moment 
expecting  that  God  himself  would  appear  in  the  midst  of  the 
work,  and  send  through  it  the  unseen  fire  that  would  light  up 
within  that  soul  the  principles  of  eternal  life." 


414  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS 

."MADE  OF  ONE  BLOOD." 

And  hath  made  of  one  blood  all  nations  of  men  for  to  dwell  on  all  the  face 
of  the  earth,  and  hath  determined  the  times  before  appointed,  and  the  bounds 
of  their  habitation.  —  Acts  17  :  26. 

THERE  is  a  common  life- stream  flowing  through  the  veins 
of  all  men,  of  whatever  tribe  or  nation,  which,  notwithstand- 
ing its  accidental  modifications  caused  by  influence  of  climate, 
food,  health,  and  habits,  is  yet  everywhere  characteristically 
the  same,  and  can  be  recognized  as  such. 

This  life-stream  of  the  human  race  is  characteristically  dif- 
ferent from  all  other  life-streams  found  in  all  other  creatures, 
in  other  words,  the  blood  of  beasts,  birds,  or  fishes,  or  any 
other  creeping  thing,  and  can  be  clearly  distinguished  there- 
from. 

Science  has  actually  established  our  interpretation  of  the 
Pauline  statement  as  the  true  one  !  The  light  breaks  at  last 
upon  our  path !  The  achievements  of  scientific  naturalists 
furnish  to  our  hand  the  materials  for  a  true  interpretation,  and 
bring  vividly  to  mind  the  pertinent  and  far-reaching  remark 
of  Bishop  Butler,  that  "  Events  as  they  come  to  pass  will 
open  the  fuller  sense  of  Scripture."  The  microscope  ac- 
complishes to-day  a  splendid  work  in  behalf  of  the  living- 
oracles  of  God.  It  interprets  to-day  a  part  of  the  oration  of 
Paul.  It  has  superseded  the  tedious  and  circuitous  method 
of  chemical  analysis,  relied  upon  for  the  last  twenty  years, 
but  with  so  much  misgiving  and  dissatisfaction.  The  motit 
that  could  be  accomplished  by  this  means,  was  simply  the 
detection  of  the  presence  of  coloring  matter  in  the  blood, 
without  any  evidence  whatever  whether  the  blood  was  that 
of  a  man,  a  beast,  or  a  bird.  But  the  microscope  has  done 
more.  It  has  done  for  the  blood  just  what  the  telescope  has 
done  for  the  nebulous  stream  in  the  heavens.  It  has  resolved 
the  mazy  mass  into  separate  globes,  an<l  determined  the  vari- 
ety, character,  and  size  of  each.  First  came  the  discovery 
that  the  blood  of  every  animal  is  composed  of  an  infinite 
number  of  minute,  red  globules,  floating  in  a  colorless  fluid. 
Next,  in  the  mammal  class,  these  globules  were  uniformly 
circular,  and  somewhat  flat ;  in  thickness  equal  to  one  fourth 


NEIV  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  415 

the  diameter.  Next,  that  in  birds,  fishes,  and  reptiles,  these 
globules  are  oval  in  form ;  and  last  of  all,  that  "  every  kind  of 
animal  has  its  blood-globules,  differing  in  size  from  those  of 
every  other  kind." 


WHERE  IS  THE  REDEEMER? 

That  they  should  seek  the  Lord,  if  haply  they  might  feel  after  him,  and 
find  him,  though  he  be  not  far  from  every  one  of  us.  —  Acts  17 :  27. 

SUCH  is  the  ruling  view  of  the  natural  heart  regarding  the 
soul's  necessities,  and  such  is  the  habit  of  mankind  touch- 
ing  the  great  matters  of  death  and  eternity,  that  one  who 
seeks  salvation  with  the  earnestness  due  to  the  subject  is 
sure  to  be  called  "  beside  himself.''  This  is  no  new  thing. 
The  exhorters  on  the  day  of  Pentecost,  and  Paul  before  Festus, 
suffered  the  same  charge. 

A  touching  story  is  told  of  a  poor  negro  on  the  coast  of 
Africa,  who  became  distressed  about  his  soul.  One  day  an 
English  sailor,  who  chanced  to  hear  his  lamentations,  told  him, 
in  a  careless  manner,  that  he  must  go  to  England,  and  there  he 
would  hear  of  the  Christian's  God  who  paid  the  debt.  The 
soul-burdened  negro  resolved  to  follow  this  advice.  After 
going  a  long  distance  to  find  a  ship,  he  obtained  leave  to  work 
his  passage  to  England.  On  board  the  ship,  and  in  the 
streets  of  London,  he  inquired  in  vain  for  the  object  of  his 
search.  The  poor  negro,  asking  "  for  the  Christian's  God  dat 
pay  de  debt,"  was  ridiculed  as  a  fool,  or  pitied  as  a  lunatic. 

One  day,  when  he  was  lamenting  to  himself  his  want  of  suc- 
cess, a  gentleman  overheard  him,  and  stopping  to  speak  to 
him,  told  him  if  he  would  go  to  a  certain  place  that  evening, 
he  would  hear  about  the  Christian's  God.  He  went,  and 
found  that  the  gentleman  who  had  spoken  to  him  was  himself 
the  preacher.  There  he  heard  of  the  debt  of  sin  ;  how  Jesus 
had  paid  that  debt,  and,  having  paid  it,  invites  poor,  helpless 
sinners  to  come  to  him  and  find  peace  and  rest.  Before  the 
sermon  was  finished,  the  poor  negro  started  up  in  his  seat, 
with  clasped  hands,  and  tears  streaming  down  his  sable  cheeks, 
and  those  near  him  could  hear  him  whisper,  "  Me  have  found 
him  !  Me  have  found  him!  —  the  Christian's  God  dat  pay  de 
debt ! » 


416  NEW   TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

THE  FUTURE  JUDGMENT. 

Because  he  hath  appointed  a  day,  in  the  which  he  will  judge  the  world  in 
righteousness,  by  that  man  whom  he  hath  ordained  :  whereof  he  hath  given  as- 
surance unto  all  men,  in  that  he  hath  raised  him  from  the  dead.  —  Acts  17:31. 

GOD  hath  appointed  a  day  in  which  he  will  judge  the  world 
in  righteousness.  All  will  then  give  account  to  God. 
And  what  an  account !  Every  work,  with  every  secret  thing, 
whether  good  or  evil,  will  be  brought  forth,  and  the  decision 
of  the  only  wise  God  will  find  a  response  in  every  mind. 
What  interests  are  involved  in  the  issues  of  the  judgment ! 
The  decision  is  irreversible  ;  from  it  there  is  no  appeal. 

Here  is  a  powerful  motive  to  deter  from  all  evil  and  to 
incline  to  all  holiness.  The  certainty  of  the  day  of  final 
reckoning  is  appalling  to  the  oppressor ;  the  licentious  tremble 
in  view  of  it ;  the  proud,  the  covetous,  the  lovers  of  pleasure 
more  than  lovers  of  God  dread  to  contemplate  it,  for  it  will  be 
a  revelation  of  the  wrath  of  God  to  them  because  of  ungodli- 
ness. Only  through  repentance  toward  God  and  faith  toward 
our  Lord  Jesus  Christ  can  that  wrath  be  turned  away.  To 
the  faithful  believer  in  Christ  the  judgment  conveys  no  alarm ; 
he  is  accepted  of  God  through  his  Saviour,  and  is  an  heir  of 
eternal  life.  At  the  tribunal  of  heaven  he  will  be  publicly 
recognized  as  a  child  of  God,  and  enter  on  his  everlasting  in- 
heritance. If  we  are  holy,  if  "  our  love  is  made  perfect,"  we 
shall  have  boldness  in  the  day  of  judgment,  because  as  Christ 
is,  so  are  we  in  this  world.  —  0. 


WHITEFIELD'S  ELOQUENCE. 

And  a  certain  Jew,  named  Apollos,  born  at  Alexandria,  an  eloquent  man, 
and  mighty  in  the  Scriptures,  came  to  Ephesus.  —  Acts  18  :  24. 

AN  intimate  friend  of  the  celebrated  historian  Hume  asked 
him  what  lie  thought  of  Mr.  WhitciiVM's  preaching;  for 
he  had  listened  to  the   latter  part  of  on*'  <>f  his  sermons  at 
]vlin!)iir;j,-li.     "  lie    is,  sir,"  s-iid   Mr.  Hume,  "  the  most  inir.Mi- 
ious  preacher  I  ever  heard;  it  is  worth  while  to  go.  twenty 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 


417 


miles  to  hear  him."  He  then  repeated  a  passage  toward  the 
close  of  the  discourse  which  he  had  heard.  After-  a  solemn 
pause,  he  thus  addressed  his  numerous  audience:  "  The  at- 
tendant angel  is  just  about  to  leave  the  threshold,  and  ascend 
to  heaven.  And  shall  he  ascend,  and  not  bear  with  him  the 
news  of  one  sinner  among  all  this  multitude,  reclaimed  from 
the  error  of  his  ways?"  To  give  the  greater  effect  to  the 
exclamation  he  stamped  with  his  foot,  and  with  gushing  tears, 
cried  aloud,  "  Stop,  Gabriel !  stop,  Gabriel !  stop  ere  you  enter 
the  sacred  portals,  and  yet  carry  with  you  the  news  of  one 
sinner  converted  to  God  !  "  He  then,  in  the  most  simple  but 
energetic  language,  described  what  he  called  a  Saviour's  dying 
love  to  sinful  man,  so  that  almost  the  whole  assembly  melted 
into  tears.  This  address  was  accompanied  with  such  animated 
yet  natural  action,  that  it  surpassed,  said  Hume,  anything  that 
I  ever  saw  or  heard  in  any  other  preacher. 


BUSINESS  AND  PRAYER. 

This  man  was  instructed  in  the  way  of  the  Lord.  —  Acts  18  :  25. 

IF  a  professed  disciple  would  not  have  his  secular  business 
become  as  a  millstone  about  his  neck  to  drown  him  in  per- 
dition, he  must  be  a  man  of  prayer ;  he  must  daily  secure 
spiritual  communion  with  God.  If  he  suffer  his  business  to 
consume  his  time  and  spirit  so  as  to  deprive  him  of  oppor- 
tunities for  prayer,  reading. the  Bible,  and  real  communion 
with  God,  he  must  decay  in  piety,  and  his  service  of  mammon 
eat  up  his  service  of  God.  No  one  who  believes  that  God  an- 
swers prayer  will  think  of  omitting  either  secret  or  family 
devotion  for  want  of  time,  even  when  business  is  unusually 
urgent.  Which  is  worth  more  to  you  or  your  family  —  an 
additional  period  of  your  own  unblessed  labor,  or  the  blessing 
of  God  on  your  efforts,  won  by  spending  that  time  in  pleading 
with  him  in  prayer  ?  The  plea  of  want  of  time  is  essentially 
atheistical ;  none  should  urge  it  but  those  who  regard  prayer 
as  an  empty  mockery  that  never  receives  an  answer  from  the 
Lord.  Let  the  clay  begin  with  communion  with  God,  let  the 
53 


418   *  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

disciple  pass  the  whole  day  in  the  spirit  of  prayer,  and  all  its 
scenes  will  be  inscribed  with  "  Holiness  to  the  Lord." 

This  point  may  be  best  enforced  by  the  words  of  a  de- 
voted disciple  of  Christ.  He  said,  with  great  earnestness  and 
simplicity,  "  I  have  made  a  discovery  this  summer  which  I 
regard  as  of  great  value.  I  used  -to  defer  my  morning  devo- 
tions till  after  the  first  work  of  the  morning.  But  this  sum- 
mer, immediately  on  rising,  before  doing  aught  else,  I  pray ; 
and  I  pray  till  I  feel  God's  presence.  Then  I  read  the 
Scriptures  till  breakfast,  and  I  find  my  heart  warm,  and  ready 
to  engage  with  interest  in  family  prayer.  At  noon  the  hay 
wants  turning ;  but  I  push*  on  to  spend  a  season  in  prayer ; 
and  the  heart  having  become  warm  in  the  morning,  it  needs 
but  little  to  restore  its  fervor,  and  I  am  soon  at  work  again 
with  a  lively  sense  of  God's  presence.  When  all  is  done,  I 
look  back  on  the  day  spent  with  God,  and  give  thanks  for  all 
his  mercies,  commending  myself  to  him.  And  now,"  he 
added,  with  the  greatest  animation,  "  I  can  commend  the  plan 
to  all  Christians.  It  has  carried  me  all  through  haying  and 
harvesting,  and  in  the  busiest  of  it  all  1  have  had  as  much 
enlargement  of  heart  and  spiritual  joy  as  ever  in  my  life." 


PERSONAL  LABOR. 

And  he  began  to  speak  boldly  in  the  synagogue  :  Whom,  when  Aquila  and 
Priscilla  had  heard,  they  took  him  unto  them,  and  expounded  unto  him  the 
way  of  God  more  perfectly.  —  Acts  18  :  26. 

DR.  WAYLAND  says,  "  After  leaving  college  I  entered 
upon  the  study  of  medicine.  I  was  sitting  alone  one  day 
in  the  office  of  the  physician  with  whom  I  studied,  when  a 
plain  man,  evidently  from  the  country,  entered  to  procure  some 
medical  advice.  After  we  had  sat  some  time  in  silence,  or  in 
conversation  upon  different  subjects,  without  any  introduc- 
tion he  turned  to  me,  and  asked,  — 

"  '  What  is  the  difference  between  hope  and  expectation  ? ' 
"  I  was  taken  by  surprise,  and  gave  him  such  an  answer  as 
occurred  to  me.     He  said,  — 

" '  We  may  hope  for  a  thing  when  we   have   no  definite 


NEW   TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  419 

ground  on  which  our  hope  rests,  and  while  we  are  making  no 
effort  to  secure  it,  as  we  hope  for  fair  weather  or  rain.  When 
we  expect  a  thing,  we  at  least  believe  that  we  have  some  solid 
ground  on  which  our  expectation  rests,  and  we,  of  course, 
make  efforts  necessary  to  secure  it.  I  suppose  every  man 
hopes  to  be  saved  at  last,  whatever  may  be  his  life,  or  how 
much  he  may  neglect  the  great  salvation.  A  man,  however, 
never  expects  to  enter  heaven  unless  he  has  some  solid  reason 
on  which  his  expectation  may  be  realized.' 

tl  He  then  made  a  brief  application  of  the  subject  to  me 
personalty,  and  shortly  afterward  left  the  office.  I  have  never 
seen  him  since,  I  never  knew  his  name  ;  but  I  never  think  of 
him  without  gratitude  and  love.  If  ever  I  shall  be  so  happy 
as  to  enter  the  gates  of  the  New  Jerusalem,  I  know  that  I 
shall  meet  him  there,  and  shall  thank  him,  in  better  language 
than  I  can  n<jw  command,  for  his  Christian  care  for  a  thought- 
less stranger.  I  can  remember  no  sermon  that  made  so  deep 
an  impression  on  my  mind  as  this  brief  conversation." 


A  MAN  WHO  THOUGHT  HE  NEVER  PRAYED. 

Then  certain  of  the  vagabond  Jews,  exorcists,  took  upon  them  to  call  over 
them  which  had  evil  spirits,  the  name  of  the  Lord  Jesus,  saying,  We  adjure 
you  by  Jesus  whom  Paul  preacheth.  —  Acts  19  :  13. 

fTlHE  Rev.  Mr.  Kilpin  passed  a  very  profane  man,  and  having 
J_  omitted  to  rebuke  him,  he  awaited  him  in  the  morning  in 
the  same  place.  When  he  approached,  Mr.  Kilpin  said,  — 

"  Good  morning,  my  friend ;  you  are  the  person  I  have 
been  waiting  for." 

"  0,  sir,"  said  the  man,  "  you  are  mistaken,  I  think." 

"  I  do  not  know  you  ;  but  I  saw  you  last  night  when  you 
were  going  home  from  work,  and  'I  have  been  Awaiting  some 
time  to  see  you." 

"  Sir,  you  are  mistaken ;  it  could  not  have  been  me  ;  I  never, 
saw  you  in  my  life  before,  that  I  know  of." 

"  Well,  my  friend,"  said  Mr.  Kilpin,  "  I  heard  you  pray  last 
night." 


420  NEW   TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

"  Now  I  assure  you  that  .you  are  mistaken.  I  never  prayed 
in  all  my  life." 

"  0  !  "  said  Mr.  Kilpin,  "  if  God  had  answered  your  prayer 
last  night,  you  had  not  been  seen  here  this  morning.  I  heard 
you  pray  that  God  would  destroy  your  eyes,  and  ruin  your 


The  man  turned  pale,  and,  trembling,  said,  — 

"  Do  you  call  that  prayer  ?     I  did,  I  did." 

"  Well,  then,  my  errand  this  morning  is  to  request  you  from 
this  day  to  pray  as  fervently  for  your  salvation  as  you  have 
done  for  damnation  ;  and  may  God  in  mercy  hear  your 


prayer  !  " 


The  man  from  that  time  became  an  attendant  on  Mr.  Kilpin's 
ministry,  and  it  ended  in  his  early  conversion  to  God. 


BAB  BOOKS  AND  THEIR  INFLUENCE. 

Many  also  of  them  which  used  curious  arts,  brought  their  books  together, 
and  burned  them  before  all  men ;  and  they  counted  the  price  of  them,  and 
found  it  fifty  thousand  pieces  of  silver.  —  Acts  19  :  19. 

A  YOUNG  man  who  recently  committed  suicide  in  Indiana,. 
J\.  ascribed  his  downfall  to  the  influence  of  "  the  vilest  kind 
of  novels,"  which  he  was  allowed  to  read  when  eight  or  nine 
years  old.  "  If  good  books  had  been  furnished  me,"  he  says, 
"  and  no  bad  ones,  I  should  have  read  the  good  books  with  as 
great  zest  as  I  did  the  bad  ones.  Persuade  all  persons  over 
whom  you  have  any  influence  not  to  read  novels,"  was  his 
parting  message  to  his  brother.  The  chaplain  of  Newgate 
prison  in  London,  in  his  annual  report  to  the  lord  mayor, 
referring  to  many  fine-looking  lads  of  respectable  parentage 
in  the  city  prison,  says  he  discovered  "  that  all  these  boys, 
without  one  exception,  had  been  in  the  habit  of  reading  those 
cheap  periodicals  which  are  now  published  for  the  alleged  in- 
struction and  amusement  of  the  youth  of  both  sexes." 


NEW   TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  421 


MAMMOTH  PLACE  OF  AMUSEMENT. 

And  the  whole  city  was  filled  with  confusion  :  and  having  caught  Gaius  and 
Aristarclms,  men  of  Macedonia,  Paul's  companions  in  travel,  they  rushed  with 
one  accord  into  the  theater.  —  Acts  19  :  29. 


ancient  theater  of  Ephesus  has  recently  been  examined 
J_  and  measured.  It  must  have  been  the  largest  ever  erect- 
ed. Its  diameter  was  six  hundred  and  sixty  feet,  forty  feet 
more  than  the  major  axis  of  the  Coliseum.  Allowing  fifteen 
inches  for  each  person,  it  would  accommodate  fifty-six  thou- 
sand seven  hundred  spectators.  Drury  Lane  will  only  con- 
tain three  thousand  two  hundred,  and  old  Covent  Garden  held 
two  thousand  eight  hundred.  This  edifice  was  the  scene 
of  one  of  Apollonius'  miracles.  It  is  memorable  for  the  up- 
roar described  in  Acts  19,  when  the  Ephesians  accused  Paul 
and  the  Christians  in  this  very  building.  To  this  edifice  the 
writer  to  the  Corinthians  alluded,  probably,  when  he  said,  "  If 
after  the  manner  of  men  I  have  fought  with  beasts  at  Ephesus, 
what  advantageth  it  me  ?  "  Nearly  as  large  as  this  theater 
was  the  great  Coliseum  of  Boston,  which  had  a  seating  capacity 
of  fifty  thousand  persons.  It  was  built  in  1872,  under  the 
direction  of  Mr.  Gilmore,  for  a  world  jubilee,  when  two  thou- 
sand instruments  and  twenty  thousand  voices  participated. 


SLEEPING  IN  CHURCH. 

And  there  sat  in  a  window  a  certain  young  man  named  Eutychus,  being 
fallen  into  a  deep  sleep :  and  as  Paul  was  long  preaching,  he  sunk  down  with 
sleep,  and  fell  down  from  the  third  loft,  and  was  taken  up  dead.  —  Acts  20  :  9. 

PAUL  found  it  easier  to  raise  Eutychus  from  the  dead  than 
to  keep  him  awake  during  the  long  sermon  which  lasted 
till  midnight.  Whether  or  not  this  circumstance  is  a  rebuke 
to  the  sleepers  of  the  sanctuary,  it  should  be  some  comfort  to 
those  whose  ministrations  are  afflicted  by  them.  A  sleeping 
hearer  is  worse  by  far  than  an  empty  pew  or  a  lifeless  post. 
We  can  comprehend  his  infirmity,  sympathize  with  him  in  his 
constitutional  proclivity,  and  we  might  even  hazard  the  opin- 


422  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

ion  that  it  is  better  for  him  to  come  than  to  stay  away.  If  he 
does  his  best  —  goes  to  bed  early  the  night  before,  takes  his 
coffee  as  usual,  and  does  not  overfeed  —  he  must  be  borne 
with,  and  all  parties  must  be  resigned  to  the  inevitable.  At 
a  venture  some  stray  arrow  may  hit  him  between  the  dreamy 
naps,  and  the  wakeful  interludes  of  prayer  and  song  may  be 
a  partial  means  of  grace.  Some  of  the  best  Christians  we 
have  known  have  been  deep  and  habitual  sleepers ;  but  they 
have  not  been  helpful  hearers.  There  are  various  degrees  of 
sleepers.  While  some  make  a  full  and  unconditional  surrender, 
others  spend  their  entire  time  and  strength  in  the  laudable 
effort  to  maintain  their  consciousness.  They  rub  their  eyes, 
change  position,  nod,  and  then  sit  straighter  than  ever,  to 
show  that  they  are  most  attentive.  Such  persons  deserve 
credit  for  a  resolute  and  determined  spirit,  and  illustrate  the 
power  of  the  will  to  overcome  the  weakness  of  the  flesh. 


BISHOP  RIDLEY'S  FAITHFULNESS. 

But  none  of  these  things  move  me,  neither  count  I  my  life  dear  unto  my- 
self, so  that  I  might  finish  my  course  with  joy,  and  the  ministry  which  I  have 
received  of  the  Lord  Jesus,  to  testify  the  gospel  of  the  grace  of  God.  — 
Acts  20 :  24. 

PREVIOUS  to  the  accession  of  the  bloody  Mary  to  the 
JL  throne  of  England,  Dr.  Ridley,  the  bishop  of  London,  paid 
the  princess  a  visit  at  her  place  of  retirement  in  the  country. 
Mary  thanked  him  for  his  civility,  and  entered  into  conversa- 
tion with  him  for  about  a  quarter  of  an  hour.  She  told  him 
that  she  remembered  him  at  court,  and  particularly  mentioned 
a  sermon  of  his  before  her  father  ;  and  then  leaving  her  cham- 
ber of  presence,  she  dismissed  him  to  dine  with  her  officers. 
After  dinner  she  sent  for  him  again,  when  the  bishop  informed 
her,  that  he  not  only  came  to  pay  her  a  visit,  but  also  to  offer 
to  preaeh  before  her  next  Sabbath,  if  she  would  be  pleased  to 
permit  him.  On  this  she  changed  countenance,  and  after  some 
minutes'  silence,  said,  — 

"  As  for  this  matter,  I  pray  you,  my  lord,  make  the  answer 
to  it." 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  423 

And  upon  the  bishop  urging  the  matter,  as  a  sense  of  con- 
science and  duty,  she  at  last  told  him  that  the  doors  of  the 
parish  church  should  be  opened  to  him,-  where  he  might 
preach  if  he  pleased,  but  neither  herself  nor  any  of  her  ser- 
vants should  hear  him.  . 

"  Madanij  I  trust  you  will  not  refuse  God's  word." 

"  I  can  not  tell  what  you  call  God's  word.  That  is  not  God's 
word  now  which  was  God's  word  in  my  father's  days." 

"  God's  word  is  the  same  at  all  times,  but  has  been  better 
understood  at  some  times  than  in  others." 

Mary,  enraged,  replied,  — 

"  You  durst  not,  for  your  ears,  have  avouched  that  for  God's 
word  in  my  father's  days,  that  you  do  now.  As  for  your  new 
books,  I  thank  God  I  never  read  any  of  them  j  I  never  did, 
and  I  never  will." 

After  using  much  harsh  language,  she  took  leave  of  the 
bishop  with  these  words :  —  . 

"  My  lord,  for  your  civility  in  coming  to  see  me,  I  thank 
you  ;  but  for  your  offering  to  preach  before  me,  I  thank  you 
not  a  whit." 

This  interview  gave  the  bishop  a  sorrowful  prospect  of  what 
was  to  be  expected  if  ever  the  princess  came  to  the  throne. 
When  she  ascended  the  throne,  Ridley  went  to  do  her  homage, 
and  to  submit  himself  to  her  clemency.  He  was  immediately 
sent  to  the  Tower,  and  after  three  months  imprisonment  was 
removed  to  Oxford,  and  condemned  for  heresy.  During  the 
two  weeks  between  his  condemnation  and  death,  the  priests 
used  every  means  in  their  power  to  gain  him  over  to  their 
cause  ;  but  he  was  deaf  to  their  remonstrances,  and  was  not 
to  be  shaken  from  the  principles  he  had  adopted.  When  the 
day  of  his  death  arrived,  he  was  calm  and  intrepid.  He  called 
it  his  wedding-day ;  and  having  invited  some  friends,  he  supped 
the  preceding  evening  with  great  cheerfulness.  One  of  his 
friends  proposed  to  sit  up  with  him,  but  he  declined,  saying, 
that  by  God's  help  he  hoped  to  sleep  as  quietly  as  ever  he  had 
done.  On  the  morning  he  dressed  himself  in  his  Episcopal 
habit,  and  walked  to  the  place  of  execution  between  the  mayor 
and  one  of  the  aldermen  ;  and  seeing  Latimer  approach,  ran  to 
meet  him,  embraced  him,  and  exclaimed,  — 


424  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

"  Be  of  good  heart,  brother,  for  God  will  either  assuage  the 
fury  of  the  flames,  or  else  give  us  strength  to  endure  them.'7 

At  the  stake  he  knelt  down  and  embraced  it.  Both  he  and 
Latimer  prayed,  and  both  suffered  tfye  most  cruel  death  with 
the  greatest  courage. 


PREACHING  THE  ¥HOLE  TRUTH. 

For  I  have  not  shunned  to  declare  unto  you  all  the  counsel  of  God.  — 
Acts  20  :  27. 

I  HAVE  always  felt  that  it  is  one  of  the  chief  points  of  wis- 
dom, in  the  ministry  of  the  Word,  that  we  give  a  due  pro- 
portion to  every  part  of  divine  teaching.  Hence,  in  the  earlier 
days  of  my  ministry,  I  hung  up  in  my  study  a  large  board,  with 
ruled  lines,  and  with  headings,  "  Doctrinal,"  "  Experimental," 
"  Preceptive,'-'  "  Promissory,"  and  so  on ;  and  I  entered  the 
texts  each  Sunday,  each  under  its  proper  head,  so  that  at  a 
glance  I  could  see  whether  I  was  giving  a  due  proportion  to 
every  part  of  God's  truth;  and  when  I  found  any  part  deficient, 
I  immediately  added  to  that,  feeling  that  I  was  best  honoring 
God's  word  in  honoring  all  God's  word.  When  we  speak  of 
preaching  the  gospel,  we  do  not  mean  reiterating  certain  truths 
to  the  exclusion  of  all  others ;  our  duty  is  to  present,  as  in  a 
great  historical  picture,  the  whole  of  God's  word,  every  figure 
in  its  place  and  proportion ;  ever  bearing  in  mind  that  the  great 
center  figure  of  the  whole  group,  on  which  the  whole  depends, 
is  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ.  —  Canon  Stowett. 


A  FRUITFUL  TEXT. 

I  have  shewed  you  all  things,  how  that  so  laboring  ye  ought  to  support  the 
weak,  and  to  remember  the  words  of  the  Lord  Jesus,  how  he  said,  It  is  more 
blessed  to  give  than  to  receive.  —  Acts  20 :  35. 

IT  was  a  good  text  that  Rev.  Dr.  Mellor,  the  pastor  of  the 
Congregational  church  of  Halifax,  England,  selected  for  a 
sermon,  when  he  chose  the  words  of  the  Lord  Jesus,  "  It  is 
more  blessed  to  give  than  to  receive  ; "  but  little  did  he  con- 


NE  W   TESTAMENT  ILL USTRA  TIONS.  425 

ceive  of  the  effect  that  would  follow  from  his  treatment  of  it. 
That  sermon  impressed  upon  the  conscience  of  one  of  his 
wealthy  hearers  the  duty  of  generosity  as  a  principle  ;  arid  the 
city  of  his  residence,  his  native  land,  and  the  heathen  world, 
have  felt  the  happy  impulse  then  given.  "  To  that  sermon," 
he  was  wont  to  say,  "  the  "town  of  Halifax  owes  whatever  God 
has  enabled  me  to  do  by  its  park,  its  almshouses,  and  its  or- 
phanage." And  when  he  afterward  gave  fifty  thousand  dol- 
lars to  the.  London  Missionary  Society,  and  an  equal  amount 
to  the  Pastors'  Retiring  Fund,  he  remarked,  "  Whatever  pleas- 
ure I  have  had  in  getting  money,  I  have  had  a  thousand  times 
more  in  giving  it." 

This  liberal  Christian  steward  was  Sir  Francis  Crossley ;  he 
died  at  Halifax,  January  5, 1872.  He  was  the  youngest  of  the 
three  brothers  who  constituted  the  celebrated  carpet  manu- 
facturing firm,  the  largest  in  the  world.  Their  wonderful  suc- 
cess may  have  been  owing  in  no  small  degree  to  their  rule  of 
"  giving  as  God  prospered  them,"  and  to  their  kind  considera- 
tion of  their  working  men,  for  they  were  the  first  to  take  their 
operatives  into  partnership  with  themselves,  and  to  share  with 
them  the  enormous  profits  of  their  business.  % 

While  the  gifts  of  all  the  brothers  were  princely,  those  of 
Sir  Francis  were  the  largest.  He  was  a  man  of  large-hearted 
Christian  catholicity,  and  while  strongly  attached  to  his  own 
denomination,  was  always  ready  to  respond  to  appeals  from 
every  quarter.  The  people  of  Yorkshire  were  justly  proud 
of  him,  and  four  times  returned  him  as  their  member  of  Parlia- 
ment. 

In  his  speech,  on  presenting  the  beautiful  park  to  the  citi- 
.zens  of  Halifax,  August  14,  1857,  he  stated  an  interesting  fact 
in  regard  to  the  suggestion  of  the  idea  to  him.  While  on  a 
tour  to  America,  he  was  gazing  on  the  White  Mountains.  The 
magnificent  sight  overwhelmed  him  with  gratitude  at  God's 
great  goodness  to  him,  and  he  asked,  "  Lord,  what  wilt  thou 
have  me  to  do  ?  "  The  answer  came  immediately,  "  It  is  true 
thou  canst  not  bring  the  many  thousands  thou  hast  left  in  thy 
native  country  to  see  this  beautful  scenery  ;  but  thou  canst 
take  this  to  them.  It  is  possible  so  tq  arrange  art  and  nature 
that  they  shall  be  within  the  walk  of  every  working  man  in 
54 


426  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

Halifax,  so  that  he  may  be  able  to  stroll  there  after  his  day's 
work  is  done,  and  to  get  home  again  without  being  tired."  In 
recognition  of  his  noble  generosity  for  the  good  of  the  people, 
he  received  in  1863  the  title  of  baronet. 


EMOTIONAL  IN  CHRISTIANITY. 

And  they  all  wept  sore,  and  fell  on  Paul's  neck,  and  kissed  him,  sorrowing 
most  of  all  for  the  words  which  he  spake,  that  they  should  see  his  face  no 
more.  And  they  accompanied  him  unto  the  ship.  —  Acts  20  :  37,  38. 

A  LATE  writer  gives  as  one  reason  for  the  progress  of  Me-th- 
JL\.  odism,  that  it  assigns  the  emotional  its  true  place.  And 
he  spoke  wisely.  "  It  is  not  thinking  that  makes  a  man  good," 
said  Adam  Bede,  "  it  is  feeling."  Yet  we  are  becoming 
ashamed  of  real,  hearty,  gushing  feeling,  and  more  and  more 
the  absurd  aphorism,  "  Christianity  is  not  feeling,  it  is  prin- 
ciple," gains  credence.  It  will  always  be  popular  where 
godlessness  rules.  "  A  gentleman,"  said  Bishop  Doane,  "  con- 
ceals his  feelings."  Then  Jesus  Christ  was  not  a  gentleman, 
for  he  wept,  groaned,  cried,  and  rejoiced.  Then  Paul,  who 
fell  on  the  necks  of  his  brethren,  was  not  a  gentleman.  Then 
Christianity  is  not  a  genteel  religion.  A  false  modesty  is  as 
foolish  as  it  is  offensive  to  all  right-minded  people.  If  Christ 
and  his  apostles  were  to  appear  among  men  incognito,  these 
non- emotional  religionists  would  regard  them  far  behind  the 
times,  and  unfit  for  religious  leaders. 


ROWING  AND  STEERING  THE  BOAT  OF  LIFE. 

And  when  we  had  taken  our  leave  one  of  another,  we  took  ship;  and  they 
returned  home  again.  —  Acts  21 :  6. 

THE   servants  of  the    Saviour  are  like   rowers   in  a  boat. 
They  sit  with  their  backs  to  the  bow,  and  can  not  see  what 
lies  ahead.     But  the  helmsman  at  the  stern  is  on  the  lookout, 
and  he   steers  the   boat  withersoever  he  wills.     So  in   our 
godly  undertakings  we  sit  with  our  backs  to  the  future.     We 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  427 

know  not  what  the  morrow  may  bring  forth.  But  it  is  our 
business  to  pull  at  the  oar  of  prayer  .and  earnest  labor.  There 
is  a  divine  Helmsman  who  sees  the  future,  and  who  holds  the 
rudder  in  his  hand.  We  have  only  to  commit  our  way  to  him, 
and  to  pull  the  oar  of  duty.  This  is  trust.  This  is  faith. 
This  is  the  way  that  Paul  pulled  his  boat  toward  Rome,  not 
knowing  or  caring  what  stripes  and  imprisonments,  or  what 
triumphs  of  the  gospel,  were  awaiting  him  there.  What  a 
blessed  thing  it  is  that  we  can  not  foresee  the  future  !  We 
might  b*e  so  paralyzed  by  the  peril,  or  the  difficulties,  or  the 
sufferings  before  us,  that  we  would  drop  the  oars  in  despair. 
What  a  mercy  it  is  that  a  mother  does  not  know  all  that  shall 
befall  the  child  of  her  bosom  !  What  a  mercy  that  we  minis- 
ters do  not  know  what  failures  we  have  to  encounter  during 
the  year  of  labor  which  we  are  just  entering !  Every  true 
Christian  toiler  is  continually  "  saved  by  hope."  He  pulls  the 
oar  and  trusts.  —  Tf  L.  CuyUr. 


HOW  ALL  MAY  PREACH. 

And  the  same  man  had  four  daughters,  virgins,  which  did  prophesy.  — 
Acts  21 :  9. 

ALL  can  not  preach  from  the  pulpit,  or  deliver  long  and  elo- 
quent orations ;  but  there  is  a  kind  of  preaching  that  is 
permitted  to  all  men :  this  kind  is  most  effectual.  Offices  of 
kindness  to  the  bodies  and  souls  of  those  around  us  j  words  of 
encouragement  to  the  weak,  of  instruction  to  the  ignorant,  of 
consolation  to  the  troubled,  of  brotherly  kindness  to  all,  spoken 
by  the  fireside,  the  wayside,  or  bedside ;  or  devotion  to  the 
services  of  religion  in  our  families  and  our  closets,  as  well 
as  in  the  sanctuary  ;  in  a  word,  all  tokens  of  earnest,  active, 
self-denying  love  to  our  fellow-beings,  springing  from  our  love 
to  God,  will  form  a  most  impressive  sermon,  a  most  convincing 
proof  to  the  world  around  us,  that  we  have  been  with  Jesus. 
All  Christians  are  called  out  in  this  way  to  preach  the  gospel. 
Woe  to  them  if  they  neglect  the  call,  and  blessed  are  they 
who  fulfill  this  ministry,  and  in  their  humble  sphere  prove 
themselves  to  be  workers  together  with  God. 


428  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

HEROISM  OF  A  FEMALE  MISSIONARY. 

Then  Paul  answered,  What  mean  ye  to  weep  and  to  break  mine  heart? 
for  I  am  ready  not  to  be  bound  only,  but  also  to  die,  at  Jerusalem  for  the  name 
of  the  Lord  Jesus.  —  Acts  21 :  13. 

A  FTER  the  Rev.  Marcus  Whitman  had  been  sent  out  by  the 
JLJL  American  Board,  and  had  been  welcomed  by  them,  he 
returned  to  the  States  for  his  intended  wife,  and  to  enlist  fellow- 
missionaries.  He  found  Rev.  Henry  Spalding  and  wife  under 
appointment  to  go  to  labor  with  the  Osage  Indians*;  but  he 
solicited  them  to  accompany  him  and  his  bride  to  Oregon.  In 
response  to  their  inquiries,  he  told  them  it  would  probably  take 
two  summers  to  make  the  journey  ;  that  their  convoy  would  be 
the  American  Fur  Company  ;  that  their  meat  would  be  the  buf- 
falo ;  that  their  journey  would  be  on  horseback  ;  and  that  they 
would  have  to  swim  the  rivers.  Having  reached  a  resting- 
place,  they  spent  some  time  in  prayer,  and  then  left  Mrs. 
Spalding  to  herself.  Though  she  had  just  risen  from  a  lin- 
gering illness,  she  in  a  few  minutes  appeared  with  the  joy  of 
the  Lord  beaming  in  her  angelic  face,  and  said,  "  I  have  made 
up  my  mind  to  go."  Her  husband  told  her  of  her  weakness, 
and  of  the  dangers  of  captivity,  and,  overcome  with  emotion, 
he  wept  like  a  child ;  but  she  said  she  was  willing  "  to  die  at 
Jerusalem  or  in  the  Rocky  Mountains  for  the  name  of  the  Lord 
Jesus."  Her  husband  reluctantly  yielded  before  her  heroism. 
As  they  went  on  their  journey,  people  sought  to  induce  her 
to  turn  back.  Tales  of  horror  were  told  her  about  companies 
massacred,  all  except  the  women,  and  they  led  into  captivity 
by  lustful  savages  ;  but  not  a  hair's  breadth  was  she  moved 
from  her  purpose.  Sick  or  well,  or  even  fainting  by  the  way, 
she  insisted  on  pressing  forward.  On  one  occasion,  when  urged 
to  tarry  and  rest,  she  said,  "  No ;  I  started  to  go  over  the 
mountains  in  the  name  of  my  Saviour,  and  I  must  go  on." 
Messrs.  Whitman  and  Spalding,  with  their  heroic  wives,  six 
years  before  Fremont  was  known  as  the  "  Pathfinder,"  de- 
monstrated that  women  could  cross  the  Rocky  Mountains. 
Mrs.  Spalding,  having  been  hailed  with  gladness  by  the  NCJS 
Perce  women,  and  being  nourished  by  the  roots  and  fish  with 
which  they  fed  her,  improved  in  her  health,  and  labored  among 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  429 

them  as  a  missionary  till  called  to  wear  a  martyr's  crown. 
Talk  of  the  heroism  of  carnal  warfare  !  Where  has  it  pro- 
duced a  hero  or  heroine  comparable  to  Mrs.  Spalding?  Long 
let  her  name  live,  and  let  her  example  be  held  up  to  incite  to 
heroic  sacrifice  and  deeds  of  noble  daring  for  Christ's  sake. 


YOUTHFUL  FIRMNESS  IN  PERSECUTION. 

And  I  persecuted  this  way  unto  the  death,  binding  and  delivering  into 
prisons  both  men  and  women.  —  Acts  22  :  4. 

AT  Cesarea,  in  Cappadocia,  a  child  named  Cyril,  in  a  time 
of  heavy  persecution,  called  continually  upon  the  name  of 
Jesus  Christ ;  and  neither  threats  nor  blows  could  divert  him 
from  it.  Many  children  of  his  own  age  persecuted  him,  and 
his  heathen  father  turned  him  out  of  doors.  At  last  he  was 
brought  before  the  judge,  who  threatened  him,  and  expostulated 
with  him.  With  undaunted  boldness  he  said,  "  I  rejoice  to 
bear  your  reproaches :  God  will  receive  me.  I  am  glad  that 
I  am  expelled  out  of  our  house  :  I  shall  have  a  better  mansion. 
I  fear  not  death,  because  it  will  introduce  me  to  a  better  life." 
He  was  condemned  to  the  flames,  with  a  full  expectation  that 
he  would  recant,  and  save  his  life.  He  remained  firm,  saying, 
"  Your  fire  and  your  sword  are  insignificant :  I  go  to  a  better 
house  and  more  excellent  riches ;  dispatch  me  presently,  that 
I  may  enjoy  them."  He  suffered,  being  burned  to  death  amid 
a  throng  of  wondering  spectators. 


ST.  PAUL,  THE  APOSTLE  OF  THE  GENTILES. 

And  he  said  unto  me,  Depart :  for  I  will  send  thee  far  hence  unto  the  Gen- 
tiles. —  Acts  22  :  21. 

IT  was  St.  Paul's  peculiar  appointment  to  be  the  apostle  of 
the  Gentiles  ;  for  though  he   preached  frequently  to  the 
Jews,  yet  to  preach  th.e  gospel  to  the  Gentiles,  and  to  write 
for  the  conversion   and  establishment  of  the  Gentile  world, 
were  his  peculiar  destination.     Hence  we  find  him  and   his 


4'30  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

companions  traveling  everywhere,  through  Judea,  Phenicia, 
Arabia,  Syria,  Cilicia,  Pisidia,  Lycaonia,  Pamphylia,  Galatia, 
Phrygia,  Macedonia,  Greece,  Asia,  the  Isles  of  the  Mediter- 
ranean Sea,  the  Isles  of  the  JEgean  Sea,  Italy,  and  some  add 
Spain  and  even  Britain.  This  was  the  diocese  of  this  primi- 
time  bishop.  None  of  the  apostles  traveled,  none  preached, 
none  labored  as  this  man ;  and  we  may  add,  none  were  so 
greatly  owned  of  God.  The  Epistles  of  Peter,  John,  James, 
and  Jude  are  great  and  excellent ;  but  when  compared  with 
those  of  Paul,  however  glorious  they  may  be,  they  have  no 
glory,  comparatively,  by  reason  of  that  glory  that  excelleth. 
Next  to  Jesus  Christ,  St.  Paul  is  the  glory  of  the  Christian 
church.  Jesus  is  the  foundation,  Paul  the  master-builder.  — 
Clarke's  Commentary. 

PERSECUTED  BECAUSE  HE  WAS  GOOD. 

And  as  they  cried  out,  and  cast  off  their  clothes,  and  threw  dust  into  the 
air,  the  chief  captain  commanded  him  to  be  brought  into  the  castle,  and  bade 
that  he  should  be  examined  by  scourging,  that  he  might  know  wherefore  they 
cried  so  against  him.  —  Acts  22  :  23,  24. 

A  WOLF  flies  not  upon  a  painted  sheep,  and  men  can  look 
upon  a  painted  toad  with  delight.  It  is  not  the  soft  pace, 
but  the  furious  march,  of  the  soldier  that  sets  men  a- gazing 
and  dogs  a-barking.  Let  but  a  man  glide  along  with  the 
stream  of  the  world,  do  as  others  do,  he  may  sit  down  and 
take  his  ease ;  but  if  he  once  strive  against  the  stream,  stand 
up  in  the  cause  of  God,  and  act  for  Christ,  then  he  shall  be 
sure  to  meet  with  as  much  malice  as  men  and  devils  can  possi- 
bly throw  upon  him.  —  Spencer. 


SMALL  THINGS  MAKE  UP  A  GODLY  LIFE. 

And  Paul,  earnestly  beholding  the  council,  said,  Men  and  brethren,  I  have 
lived  in  all  good  conscience  before  God  until  this  day.  —  Acts  23  :  1. 

• 

DID  a  holy  life  consist  of  one  or  two  noble  deeds,  —  some 
signal  specimens  of  doing,  or  enduring,  or  suffering,  —  we 
might  account  for  the  failure,  reckon  it  small  dishonor  to  turn 


NEW   TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  431 

back  in  such  a  conflict.  But  a  holy  life  is  made  up  of  small 
things  of  the  hour,  and  not  the  great  things  of  the  age,  that 
fill  up  a  life  like  that  of  Paul  or  John,  like  that  of  Rutherford, 
or  Brainerd,  or  Martyn. 

The  avoidance  of  little  evils,  little  sins,  little  inconsistencies, 
little  weaknesses,  little  follies,  little  indiscretions  and  impru- 
dences, little  foibles,  little  indulgences  of  self  and  of  the  flesh, 
little  acts  of  indolence  or  indecision,  or  slovenliness  or  coward- 
ice, little  equivocations  or  aberrations  from  high  integrity, 
little  touches  of  shabbiness  or  meanness,  little  bits  of  covetous- 
ness  or  penuriousness,  little  exhibitions  of  worldly  gayety, 
little  indifferences  to  the  feelings  or  wishes  of  others,  out- 
breaks of  temper,  or  crossness  and  selfishness,  or  vanity  ;  the 
avoidance  of  such  little  things  as  these  goes  far  to  make  up  at 
least  the  negative  beauty  of  holy  life.  And  then  attention  to 
the  little  duties  of  the  day  and  hour  in  public  transactions,  or 
private  dealings,  or  family  arrangements  ;  the  little  words,  and 
looks,  and  tones  ;  little  self-denials,  and  self-restraints,  and  self- 
forgetfulness  ;  little  plans  of  kindness  and  thoughtful  con- 
sideration for  others ;  to  punctuality  and  method,  and  true 
aim  in  the  ordering  of  each  day,  —  these  are  the  active  devel- 
opments of  holy  life,  the  rich  and  divine  mosaics  of  which  it 
is  composed. 

What  makes  yon  green  hill  so  beautiful  ?  Not  the  out- 
standing peak  or  stately  elm,  but  the  bright  sward  which 
clothes  its  slopes,  composed  of  innumerable  blades  of  slender 
grass.  It  is  of  small  things  that  a  great  life  is  made  up ;  and 
he  who  will  acknowledge  no  life  as  great,  save  that  which  is 
built  up  of  great  things,  will  find  little  in  Bible  character  to 
admire  or  copy. 


PROVIDENCE. 

And  when  Paul's  sister's  son  heard  of  their  lying  in  wait,  he  went  and 
entered  into  the  castle,  and  told  Paul.  —  Acts  23  :  16. 

C\  OD  controls  and  directs  the  powers  of  nature,  not  by  vio- 
VJ  lating  or  suspending  its  laws,  —  except  in  case  of  miracles, 
—  but  he  works  in,  by,  and  through  them,  in  such  a  manner 


432  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS, 

as  that  when  "  his  judgments  are  abroad  in  the  earth,  the  in- 
habitants of  the  world  will  learn  righteousness." 

It  is  impossible  to  tell  how  God  controls  these  natural 
agents ;  but  surely  it  is  not  more  difficult  to  believe  that  he 
does  control  them  than  that  he  created  them.  This  doctrine 
is  attended  with  fewer  difficulties  than  that  theory  which  ex- 
cludes God  from  his  own  works,  subordinates  his  power  to 
the  forces  of  nature,  and  exalts  law  above  the  lawgiver. 

The  scriptural  idea  of  providence  —  the  connection  of  the 
divine  energy  with  the  laws  and  forces  of  nature  —  is  beauti- 
fully described  by  the  Psalmist :  "  He  sendeth  forth  his  com- 
mandments upon  the  earth,  his  word  runneth  very  swiftly. 
He  giveth  snow  like  wool ;  he  scattereth  his  hoar  frost  like 
ashes.  He  casteth  forth  his  ice  like  morsels ;  who  can  stand 
before  his  cold  ?  He  sendeth  out  his  word  and  melteth  them  ; 
he  causeth  his  winds  to  blow  and  the  waters  to  flow."  And, 
"  He  maketh  his  sun  to  rise  on  the  evil  and  the  good  ;  and  he 
sendeth  his  rain  on  the  just  and  the  unjust."  The  wild  storm 
in  its  fury,  the  thunderbolts  of  heaven  ;  "  the  pestilence  that 
walketh  in  darkness,  and  the  destruction  that  wasteth  at  noon- 
day ;  "  famine,  pestilence,  and  sword  ;  "  fire,  hail,  snow,  vapor, 
and  stormy  wind,"  —  are  only  instruments  in  the  hands  of  om- 
nipotent power  and  infinite  wisdom,  and  are  employed  as  God's 
agents,  either  as  the  messengers  of  his  mercy  or  the  ministers 
of  his  justice. 


GOD'S  SPECIAL  PROVIDENCE. 

Then  Paul  called  one  of  the  centurions  unto  him,  and  said,  Bring  this 
young  man  unto  the  chief  captain ;  for  he  hath  a  certain  thing  to  tell  him.  — 

Acts  23  :  17. 

• 

IT  is  said  that  John  Fletcher,  when  a  young  man,  was  very 
anxious  to  join  the  army  to  go  to  South  America.  The 
vessel  was  ready  to  start,  friends  secured  him  an  appointment ; 
but  the  morning  he  was  to  have  sailed,  the  servant,  in  coming 
into  his  room  at  breakfast,  stumbled,  and  spilled  over  him  the 
boiling  coffee,  and  so  scalded  him  that  he  was  unable  to  go  on 
his  journey.  He  lamented  the  accident  —  was  disappointed  in 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.     -          433 

all  his  plans  ;  but  the  vessel  was  never  heard  from.  Fletcher 
was  spared  to  become  a  preacher  of  the  gospel,  a  man  who 
wielded  by  his  pen,  as  well  as  by  his  voice,  an  overwhelming 
influence  upon  the  minds  of  men,  and  being  dead  yet  speak- 
eth.  No  miracle  was  wrought.  Wesley,  the  little  boy,  is 
sleeping  in  the  upper  story  of  Epworth  rectory.  It  is  on  fire  ; 
he  is  forgotten ;  but  suddenly  a  woman  remembers  there  is  a 
child  asleep,  and  she  calls,  and  the  child  shows  his  head  at  the 
window  ;  and  a  brave  man,  at  the  risk  of  himself  being  burned, 
mounts  a  ladder,  and  the  little  fellow  throws  himself  into  his 
arms,  and  is  saved,  and  Wesley  is  spared  to  enlighten  the 
world. 

OUR  ACCUSERS. 

Commanding  his   accusers  to  come  unto  thee :   by  examining  of  whom 
thyself  mayest  take  knowledge  of  all  these  things,  whereof  we  accuse  him.  — 

Acts  24  :  8. 

ALL  the  elements  accuse  me.  The  heaven  says,  I  have 
given  the  light  for  thy  comfort.  The  air  says,  I  have 
given  every  sort  of  winged  creature  for  thy  pleasure.  The 
water  says,  I  have  supplied  thy  table  with  my  countless  luxu- 
ries. The  earth  says,  I  have  furnished  thee  bread  and  wine ; 
but  yet  thou  hast  abused  all  these  blessings,  and  perverted 
them  to  a  contempt  of  their  Creator.  Therefore  all  our  bene- 
fits cry  out  against  me.  The  fire  says,  Let  him  be  burned  in 
me.  The  water  says,  Let  him  be  drowned  in  me.  The  air 
says,  Let  him  be  shaken  by  a  tempest.  The  earth  cries,  Let 
him  be  buried  in  me.  The  holy  angels,  whom  God  has  sent 
for  ministers  of  love,  and  who  are  to  be  our  joyful  companions 
in  the  future,  accuse  me.  By  my  sins  I  have  deprived  myself 
of  their  holy  ministries  in  this  life,  and  the  hope  of  their  fellow- 
ship in  the  future.  The  voice  of  God.  which  is  the  divine  law, 
accuses  me.  The  law  must  be  fulfilled,  or  I  perish  ;  but  to 
fulfill  the  law  is,  for  me,  impossible,  and  to  perish  in  eternity 
is  intolerable.  God,  the  most  severe  Judge,  the  powerful  ex- 
ecutor of  his  eternal  law,  accuses  me.  I  can  not  deceive  him, 
for  he  is  omniscience  itself.  I  can  not  escape  him,  for  his 
omnipotence  everywhere  reigns.  —  Gerhard's  Meditations. 
55 


434         -      NEW   TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

RESURRECTION  OF  THE  DEAD. 

And  have  hope  toward  God,  which  they  themselves  also  allow,  that  there 
shall  be  a  resurrection  of  the  dead,  both  of  the  just  and  unjust,  —  Acts  24  :  15. 

CiOME  years  ago  a  vase,  closely  sealed,  was  found  in  a  rnuin- 
O  my  pit  in  Egypt,  by  the  English  traveler  Wilkinson,  who 
sent  it  to  the  British  Museum.  The  librarian  having  unfortu- 
nately broken  it,  discovered  in  it  a  few  peas  —  old,  wrinkled, 
and  as  hard  as  a  stone.  The  peas  were  planted  carefully  under 
a  glass,  on  the  4th  of  June,  1844,  and  at  the  end  of  thirty  days 
these  seeds  were  seen  to  spring  up  into  new  life.  They  had 
been  buried,  probably,  about  three  thousand  years  ago,  per- 
haps in  the  time  of  Moses,  and  had  slept  all  that  time  appar- 
ently dead,  yet  still  living  in  the  dust  of  the  tomb.  —  Gaussen* 

What  this  writer  has  told  us  about  seeds  should  remind  us 
that  God  is  just  as  able  to  raise  our  dead  bodies  from  the 
grave,  and  give  them  new  life.  For  why  should  it  be  thought 
a  thing  incredible  that  God  should  raise  the  dead  ?  "  For  our 
conversation  is  in  heaven  ;  from  whence  also  we  look  for  the 
Saviour,  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  who  shall  change  our  vile 
body  according  to  the  working  whereby  he  is  able  even  to 
subdue  all  things  unto  himself." 


A  SERMON  THAT  PAID  WELL. 

And  after  certain  days,  when  Felix  came  with  his  wife  Drusilla,  which 
was  a  Jewess,  he  sent  for  Paul,  and  heard  him  concerning  the  faith  in  Christ.  — 
Acts  24 :  24. 

WILLIAM  BROWN  was  a  local  preacher,  and  a  tenant  on 
the  vast  estate  of  General  Van  Rensselaer.    Once  Brown 
received  notice  to  pay  his  rent.     He  collected  a  load  of  wheat, 
and  went  with  it  to  Albany,  and  calling  on  the   general,  told 
him  that  was  all  he  could  raise. 

"  What  do  you  do  ?  "  said  the  general. 
"  Work  at  tailoring,  and  let  out  my  lots." 
"  Don't  you  preach  sometimes  ?  " 
"  Yes." 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  435 

"  Will  you  preach  at  my  house  to-night  ?  " 

"  Yes." 

The  general  called  in  his  friends  to  hear  the  poor  mechanic. 
He  was  a  small  man  and  unpromising  in  his  appearance,  and 
the  landlord  undoubtedly  thought  to  have  a  little  fun  with 
him.  Brown  was  shrewd  and  fearless.  He  took  for  his  text, 
"  They  that  will  be  rich,"  &c.  The  next  day  the  general 
gave  him  a  free  lease  of  his  farm  during  his  life  and  that  of 
his  wife,  receipted  the  back  rents,  and  had  his  wheat  ground 
and  sent  back  to  him. 

PAUL  AND  FELIX. 

And  as  he  reasoned  of  righteousness,  temperance,  and  judgment  to  come, 
Felix  trembled,  and  answered,  Go  thy  way  for  this  time ;  when  I  have  a  con- 
venient season  I  will  call  for  thee.  —  Acts  24  :  25. 

VE  know  how  Paul  would  bring  home  the  word  on  both 
sides.  He  would  keep  nothing  back.  He  strikes  with 
a  will.  He  thrusts  the  sword  in  to  the  hilt.  He  has  no  com- 
passion ;  for  he  knows  that  compassion  in  this  place  is  unfaith- 
fulness to  a  fellow-sinner's  soul.  Felix  is  compelled  to  listen, 
and,  what  is  much  more,  Felix  is  compelled  to  listen  with  secret 
application  of  the  dreadful  word  to  himself.  As  the  preacher 
advanced  from  point  to  point,  the  conscience  of  the  governor, 
as  the  voice  of  God  in  his  breast,  murmured,  "  Thou  art  the 
man."  On  the  one  side  he  is  unrighteous  ;  on  the  other  he  is 
impure  ;  and  when  the  judgment  to  come  was  pressed  for- 
ward, he  felt  as  if  an  angel  with  a  flaming  sword  were  ap- 
proaching to  destroy  him,  while  he  had  no  power  to  escape. 

Felix  is  like  a  man  chained  to  the  ground  in  the  middle  of 
the  Mont  Cenis  Tunnel.  Above,  below,  and  on  either  side 
he  is  shut  in.  Without  a  figure,  the  barriers  on  all  sides  are 
nothing  else  and  nothing  less  than  the  everlasting  hills. 
While  he  is  chained  to  the  spot  in  that  dark  avenue,  he  looks 
along  the  gloomy  telescope  tube,  and,  lo,  in  the  distance,  a 
red  fiery  spark,  like  a  fixed  star.  It  is  like  an  eye,  all-seeing 
and  angry,  glaring  on  him  from  afar.  But  as  he  gazes  on  it, 
he  perceives  that  it  is  growing  larger,  and,  0,  horror !  it  is  ad- 
vancing. It  is  coming  with  inexpressible  speed.  It  is  the 
fiery  engine  rushing  on  —  rushing  over  him  ! 


436  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

Felix  trembled ;  and  well  he  might.  He  has  reached  that 
point  in  spiritual  experience  on  which  the  Philippian  jailer 
stood,  when  he  "  called  for  a  light  and  sprang  in  trembling." 
But,  alas  !  he  does  not  seek  relief  from  the  terror  of  convic- 
tion where  the  official  in  Philippi  sought  and  found  it.  In- 
stead of,  "  What  must  I  do  to  be  saved  ?  "  it  is,  "  Go  thy  way 
for  this  time/'  Two  men  may  be  led  by  nearly  the  same  path 
into  those  soul-pangs  which  accompany  conviction  of  sin,  and 
yet  the  two  men  may  follow  opposite  courses  in  life,  and  meet 
opposite  rewards  in  eternity.  It  is  not  how  you  fall  into  the 
pains  of  conviction  that  fixes  your  state,  but  how  you  get 
out  of  them.  Not  how  you  were  wounded,  but  how  you  are 
healed,  is  the  turning-point  of  the  loss  or  saving  of  the  soul. 
Instead  of  seeking  healing  in  accepting  Christ  his  Saviour, 
Felix  sought  ease  by  stifling  the  preacher's  voice  —  quench- 
ing the  Spirit,  who  spoke  in  the  preacher. 


FALSE  REPRESENTATIONS. 

And  when  he  was  come,  the  Jews  which  came  dawn  from  Jerusalem  stood 
round  about,  and  laid  many  and  grievous  complaints  against  Paul,  which  they 
could  not  prove.  —  Ads  25  :  7. 

WHEN  the  first  missionaries  from  America  reached  the 
Sandwich  Islands,  in  the  spring  of  1820,  an  effort  was 
made  by  some  of  the  foreigners  to  have  their  landing  and 
establishment  at  the  islands  forbidden  by  the  government. 
With  this  view  their  motives  were  misrepresented  by  them 
to  the  king  and  chiefs.  It  was  asserted  that,  while  the  ostensi- 
ble object  of  the  mission  was  good,  the  secret  and  ultimate 
design  was  the  subjugation  of  the  islands,  and  the  enslave- 
ment of  the  people  ;  and  by  way  of  corroboration,  the  treat- 
ment of  the  Mexicans,  and  aborigines  of  South  America  and 
the  West  Indies,  by  the  Spaniards,  and  the  possession  of 
Hindostari  by  the  British,  were  gravely  related.  It  was  in 
consequence  of  this  misrepresentation  that  a  delay  of  eight 
days  occurred  before  the  missionaries  could  secure  permission 
to  disembark.  In  answer  to  these  allegations,  the  more  in- 
telligent of  the  chiefs  remarked, — 


NEW   TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  437 

"  The  missionaries  speak  well ;  they  say  they  have  come 
from  America  only  to  do  us  good ;  if  they  intend  to  seize  our 
islands,  why  are  they  so  few  in  number  ?  where  are  their 
guns  ?  and  why  have  they  brought  their  wives  ?  " 

To  this  it  was  replied,  — 

"  It  is  true  their  number  is  small ;  a  few  only  have  come 
now,  the  more  fully  to  deceive.  But  soon  many  more  will 
arrive,  and  your  islands  will  be  lost." 

The  chiefs  again  answered,  — 

"  They  say  that  they  will  do  us  good ;  they  are  few  in  num- 
ber :  we  will  try  them  for  one  year,  and  if  we  find  they  deceive 
us,  it  will  then  be  time  enough  to  send  them  away." 

Permission  to  land  was  accordingly  granted.  The  result  has 
shown  how  groundless  were  these  accusations. 


INFIDELITY  WITHOUT  HOPE. 

For  if  I  be  an  offender,  or  have  committed  anything  worthy  of  death,  I 
refuse  not  to  die :  but  if  there  be  none  of  these  things  whereof  these  accuse 
me,  no  man  may  deliver  me  unto  them.  —  Acts  25  :  11. 

TNFIDELITY  claims  to  be  without  fear;  it  is  certainly 
JL  without  hope.  Mr.  Owen  visited  Alexander  Campbell, 
at  Bethany,  to  make  arrangements  for  their  discussion  on  the 
evidences  of  Christianity.  In  one  of  their  excursions  about 
the  farm,  they  came  to  Mr.  Campbell's  family  burying-ground, 
when  Mr.  Owen  stopped,  and,  addressing  himself  to  Mr.  Camp- 
bell, said,  — 

"  There  is  one  advantage  I  have  over  the  Christian  —  I  am 
not  afraid  to  die.  Most  Christians  have  fear  in  death  ;  but  if 
some  few  items  of  my  business  were  settled,  I  should  be  per- 
fectly willing  to  die  at  any  moment." 

lt  Well,"  answered  Mr.  Campbell,  "  you  say  you  have  no  fear 
in  death  ;  have  you  any  hope  in  death  ?  " 

After  a  solemn  pause  — 

"  No,"  said  Mr.  Owen. 

"  Then,"  rejoined  Mr.  Campbell  (pointing  to  an  ox  standing 
near),  "  you  are  on  a  level  with  that  brute.  He  has  fed  until 


438  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

he  is  satisfied,  and  stands  in  the  shade,  whisking  off  the  flies, 
and  has  neither  hope  nor  fear  in  death." 

Such  is  infidelity.     It  degrades  man  to  the  level  of  brutes ; 
it  is  brutish. 


THE  SILVER  CUP  RESTORED. 

Why  should  it  be  thought  a  thing  incredible  with  you  that  God  should 
raise  the  dead?  —  Acts  26  :  8. 

IN  Dr.  Brown's  work  on  the  Resurrection,  there  is  a  beauti- 
ful parable  from  Hally.  The  story  is  of  a  servant,  who,  re- 
ceiving a  silver  cup  from  his  master,  suffers  it  to  fall  into  a 
vessel  of  aquafortis,  and  seeing  it  disappear,  contends  in  argu- 
ment with  a  fellow- servant  that  its  recovery  is  impossible,  till 
the  master  comes  on  the  scene  and  infuses  salt  water,  which 
precipitates  the  silver  from  the  solution,  and  then,  by  melting 
and  hammering  the  metal,  he  restores  it  to  its  original  shape. 

With  this  apologue  a  skeptic  —  one  of  whose  great  stum- 
bling-blocks was  the  resurrection  —  was  so  struck  that  he  ulti- 
mately renounced  his  opposition*  to  the  gospel,  and  became  a 
partaker  of  the  Christian  hope  of  immortality.  This  converted 
skeptic  died,  trusting  in  his  Saviour,  only  six  months  after  Dr. 
Brown  was  interred  in  the  same  bury  ing- ground  ;  and,  by  a  co- 
incidence altogether  undesigned,  he  was  laid  near  Dr.  Brown's 
grave  —  near  his  feet. 

PREPARE  TO  MEET  THY  GOD. 

To  open  their  eyes,  and  to  turn  them  from  darkness  to  light,  and  from  the 
power  of  Satan  unto  God,  that  they  may  receive  forgiveness  of  sins,  and  in- 
heritance among  them  which  are  sanctified  by  faith  that  is  in  me.  — Acts  26  :  18. 

A  SOCIETY  was  some  years  ago  established  to  distribute 
tracts  by  post  in  the  higher  circles.  One  of  these  tracts, 
entitled  "  Prepare  to  meet  thy  God,"  was  not  long  since  en- 
closed in  an  envelope,  and  sent  by  post  to  a  gentleman  well 
known  for  liis  ungodly  life  and  reckless  impiety.  He  was  in 
his  study  when  he  received  this  letter  among  others. 

"  What  is  that,"  said  he  —  "  '  Prepare  to  meet  thy  God  '  ? 
Who  has  had  the  impudence  to  send  me  this  cant  ?  " 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  439 

And  with  an  imprecation  on  his  unknown  correspondent,  he 
arose  to  put  the  paper  in  the  fire. 

"  No,  I  won't  do  that,"  he  said  to  himself  on  second  thought.- 
"  I  know  what  I  will  do  ;  I'll  send  it  to  my  friend  B. ;  it  will 
be  a  good  joke  to  hear  what  he  will  say  about  it." 

So  saying,  he  enclosed  the  tract  in  a  fresh  cover,  and  in  a 
feigned  hand  directed  it  to  his  boon  companion. 

Mr.  B.  was  a  man  of  his  own  stamp,  and  received  the  tract, 
as  his  friend  had  done,  with  an  oath  at  the  Methodistical 
humbug,  which  his  first  impulse  was  to  tear  in  pieces. 

"  I'll  not  tear  it  either,"  said  he  to  himself.  "  Perhaps  I  may 
make  some  fun  out  of  it  to  tell  our  club.  I'll  have  a  look  at 
it  before  it  goes." 

He  sat  down  and  read  it.  The  solemn  words,  "  Prepare  to 
meet  thy  God,"  at  once  arrested  his  attention,  and  smote  his 
conscience.  Like  those  of  whom  the  poet  says,  — 

"  They  came  to  scoff,  and  remained  to  pray,"  — 

the  arrow  of  conviction  entered  his  heart  as  he  read,  and  he 
was  converted  on  the  spot,  "  from  darkness  to  light,  from  the 
power  of  Satan  unto  God." 

Almost  his  first  thought  was  for  his  ungodly  associates. 

"  Have  I  received  such  blessed  light  and  truth,  and  shall  I 
not  strive  to  communicate  it  to  others  ?  " 

He  again  folded  the  tract,  and  inclosed  and  directed  it  to 
one  of  his  companions  in  sin. 

Wonderful  to  say,  the  little  arrow  again  hit  the  mark.  His 
friend  read.  He  also  was  converted,  and  both  are  now  walk- 
ing as  the  Lord's  redeemed  ones. 


ALMOST  AND  ALTOGETHER. 

Then  Agrippa  said  unto  Paul,  Almost  thou  persuadest  me  to  be  a  Chris- 
tian. —  Acts  2G  :  28. 

ONCE,  as  two  ladies  were  conversing  together  in  their  quiet 
parlor,   an  aged   clergyman   entered.      The   conversation 
immediately  took  a  religious  turn,  and'  the  peace  and  comfort 


440  NEW   TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

of  a  Christian  hope  were  spoken  of.     Suddenly  the  clergyman 
turned  to  one  of  his  friends,  and  said,  rather  abruptly,  — 
.    "  Madam,  is  your  husband  a  Christian  ?  " 

The  lady's  face  flushed  painfully.  For  a  moment  she  hesi- 
tated, then  said,  — 

"  My  husband  is  one  of  the  best  persons  I  ever  knew.  He 
is  so  amiable  and  benevolent  that  I  think  few  Christians  can 
equal  him." 

"  And  yet,"  said  the  clergyman,  "  you  must  feel  deeply 
anxious  for  his  salvation." 

"  I  don't  know,"  said  the  lady.  "  I  can  not  but  think  that  all 
will  be  well  with  him.  He  is  so  good.  He  has  such  a  respect 
for  religion.  He  is  almost  a  Christian." 

The  clergyman  bent  upon  her  a  look  of  tender  concern  and 
sympathy  as  he  said, — 

"  But  almost  saved  is  altogether  lost.     Remember  that." 

The  words  smote  her  with  a  sudden  conviction  of  her  hus- 
band's danger,  and  from  that  time  forth  her  prayers  for  him 
were  constant  and  fervent. 


REMARKABLE  FROM  ASSOCIATIONS. 

And  when  we  had  sailed  slowly  many  days,  and  scarce  were  come  over 
against  Cnidus,  the  wind  not  suffering  us,  we  sailed  under  Crete,  over  against 
Salmone.  —  Acts  27  :  7. 

T  EAVING  Gibraltar  on  the  afternoon  of  the  25th  of  August, 
JJ  we  entered  the  Mediterranean,  —  a  sea  of  rich  classic 
memories,  —  where,  long  ere  the  Anglo-Saxon  race  was  known 
as  a  power  on  earth,  there  sailed  the  rich-laden  ships  of  na- 
tions that  are  now  in  their  graves.  Here  the  vessels  of 
Tyre's  "  merchant  princes,"  when  she  was  the  "  mart  of 
nations,"  were  found  bearing  the  luxuries  of  the  East  to  the 
very  borders  of  the  Atlantic.  Here  the  fleets  of  Egypt,  of 
Carthage,  of  Greece,  and  of  Rome,  and  the  Moslem,  sailed  when 
such  names  as  those  of  Alexander,  and  Cleopatra,  and  Caesar, 
and  Hannibal,  and  the  Crusaders  filled  the  ear  of  the  world 
with  their  deeds.  On  these  waves  the  fate  of  nations  has 
once  and  again  been  decided,  and  the  horrid  trade  of  war  has 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  441 

frequently  reddened  them  with  human  gore.  Here  Jonah,  un- 
faithful to  his  mission,  sought  to  fly  "  from  the  presence  of 
the  Lord,"  and,  ere  he  could  arrest  his  blind  career,  sank 
deep  into  these  depths,  and  found  himself  in  the  "  belly  of 
hell."  Here  St.  Luke,  and  Titus,  and  Timothy  sailed,  and 
he're  the  great  apostle  of  the  Gentiles  (not  far  from  where 
these  notes  were  written)  was  "  in  perils  of  the  waters,"  and 
suffered  shipwreck. 

Within  sight  of  this  sea  the  larger  portion  of  the  Holy 
Scriptures  was  written ;  and,  above  all,  how  pleasing  was  the 
reflection  that  these  very  waters  on  which  we  sailed  have 
been  looked  upon  by  "  God  manifest  in  the  flesh  "  !  On  the 
eastern  shores  of  this  sea  has  Immanuel  walked ;  and  from  it 
he  drew  some  of  his  illustrations  when  teaching  "  in  the  coast 
of  Tyre  and  Sidon."  Beautiful  sea !  the  gayest  flotilla  that 
ever  was  sent  forth  by  that  same  Tyre  to  deck  thy  bosom  — 
with  its  "perfect  beauty"  (see  Ezekiel,  chap.  27)  —  conferred 
on  thee,  to  my  heart,  no  such  honor  as  did  that  glance  of  thy 
Maker,  who  was  at  the  same  time 

"  My  God  —  incarnated  for  me !  " 

—  Rev.  William  Sutler,  D.  D. 


THE  RESCUE. 

And  the  rest,  some  on  boards,  and  some  on  broken  pieces  of  the  ship.    And 
so  it  came  to  pass  that  they  escaped  all  safe  to  land.  —  Acts  27 :  44. 

SEVERAL  years  ago  a  ship  was  burned  near  the  mouth  of 
the  English  Channel.  Among  the  passengers  were  a 
father,  mother,  and  their  little  child,  a  daughter  not  many 
months  old.  When  the  discovery  was  made  that  the  ship  was 
on  fire,  and  the  alarm  was  given,  there  was  great  confusion, 
and  the  family  became  separated.  The  father  was  rescued 
and  taken  to  Liverpool,  but  the  mother  and  her  infant  were 
crowded  overboard,  and,  unnoticed  by  those  who  were  doing 
all  in  their  power  to  save  the  sufferers  still  in  the  ship,  they 
drifted  out  of  the  Channel  with  the  tide,  the  mother  clinging 
*  56* 


442  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

to  a  fragment  of  the  wreck,  with  her  little  one  clasped  to  her 
breast. 

Late  in  the  afternoon  of  that  day  a  vessel  bound  from  New- 
port, Wales,  to  America,  was  moving  slowly  along  in  her 
course.  There  was  only  a  light  breeze,  and  the  captain  was 
impatiently  walking  the  deck,  when  his  attention  was  called 
to  an  object  some  distance  off  which  looked  like  a  person  in 
the  water.  The  officers  and  crew  watched  it  for  some  time, 
and,  as  no  vessel  was  near  from  which  any  one  could  have 
fallen  overboard,  they  thought  it  impossible  that  this  could  be 
a  human  being.  But,  as  their  vessel  was  scarcely  moving,  it 
was  thought  best  to  get  out  a  boat  and  row  to  the  object. 
The  boat  was  accordingly  lowered  and  manned.  It  was 
watched  with  considerable  interest  by  those  who  remained  on 
board,  and  they  noticed  that,  as  it  drew  near  to  the  drifting 
speck,  the  rowers  •  rested  on  their  oars  two  or  three  minutes, 
then  moved  forward,  took  in  the  object  or  thing,  —  they  knew 
not  which,  —  and  returned  to  the  ship.  When  the  boat's  crew 
came  on  board,  they  brought  with  them  this  mother  and  her 
child,  alive  and  well;  and  the  sailors  said  that,  as  they  drew 
near,  they  heard  a  female  voice  sweetly  singing.  As  with  a 
common  impulse,  the  men  ceased  rowing,  and  listened  ;  and 
then  the  words  of  the  beautiful  hymn  sung  by  this  trusting 
Christian,  all  unconscious  that  deliverance  was  so  near,  came 
over  thQ  waves  to  their  ears:  — 

"  Jesus,  lover  of  my  soul, 

Let  me  to  thy  bosom  fly, 
While  the  nearer  waters  roll, 

While  the  tempest  still  is  high ; 
Hide  me,  O  my  Saviour,  hide, 

Till  the  storm  of  life  is  past ; 
Safe  into  the  haven  guide, 

O,  receive  my  soul  at  last ! " 

In  due  time  the  vessel  arrived  in  America.  The  mother 
wrote  to  her  friends  in  England,  and  thus  the  father  learned 
of  the  safety  of  his  wife  and  child,  and  in  about  four  months 
from  the  time  of  their  separation  they  were  happily  reunited. 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  443 

EXTRAORDINARY  ANSWER  TO  PRAYER. 

And  it  came  to  pass,  that  the  father  of  Publius  lay  sick  of  a  fever  and  of  a 
bloody  flux :  to  whom  Paul  entered  in,  and  prayed,  and  laid  his  hands  on  him, 
and  healed  him.  —  Acts  28  :  8. 

IN  a  small  volume  of  sermons, 'entitled  "  Good  News  from  a 
Far  Country,"  preached  at  Newburyport,  Mass.,  about  one 
hundred  years  ago,  by  Rev.  Jonathan  Parsons,  then  pastor  of 
the  Presbyterian  Church  there,  in  a  note  appended  to  page 
55,  an  account  is  given  of  a  remarkable  case  which  occurred 
in  Ipswich,  Mass.  A  young  woman,  living  there,  had  been 
confined  to  her  bed  for  the  space  of  two  years  and  two  months ; 
she  had  not  been  able  to  speak  a  loud  word  for  a  year  and 
eight  months,  had  been  speechless  about  four  weeks,  and  blind 
about  three  weeks.  At  her  desire,  several  ministers  met  at 
her  room  December  15,  1755,  and  joined  with  a  number  of 
private  Christians  in  prayer  for  her.  During  one  of  the 
prayers,  and  while  her  case  was  spreading  before  the  Lord,  she 
sprang  up  in  the  bed,  opened  her  eyes,  and  spoke  with  a  loud 
voice,  expressing  her  great  surprise  at  the  power  and  grace 
of  Jesus  Christ,  calling  upon  all  to  help  her  praise  God  for  the 
marvelous  work  he  had  wrought  upon  her  soul  and  her  body  that 
day.  Her  sight  and  her  speech  recovered  gradually,  till,  in 
about  an  hour,  they  were  both  clear  and  distinct.  The  same 
day  she  was  dressed,  and  walked  several  times  across  the 
room  without  help,  and,  with  a  very  little  help,  walked  out. 

The  foregoing  account  was  written  several  months  after,  by 
Rev.  Mr.  Parsons,  who  was  present  at  that  meeting ;  and  he 
concludes  by  saying,  "  She  has  continued  now,  for  several 
months,  to  gain  strength,  attends  the  public  worship  of  God, 
and  gives  good  evidence  of  being  a  real  Christian." 


BLESSINGS  WITH  RESTRAINT. 

And  Paul  dwelt  two  whole  years  in  his  own  hired  house,  and  received  all 
that  came  in  unto  him.  —  Acts  28  :  30. 


V 


ISITING  a  friend  one   day,  Gotthold  found  him  seated 
with  his  family  at  table,  and  observed  that  the  children 


444  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

all  received  a  due  portion  of  food,  and  were  required  to  eat  it 
in  a  quiet  and  orderly  way  ;  but  that  beside  the  father's  plate 
there  was  also  lying  upon  the  table  a  rod,  to  warn  them  against 
improprieties  of  conduct  and  manners.  He  thereupon  ob- 
served to  his  friend,  "  You  treat  your  children  as  our  heavenly 
Father  treats  his.  He,  too,  prepares  a  table  before  them,  and 
gives  them  all  sorts  of  good  things,  spiritual  and  temporal,  to 
enjoy ;  and  yet  the  rod,  which  is  another  name  for  the  cross, 
must  likewise  be  at  hand,  that  we  may  not  become  froward, 
but  walk  in  holy  fear  and  filial  obedience.  Of  this  truth  God 
has  given  us  an  almost  similar  emblem  in  the  sacred  Scrip- 
tures. For  the  ark  of  the  Old  Testament  contained  not  only 
the  golden  pot  with  the  manna,  but  also  Aaron's  rod,  which 
blossomed,  to  intimate  the  authority  he  exercises  over  his 
family,  and  teach  us  that-  although  he  feeds  the  members  with 
the  hidden  manna  of  his  sweet  grace,  he  also  purposes  to  use 
the  rod  if  he  shall  see  cause." 


WHO  ARE  SAINTS? 

To  all  that  be  in  Rome,  beloved  of  God,  called  to  be  saints  :  Grace  to  you, 
and  peace,  from  God  our  Father  and  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ.  —  Romans  1 :  7. 

ALL  God's  people  are  saints.  The  Scriptures  make  no  dis- 
tinction among  them.  Saints  are  sanctified  or  holy  ones. 
The  pious  under  former  dispensations  were  saints.  David 
speaks  of  "  the  saints  that  are  in  the  earth."  We  read  of 
"  the  saints  in  Jerusalem,"  the  "  saints  at  Rome,"  the  "  saints - 
in  Achaia,"  all  the  "  saints  in  Christ  Jesus,"  <fec.  The  meanest 
Christian  is  a  saint.  "  To  me,"  says  Paul,  "  who  am  less  than 
the  least  of  all  saints,  is  this  grace  given."  For  the  Popish 
custom  of  canonization  there  is  no  authority  in  Scripture,  and 
no  foundation  in  reason.  It  makes  a  distinction  where  God 
makes  none.  It  pronounces  judgment  on  the  characters  of 
men  from  an  imperfect  human  knowledge.  How  does  the 
pope  know,  how  can  mortals  know,  who  are  holy  and  who  are 
not  ?  All  believers,  in  the  charitable  language  of  Scripture, 
are  saints;  a  select  few,  in  the  presumptuous  language  of 


NEW   TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  445 

Romanism;  are  saints.     "  With  me/7  says  Paul,  "  it  is  a  very 
small  thing  that  I  should  be  judged  of  man's  judgment." 

It  is  custom,  we  presume,  rather  than  a  conviction  of  its 
propriety,  which  leads  many  Protestants  and  some  Baptists  to 
employ  the  language  of  the  Romish  canon,  and  say  St.  Paul, 
St.  Peter,  &c.  We  do  not  affirm  that  it  is  sinful  to  use  this 
epithet  —  Peter  and  Paul  were '  saints  —  eminent  saints  - 
though  Paul  accounted  himself  the  least  of  all ;  but  it  is  inex- 
pedient to  use  it.  It  is  countenancing  a  false  distinction  and 
a  superstitious  practice,  which  have  given  birth  in  the  Romish 
church  to  numerous  feasts  and  ceremonies,  which  we  are  sorry 
to  see,  to  some  extent,  adopted  by  the  Protestant  Episcopal 
church.  To  be  consistent,  we  should  call  all  Christians  saints, 
or  we  should  call  none  so.  If  we  say  St.  Peter,  then  let  us 
say  St.  Chrysostom,  St.  Luther,  St.  Doddridge,  St.  John  New- 
ton, and  St.  John  Bunyan. 

To  some  it  may  seem  wanting  in  reverence  to  say  simply 
Paul.  Call  him  then  "  brother  Paul ; "  for  so  he  is  styled  in 
the  Bible.  It  is  certainly  not  more  disrespectful  .to  speak  of 
Paul  without  a  title,  than  it  is  to  speak  of  Abraham,  Isaiah, 
and  Jesus  without  one.  How  would  St.  Jesus  sound  ?  The 
late  Andrew  Broddus,  of  Caroline,  in  anticipation  of  his  death, 
directed  that  these  words  should  be  inscribed  on  his  tomb- 
stone :  A  Sinner  Saved  by  Grace^He  was,  doubtless,  as 
worthy  of  canonization  as  multitudes  who  have  been  super- 
stitiously  canonized  and  worshiped. 


RELIGION  THE  POWER  OF  GOD. 

For  I  am  not  ashamed  of  the  gospel  of  Christ :  for  it  is  the  power  of  God 
unto  salvation  to  every  one  that  believeth ;  to  the  Jew  first,  and  also  to  the 
Greek.  —  Romans  1 :  16. 

T)  ELIGION  is  something  more  than  opinion ;  something 
JLl  more  than  ecclesiastical  relationship ;  something  more 
than  ceremony.  It  is  not  only  light,  but  life ;  its  seat  is  not 
only  in  the  head,  but  in  the  heart ;  it  is  a  thing  of  the  will, 
affections,  and  conscience,  as  well  as  of  the  intellect,  and  mem- 
ory, and  bodily  organs.  It  is  a  deep  conviction  of  guilt  in  the 


446  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

sight  of  God,  a  humbling  sense  of  corruption  of  nature,  true 
faith  in  Christ  as  the  great  atonement,  peace  through  belief 
in  the  gospel,  supreme  gratitude  and  love  to  God,  a  spiritual 
and  heavenly  mind,  and  a  holy  life. 

"  It  is  the  mind  of  Christ,  the  image  of  God,  the  Bible 
lodged  in  the  heart  as  the  rule  of  the  inward  and  outer  life  — 
a  thing  God-wrought,  heave'n-descended,  and  eternal." 


BISHOP  LATIMER'S  OLD  SERMON. 

Because  that,  when  they  knew  God,  they  glorified  him  not  as  God,  neither 
were  thankful;  but  became  vain  in  their  imaginations,  and  their  foolish  heart 
was  darkened.  —  Romans  1 :  21. 

IN  Bishop  Latimer's  famous  old  sermon,  "  Of  the  Plow,"  is 
a  passage,  which,  though  written  three  hundred  years  ago, 
applies  admirably  to  what  is  now  going  on  in  the  church  of 
England.  "  Where  the  devil  is  resident,  and  has  his  plow 
going,  there  away  with  books,  and  up  with  candles ;  away 
with  Bibles,  and  up  with  beads  ;  away  with  the  light  of  the 
gospel,  and  up  with  the  light  of  candles,  yea,  at  noonday. 
Where  the  devil  is  resident,  that  he  may  prevail,  up  with  all 
superstition  and  idolatry  ;  censing,  painting  of  images,  candles, 
palms,  holy  water,  and  new  service  of  men's  inventing,  as 
though  man  could  iinQftit  a  better  way  to  honor  God  with 
than  God  himself  hath  appointed.  Down  with  Christ's  cross, 
up  with  purgatory  pick-purse,  up  with  him  —  the  Popish  pur- 
gatory, I  mean.  Away  with  clothing  the  naked,  and  up  with 
gay  garnishing  of  stocks  and  stones  ;  up  with  man's  traditions 
and  his  laws ;  down  with  God's  traditions  and  his  most  holy 
word.  Down  with  the  old  honor  due  to  God,  and  up  with  the 
new  god's  honor." 

THE  FIRST  CHAPTER  OF  ROMANS. 

Professing  themselves  to  be  wise,  they  became  fools,  and  changed  the  glory 
of  the  incorruptible  God  into  an  image  made  like  to  corruptible  man,  and  to 
birds,  and  four-footed  beasts,  and  creeping  things.  —  Romans  1 :  22,  23. 

R.  WORCESTER  once  said  that  he  had  been  told  by  a  re- 
turned missionary,  that  after  reading  the  first  chapter  of 


D 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  447 

Romans  to  a  heathen  congregation,  they  came  around  him  at 
the  close  of  the  service,  and  said,  "  You  wrote  that  chapter 
for  us."  The  Watchman  and  Reflector  says,  "  We  have  heard 
the  Rev.  Dr.  Dean,  of  China,  relate  a  similar  fact.  He  had 
been  conversing  with  an  intelligent  Chinese  respecting  our 
sacred  books,  assuring  him  that  they  are  very  old.  He  gave 
him  a  specimen.  Soon  after  the  man  came  to  Dr.  Dean,  and, 
with  a  look  of  triumph  and  accusation,  exclaimed,  i  You  told 
me  your  book  was  very  ancient ;  but  that  chapter,'  pointing  to 
the  first  of  Romans,  t  you  have  written  yourself  since  you  came 
here  and  learned  all  about  Chinamen.' ;; 


DATES  OF  ROMISH  ERRORS. 

Who  changed  the  truth  of  God  into  a  lie,  and  worshiped  and  served  the  crea- 
ture more  than  the  Creator,  who  is  blessed  for  ever.  Amen.  —  Romans  1 :  25. 

ONE  of  the  chief  differences  between  the  Roman  Catholic 
church  and  Protestants  is,  the  former  disregard  the  Holy 
Scriptures  as  the  only  sufficient  rule  of  faith.     The  following 
exhibits  the  dates  when  the  principal  Popish  errors  were  made 
articles  of  faith  by  the  sanction  of  a  general  council :  — 

Invocation  of  saints,  700  ;  image  worship,  787  ;  infallibility, 
1076;  transubstantiation,  1215;  supremacy,  1215 ;  half  com- 
munion, 1415  ;  purgatory,  1438  ;  seven  sacraments,  1547  ;  sacri- 
fice of  the  mass,  1563  ;  apocryphal  books,  1547  ;  priestly  inten- 
tion, 1547  ;  indulgences  introduced  in  the  fifteenth  century, 
but  not  sanctioned  by  a  council  till  1563 ;  venial  sins,  1563. 
Popery  is,  therefore,  a  new  system  ;  it  is  a  piece  of  patchwork. 
One  patch  was  added  by  one  pope  or  one  council,  and  another 
by  another.  The  work  was  finished  at  Trent  in  1564,  when  a 
few  additional  patches  were  added.  It  bears  something  of  the 
semblance  of  Christianity,  just  as  the  counterfeit  coin  resembles 
that  which  is  genuine.  There  is  not  a  single  doctrine,  with 
the  exception  of  the  Trinity,  in  which  Romanists  do  not  differ 
from  the  ancient  Catholic  church.  How,  then,  can  it  be  said 
Popery  is  the  religion  of  Jesus  Christ,  when  its  principles  are 
not  to  be  found  in  any  of  our  Lord's  discourses,  or  in  the  writ- 
ings of  his  apostles  ? 


448  NEW   TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

WRECK  OF  THE  "SABBATH-BREAKER." 

But  we  are  sure  that  the  judgment  of  God  is  according  to  truth  against 
them  which  commit  such  things.  —  Romans  2  :  2. 

IN  a  quiet  village,  situated  on  the  shores  of  a  beautiful  lake, 
lived  a  man  of  some  wealth  and  independent  manners.  He 
disregarded  the  Sabbath  entirely,  and  pursued  his  business  or 
pleasures  as  best  suited  his  taste  or  convenience.  He  com- 
menced building  a  boat,  principally  for  pleasure  excursions  on 
the  lake.  While  he  was  proceeding  with  the  enterprise,  which 
it  was  whispered  abroad  would  afford  an  opportunity  for  Sun- 
day sailing,  he  was  called  on  by  a  minister,  who  inquired  about 
the  boat,  and  expostulated  with  him,  as  the  enterprise  would 
increase  the  wildness  and  immorality  of  their  village. 

"  I  am  afraid,"  said  the  minister,  "  your  boat  will  prove  a 
Sabbath-breaker." 

The  man  looked  him  in  the  face,  and  with  much  assurance 
said,  — 

"  Yes,  it  will  —  that's  just  what  I'll  name  my  boat.  I  have 
been  thinking  some  time  what  to  call  her,  and  you  have  just 
hit  it.  I  thank  you  for  the  suggestion.  This  boat  shall  be 
called  '  The  Sabbath-Breaker.'  " 

As  he  said  this,  he  bade  the  minister  good  day,  with  a 
chuckle  at  his  evident  surprise  and  mortification.  The  build- 
ing went  on,  and  especially  on  Sunday.  She  was  soon  ready 
to  launch,  and  was  launched  on  Sunday,  and  named  "  The 
Sabbath-Breaker,"  amid  the  cheers  of  some  twenty  or  thirty 
ha  If- intoxicated  men.  An  old  sailor  or  two  shook  their  heads 
at  the  way  she  struck  the  water ;  but  the  folly  usual  to  such 
an  owner  hid  his  eyes  to  the  truth.  She  was  rigged  and  fitted 
for  an  excursion.  She  must  go  out  on  Sunday.  A  general 
invitation  was  given,  and  numbers  crowded  on  board.  On  the 
streamer  was  floating  the  name  in  large  black  letters,  "  The 
Sabbath-Breaker." 

She  put  out.  Several,  seized  by  an  indefinable  dread  as 
they  read  the  name  over  their  heads,  sprang  on  shore  ;  others 
would  have  done  so,  but  the  boat  was  off.  She  sailed  well 
enough  for  a  while.  The  timid  felt  reassured,  and  music  and 


NEW   TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  449 

mirth  began.  But  scarcely  four  hours  had  passed  when  the 
boat  was  struck  by  a  flaw  of  wind  which  came  very  suddenly 
upon  her.  Confusion  reigned  aboard.  Scarce  an  effort  was 
made.  She  keeled  almost  instantly  over,  and  went  to  the 
bottom.  Now,  what  an  outcry  !  But  soon  all  was  over. 
Forty  souls,  mostly  youth,  had  found  a  watery  grave,  and 
just  above  the  surface  of  the  lake  floated  the  streamer  bear- 
ing a  terrible  meaning  —  <<  The  Sabbath-Breaker."  If  earth 
furnishes  such  incidents,  what  will  eternity  unfold  of  the  wreck 
of  the  Sabbath-breaker  ? 


RETRIBUTION. 

And  thinkest  thou  this,  O  man,  that  judgest  them  which  do  such  things,  and 
doest  the  same,  that  thou  shalt  escape  the  judgment  of  God?  —  Romans  2  :  3. 

JACOB  deceived  his  father,  and  was  in  turn  deceived  by  his 
own  sons. 

The  Egyptians  killed  the  Hebrew  male  children,  and  God 
smote  the  first-born  of  Egypt. 

Sisera,  who  thought  to  destroy  Israel  with  his  iron  chariots, 
was  himself  killed  with  an  iron  nail,  stuck  through  his  temples. 

Adoni-bezek,  Judges  1  :  5-7. 

Gideon  slew  forty  elders  of  Succoth,  and  his  sons  were  mur- 
dered by  Abimelech. 

Abimelech  slew  seventy  sons  of  Gideon  upon  one  stone,  and 
his  own  head  was  broken  by  a  piece  of  millstone  thrown  by  a 
woman. 

Samson  fell  by  the  "  lust  of  the  "eye,"  and  before  death  the 
Philistines  put  out  his  eyes. 

Agag,  1  Sam.  15  :  33. 

Saul  slew  the  Gibeonites,  and  seven  of  his  sons  were  hung 
up  before  the  Lord,  2  Sam.  21 :  1-9. 

David,  2  Sam.  12  :  10-14. 

Ahab,  after  coveting  Naboth's  vineyard,  1  Kings  21  :  19, 
fulfilled,  2  Kings  9  :  24-26. 

Jeroboam,  the  same  hand  that  was  stretched  forth  against 
the  altar  was  withered,  1  Kings  13  :  1-6. 
57 


450  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

Joab,  having  killed  Abner,  Amasa,  and  Absalom,  was  put  to 
death  by  Solomon. 

Daniel's  accusers  thrown  into  the  lion's  den  meant  for  Daniel. 

Haman  hung  upon  the  gallows  designed  for  Mordecai. 

Judas  purchased  the  field  of  blood,  and  then  went  and 
hanged  himself. 

So,  in  the  history  of  later  days,  Bajazet  was  carried  about 
by  Tamerlane  in  an  iron  cage,  as  he  intended  to  have  carried 
Tamerlane. 

Mazentius  built  abridge  to  entrap  Constantine,  and  was  over- 
thrown himself  on  that  very  spot. 

Alexander  VI.  was  poisoned  by  the  wine  he  had  prepared 
for  another. 

Charles  IX.  made  the  streets  of  Paris  to  stream  with  Protes- 
tant blood,  and  soon  after  blood  streamed  from  all  parts  of  his 
body  in  a  bloody  sweat. 

Cardinal  Beaton  condemned  George  Wishart  to  death,  and 
presently  died  a  violent  death  himself;  he  was  murdered  in 
bed,  and  his  body  was  laid  out  in  the  same  window  from 
which  he  had  looked  upon  Wishart  7s  execution. 


LAYING  UP  ETERNAL  STORES. 

But,  after  thy  hardness  and  impenitent  heart,  treasurest  up  unto  thyself 
wrath  against  the  day  of  wrath  and  revelation  of  the  righteous  judgment  of 
God.  —  Romans  2  :  5. 

EYERY  man  is  treasuring  up  stores  for  eternity :  the  good 
are  laying  up  treasures  in  heaven,  where  moth  doth  not 
corrupt ;  the  evil  and  impenitent  are  "  treasuring  up  wrath 
against  the  day  of  wrath."  What  an  idea  is  this  !  Treasures 
of  wrath  !  Whatever  the  impenitent  man  is  doing,  he  is  treas- 
uring up  wrath.  He  may  be  getting  wealth  ;  but  he  is  treasur- 
ing up  wrath.  He  may  be  getting  fame  ;  but  he  is  treasuring 
up  wrath.  He  may  be  forming  pleasing  connections ;  but  he 
is  also  treasuring  up  wrath :  every  day  adds  something  to  the 
heap.  Every  oath  the  swearer  utters,  there  is  something 
gone  to  the  heap  of  wrath.  Every  lie  the  liar  tells,  every 
licentious  act  the  lewd  man  commits,  adds  something  to  the 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  451 

treasure  'of  wrath.  The  sinner  has  a  weightier  treasure  of 
wrath  to-day  than  he  had  yesterday ;  he  will  have  a  weightier 
to-morrow  than  he  has  to-day.  When  he  lies  down  at  night, 
he  is  richer  in  vengeance  than  when  he  arose  in  the  morning. 
He  is  continually  deepening  and  darkening  his  eternal  por- 
tion. Every  neglected  Sabbath  increases  his  store  of  wrath  ; 
every  forgotten  sermon  adds  something  to  the  weight  of 
punishment.  All  the  checks  of  conscience,  all  the  remon- 
strances of  friends,  all  the  advice  and  prayers  of  parents,  will 
be  taken  into  the  account ;  and  all  will  tend  to  increase  the 
treasures  of  wrath  laid  up  against  the  day  of  wrath. — J.  A. 
James. 


BEYOND  THE  MERCY  OF  GOD. 

Who  will  render  to  every  man  according  to  his  deeds.  —  Romans  2  :  6. 

AN  intelligent  and  excellent  minister  was  once  called  to 
visit  a  man,  then  on  his  death-bed,  who  had  been  for 
many  years  engaged  in  the  African  slave-trade.  He  had  been 
commander  of  a  swift  and  successful  ship,  but  had  been  often 
compelled  to  throw  his  poor  captives  to  the  sharks  and  the 
sea,  to  save  his  vessel  from  the  cruisers,  or  to  lighten  it  in  the 
storm  j  and  had  passed  through  the  various  terrible  scenes 
incident  to  the  prosecution  of  that  infamous  traffic.  And  now 
he  was  dying,  in  the  full  maturity  of  his  powers,  and  in  the 
midst,  if  we  remember  rightly,  of  pecuniary  prosperity  and 
social  comfort.  The  minister  spoke  to  him  of  repentance. 

"  Repentance  !  "  was  his  reply  ;  "  I  can  not  repent !  You 
have  seen  many  sorts  of  men,  sir ;  and  perhaps  you  think  you 
have  seen  the  most  wicked  and  desperate  among  them.  But 
I  tell  you  that  you  don't  know  anything  about  an  African 
slave-dealer.  His  heart  is  dead.  Why,  sir,  I  know  perfectly 
well  —  I  understand  it  fully —  that  I  shall  die  in  spite  of  every- 
thing ;  and  I  know  that  I  shall  go  to  hell.  There  is  no  possi- 
ble salvation  for  me.  It  is  perfectly  impossible  but  that  I  shall 
be  damned.  And  yet  it  don't  move  me  in  the  least.  I  am  just 
as  indifferent  to  it  as  ever  I  was  in  my  life." 

And  so  he  died  •  with  despair  perfected  into  insensibility  and 


452  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

death,  the  very  fires  of  divine  wrath,  as  they  flashed  upon  his 
face,  not  starting  a  sigh,  or  a  pulse  of  emotion.  His  heart  was 
«  dead." 


ETERNAL  LIFE. 

To  them  who  by  patient  continuance  in  well  doing  seek  for  glory,  and  honor, 
and  immortality ;  eternal  life.  —  Romans  2  :  7. 

HOWE,  in  his  Blessedness  of  the  Righteous,  has  a  noble 
passage,  in  which  he  contemplates  innumerable  multi- 
tudes of  pure  and  happy  creatures  inhabiting  and  replen- 
ishing ample  and  spacious  regions  above,  ignorant  of 
nothing  lawful  and  pleasant  to  be  known,  curious  to  know 
nothing  useless,  endowed  with  a  self-governing  wisdom,  yet 
with  a  noble  freedom,  all  everywhere  full  of  God,  full  of  rev- 
erence and  dutiful  love,  every  one  in  his  own  eye  as  nothing, 
self- consistent,  even  free  of  all  self-displeasures,  all  assured  of 
their  acceptance  witb  God,  all  counting  each  other's  felicity 
their  own,  and  every  one's  enjoyment  multiplied  so  many 
thousand-fold,  as  he  apprehends  every  one  as  perfectly  pleased 
and  happy  as  himself.  Well  may  the  Christian  say,  as  he 
ponders  these  noble  thoughts,  "  0,  what  will  it  be  to  be  there  ! n 
And  if  the  joy  is  so  rapturous,  the  rest  so  blessed,  the  com- 
pany so  edifying,  the  place  so  glorious,  Christ  visible,  God 
near,  death  behind,  judgment  over,  what  is  our  hope  of  this 
glory,  and  what  result  does  it  produce  in  us?  Does  it 
strengthen  us  for  the  duties  of  life,  and  console  us  under  its 
sorrows,  making  its  crosses  light,  and  its  gains  trifling  ?  Surely 
we  Christians  are  but  half  awake,  and  the  children  of  this 
world  are  in  their  generation  wiser  than  the  children  of  light. 
There  are  treasures  for  us  that  we  will  hardly  think  of,  a 
home  that  is  barely  worth  our  while  to  prepare  for,  joys  which 
we  languidly  taste,  gifts  which  we  slothfully  use.  Yet  the 
night  is  far  spent,  the  day  is  at  hand.  We  have  slumbered 
and  slept  till  our  lamps  are  all  but  gone  out ;  let  us  haste  to 
trim  them,  for  the  bridegroom  is  coming.  Surely,  if  we  quite 
believe  about  heaven  all  that  the  Bible  tells  of  it,  how  humil- 
ity would  clothe  us,  and  zeal  inflame  us,  and  the  thought  of 
our  inheritance  ennoble  us,  making  us  calm  and  brave  as  the 
sons  of  God  I 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  453 


DOING  GOOD  PREVENTED  SIN. 

But  glory,  honor,  and  peace  to  every  man  that  worketh  good ;  to  the  Jew 
first,  and  also  to  the  Gentile.  —  Romans  2  :  10. 

THE  following  singular  adventure  was  related  some  years 
ago  in  an  English  newspaper:  Two  men,  tired  of  life, 
took  the  resolution  of  drowning  themselves.  Chance  led  them, 
without  being  known  to  each  other,  to  fix  on  the  same  spot 
for  the  execution  of  their  purpose ;  and  they  met  on  West- 
minster Bridge,  from  whence  they  purposed  to  throw  them- 
selves into  the  Thames.  Very  different  motives  had  led  to 
this  result.  One,  born  to  a  large  fortune,  was  satiated  with 
pleasure,  and  having  no  resources  within  himself,  resolved  to 
get  rid  of  life  which  he  found  painful  and  burdensome  •  the 
other,  having  applied  himself  to  commerce,  which  he  had  pur- 
sued for  many  years  with  indefatigable  industry,  was  now,  by 
a  series  of  losses  and  disasters,  irretrievably  ruined.  Despair 
brought  one  thither,  disgust  and  satiety  the  other.  Both,  being 
young,  were  struck  with  having  come  to  the  same  spot  for  the 
same  purpose  by  different  routes.  The  disgusted  man,  having 
heard  the  other's  story,  said  to  him,  "  There  is  no  remedy 
for  my  unhappiness ;  there  is  for  yours.  I  am  rich,  and  can 
heal  your  sorrows  by  giving  you  part  of  my  property.  I  shall 
at  least  have  performed  one  good  action  before  I  destroy  my- 
self, and  your  motive  for  getting  rid  of  life  will  be  removed." 
The  despairing  man  was  delighted  with  the  project  of  the 
disgusted  one ;  but  the  latter,  after  saving  the  life  of  the 
other,  had  no  longer  any  wish  to  make  an  end  of  his  own  ;  the 
good  action  he  had  done  reconciled  him  to  existence.  A 
etrong  friendship  ensued  between  the  two  men  in  consequence 
of  this  meeting ;  one  gave  the  other  his  daughter  in  marriage, 
and  both  are  now  as  much  attached  to  life  as  they  were  for  a 
moment  disgusted  with  it. 


454  NEW   TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 


JESUS  WHISPERING. 

Which  shew  the  work  of  the  law  written  in  their  hearts,  their  conscience 
also  bearing  witness,  and  their  thoughts  the  mean  while  accusing,  or  else  ex- 
cusing one  another.  —  Romans  2  :  15. 

'  TT7HAT  is  conscience  ?  "  said  ^  Sabbath  school  teacher  one 

YV  day  to  the  little  flock  that  gathered  around  to  learn 
the  word  of  life. 

Several  of  the  children  answered,  one  saying  one  thing,  and 
another  another,  until  a  little  timid  child  spoke  out,  — 

"  It  is  Jesus  whispering  in  our  hearts." 

Does  Jesus  whisper  in  your  heart  ? 

When  you  do  right,  does  he  approve  ?  When  you  do  wrong, 
does  he  rebuke  ?  Does  he  make  your  heart  sad  when  you 
have  sinned,  and  happy  when  you  have  done  right?  Be 
thankful,  then,  for  this,  and  remember  always  to  heed  the  Sa- 
viour's whisper,  and  study  his  word,  and  pray  to  know  his 
will,  and  then  you  will  be  safely  guided  to  his  heavenly  home 
at  last. 


JUDICIOUS  ADVICE  TO  A  YOUNG  WAG. 

For  what  if  some  did  not  believe?  Shall  their  unbelief  make  the  faith  of 
God  without  effect?  —  Romans  3  :  3. 

A  VENERABLE  minister  at  H.  preached  a  sermon  on  the 
J\.  subject  of  eternal  punishment.  On  the  next  day,  it  was 
agreed  among  some  thoughtless  young  men,  that  one  of  them 
should  go  to  him  and  endeavor  to  draw  him  into  dispute, 
with  the  design  of  making  a  jest  of  him  and  of  his  doctrine. 
The  wag  accordingly  went,  was  introduced  into  the  minister's 
study,  and  commenced  the  conversation  by  saying,  "  I  believe 
there  is  a  small  dispute  between  you  and  me,  sir,  and  I 
thought  I  would  call  this  morning  and  try  to  settle  it." 

"  Ah,"  said  the  clergyman,  "  what  is  it  ?  " 

{<  Why,"  replied  the  wag,  "  you  say  that  the  wicked  will  go 
into  everlasting  punishment,  and  I  do  not  think  that  they  will." 

"  0,  if  that  is  all,"  answered  the  minister,  "  there  is  no  dis- 
pute between  you  and  me.  If  you  turn  to  Matt.  25  :  46,  you 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  455 

will  find  the  dispute  is  between  you  and  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ, 
and  I  advise  you  to  go  immediately  and  settle  it  with  him." 

This  unexpected  turn  in  the  conversation  introduced  the 
young  disputant  to  a  third  party,  with  whom  he  was  not  on 
very  friendly  terms  j  he  therefore  thought  it  best  to  drop  the 
subject. 


RELIEF  FOR  A  DISTRESSED  CONSCIENCE. 

Being  justified  freely  by  his  grace,  through  the  redemption  that  is  in  Christ 
Jesus.  —  Romans  3  :  24. 

IN  his  recently  published  Notes  of  a  Tour  in  -Switzerland, 
Rev.  Baptist  Noel  observes  that  there  are  states  of  mind  in 
which  nothing  but  the  gospel  can  afford  peace,  and  illustrates 
the  sentiment  by  this  remarkable  anecdote :  — 

"  Not  long  since,  a  Protestant  lady  in  the  south  of  France, 
supposing  herself  to  be.  near  death,  was  seized  with  deadly 
terror.  It  was  in  vain  that  her  husband  sought  to  console  her. 
They  had  lived  a  thoughtless  life,  and  she  could  not  bear  to 
stand  before  the  judgment  seat  of  God.  '  Then  let  us  send 
for  the  minister,'  said  her  husband.  l  What  use  is  it  ? '  replied 
the  sick  person:  'I  know  what  he  will  say;  it  avails  nothing.' 
However,  the  young  minister  was  sent  for.  Being  a  young 
rationalist,  who  had  often  opposed  evangelical  doctrine,  he 
endeavored,  when  he  reached  the  chamber  of  sickness,  to 
console  her  by  the  memory  of  her  domestic  virtues,  and  by 
the  assurance  of  the  boundless  mercy  of'  God.  But  his  efforts 
were  utterly  vain ;  all  his  fine  speeches  could  not  silence  a 
reproachful  conscience ;  she  felt  that  the  justice  of  God  was 
in  terrible  array  against  her  ungodliness,  and  the  very  mission 
of  Christ  convinced  her  of  unpardonable  ingratitude  to  the 
Redeemer.  The  minister  was  perplexed ;  all  his  stores  of 
commonplace,  heartless  palliatives  to  mental  anguish  were 
exhausted,  and  she  wildly  told  him  that  she  was  wretched  and 
undone.  What  could  he  say  more  ?  At  that  moment  it  flashed 
upon  his  mind  that  the  evangelical  doctrine  which  he  had  so 
often  opposed  would  silence  all  her  fears  ;  it  was  precisely 
what  her  agonized  mind  was  asking  for ;  it  would  be  to  her 


456  NEW   TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

like  water  in  the  scorched 'desert.  He  knew  the  doctrine  of 
justification  by  grace  through  faith  well,  for  he  had  often  ma- 
ligned it ;  he  was  familiar  with  the  texts  cited  by  evangelical 
ministers,  for  he  had  employed  his  powers  of  criticism  to 
refute  their  evangelical  meaning.  l  If  he  could  but  speak  to 
her  as  an  evangelical  minister,  he  could  hush  that  awful  tem- 
pest, which  he  could  scarcely  bear,  to  witness.  But  how  could 
he  say  what  he  did  not  believe  ?  How  calm  even  that  agony 
by  a  lie  ?  At  least,  he  could  read  those  passages  supposed  to 
contain  evangelical  doctrine ;  there  could  be  nothing  wrong 
in  that.'  Baffled  and  perplexed,  he  directed  her  to  the  word 
of  God  for  consolation,  and  read  to  her  such  texts  as  these  : 
'  God  so  loved  the  world  that  he  gave  his  only  begotten  Son, 
that  whosoever  believeth  in  him  should  not  perish,  but  have 
everlasting  life.'  l  He  that  believeth  on  the  Son  hath  ever- 
lasting life.'  '  As  many  as  received  him,  to  them  gave  he 
power  to  become  the  sons  of  God,  even  to  them  that  believe 
on  his  name.'  '  Therefore  we  conclude  that  a  man  is  justified 
by  faith  without  the  deeds  of  the  law.'  '  Being  justified  freely 
by  his  grace,  through  the  redemption  that  is  in  Christ  Jesus.' 
1  There  is,  therefore,  now  no  condemnation  to  them  which  are 
in  Christ  Jesus.'  No  more  was  wanted ;  it  was  light  to  her 
perplexed  path,  it  was  peace  to  her  anguish,  it  was  life  to  the 
dying,  it  was  an  instant  cure  for  her  despair ;  and  she  wel- 
comed the  gospel  as  the  flower  in  the  desert  welcomes  the 
rain,  held  fast  the  consolation,  and  died  rejoicing  in  faith  —  a 
single  instance  of  the  adaptation  of  the  gospel  to  our  moral 
wants." 


THE  RAILWAY  TICKET. 

To  declare,  I  say,  at  this  time  his  righteousness  :  that  he  might  he  just, 
and  the  justifier  of  him  which  believeth  in  Jesus.  —  Romans  3 :  26. 

"  TJOW  do  you  think  you  are  to  be  justified  before  God  ?  " 
JJL  said  an  Irish  clergyman  to  a  man  in  his  parish. 
"  How,  sir  ?     By  the  righteousness  of  Christ,  to  be  sure  !  " 
"  Well,  but  I  want  you  to  inform  me  what  you  understand 

by  the  righteousness  of  Christ,"  rejoined  the  clergyman. 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  457 

The  man  hesitated  for  a  moment,  and  then  replied,  — 
"  Suppose,  sir,  I  want  to  go  to  Limerick.  I  go  down  to  the 
railway  station,  and  try  to  get  into  a  carriage.  A  porter 
comes  tip  to  me,  and  asks  for  my  ticket.  I  am  obliged  to  tell 
him  I  have  none,  and  have  no  money  to  buy  one.  He  pushes 
me  back,  and  says  I  must  not  go.  A  kind,  rich  man  is  stand- 
ing by ;  he  says  to  me,  'I  will  purchase  a  ticket  for  you.' 
This  he  does,  and  hands  it  to  me.  I  show  it  to  the  porter, 
who  then  allows  me  to  get  into  a  carriage,  and  away  I  go  to 
Limerick.  In  the  same  way  I  want  to  go  to  heaven.  I  have 
no  way  of  purchasing  the  title  to  it.  Jesus  sees  my  anxiety 
to  go ;  he  died  to  pay  the  debt  of  my  sins ;  he  gives  me  his 
righteousness ;  I  show  this  to  God :  and  as  the  railway  ticket 
admitted  me  to  the  train,  this  gives  me  a  title  to  heaven  which 
of  myself  I  did  not  possess,  and  by  my  own  power  I  could 
never  have  obtained." 


FAITH  TRIUMPHING  OVER  NATURE. 

_  Therefore  it  is  of  faith,  that  it  might  be  by  grace ;  to  the  end  the  promise 
might  be  sure  to  all  the  seed;  not  to  that  only  which  is  of  the  law,  but  to 
that  also  which  is  of  the  faith  of  Abraham,  who  is  the  father  of  us*  all.  — 
Romans  4  :  16. 

THE  important  part  which  faith  performed  in  the  early  his- 
tory of  God's  people  is  well  set  forth  by  Dr.  Whedon  in 
his  Commentary  on  Romans  4:16.  He  says,  "  The  Jewish 
Race-Church  was  born  by  miracle  from  Abraham's  faith.  It 
was  a  wonderful  fact  that  not  only  Abraham's  spiritual  seed, 
but  even  his  bodily  posterity,  was  born  of  his  faith,  and  but 
for  that  faith  had  never  existed.  In  patriarchal  times,  great 
was  great  paternity.  To  be  a  bountiful  mother  was  the  glory 
of  a  woman ;  to  be  father  of  a  family,  the  power  of  a  man.  To 
be  father  of  a  tribe  was  power ;  to  be  father  of  a  nation  was 
greatness ;  to  be  father  of  many  nations  was  the  greatest  of 
greatness.  The  great  promise  had  then  been  given  to  Abra- 
ham, that  he  should  be  father  of  many  nations.  The  stars  of 
the  firmament  indicated  their  number  and  prefigured  their 
glory.  But  a  direful  stoppage  was  in  the  way.  The  multi- 
tudinous streams  of  generations  were  dry  at  the  fountain  head. 
58 


458  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

The  birth  of  the  future  church  and  its  Messiah  was  naturally 
impossible.  But  Abraham  was  no  mere  naturalist.  He  be- 
lieved in  a  God  above  nature,  a  God  of  holiness  and  truth ;  he 
held  fast  to  the  divine  promise,  and  left  to  the  divine  will  the 
question  of  the  How.  And  so  by  divine  miracle  was  Israel  born, 
a  miracle  dimly  foreshadowing  the  miracle  of  the  generation 
of  Israel's  Messiah,  and  the  miracle  of  the  regeneration  through 
the  Messiah." 


IMPUTED  RIGHTEOUSNESS  OF  CHRIST. 

And  being  fully  persuaded,  that  what  he  had  promised,  he  was  able  also 
to  perform.  And  therefore  it  was  imputed  to  him  for  righteousness.  — 
Romans  4  :  21,  22. 

THE  doctrine  of  "  Christ's  imputed  Righteousness  "  is  thus 
treated  by  Dr.  Adam  Clarke,  in  his  Commentary  on  the 
fourth  chapter  of  Romans,  —  concluding  remarks  :  "  To  say 
that  Christ's  personal  righteousness  is  imputed  to  every  true 
believer,  is  not  scriptural ;  to  say  that  he  has  fulfilled  all 
righteousness  for  us,  or  in  our  stead,  if  by  this  is  meant  his 
fulfillment  of  all  moral  duties,  is  neither  scriptural  nor  true. 
That  he  has  died  in  our  stea"d,  is  a  great,  glorious,  and  scrip- 
tural truth  ;  that  there  is  no  redemption  but  through  his  blood, 
is  asserted  beyond  all  contradiction,  in  the  oracles  of  God. 
But  there  are  multitudes  which  the  moral  law  requires,  which 
Christ  never  fulfilled  in  our  stead,  and  never  could.  We  have 
various  duties  of  a  domestic  kind,  which  belong  solely  to 
ourselves,  in  the  relation  of  parents,  husbands,  wives,  ser- 
vants, &c.,  in  which  relations  Christ  never  stood.  The  salva- 
tion which  we  receive  from  God's  free  mercy,  through  Christ, 
binds  us  to  live  in  a  strict  conformity  to  the  moral  law ;  that 
Itiw  which  prescribes  our  manners,  and  the  spirit  by  which 
they  should  be  regulated,  and  in  which  they  should  be  per- 
formed. He  who  lives  not  in  the  due  performance  of  every 
Christian  duty,  whatever  faith  he  may  profess,  is  either  a  vile 
hypocrite  or  a  scandalous  Aritinomian." 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  459 

SIMPLICITY  OF  SAVING  FAITH. 

But  for  us  also,  to  whom  it  shall  be  imputed,  if  we  believe  on  him  that 
raised  up  Jesus  our  Lord  from  the  dead.  —  Romans  4  :  24. 

THE  late  King  of  Sweden  was  greatly  exercised  upon  the 
subject  of  faith  some  time  previous  to  his  death.  A  peasant 
being  once  on  a  particular  occasion  admitted  to  his  presence, 
the  king,  knowing  him  to  be  a  person  of  singular  piety,  asked 
him,  "  what  he  took  to  be  the  true  nature  of  faith."  The 
peasant  entered  deeply  into  the  subject,  and  much  to  the  king's 
comfort  and  satisfaction.  The  king,  at  last,  on  his  death-bed, 
had  a  return  of  his  doubts  and  fears  as  to  the  safety  of  his 
soul,  and  still  the  same  question  was  perpetually  in  his  mouth 
to  those  about  him :  "  What  is  real  faith  ?  "  His  attendants 
advised  him  to  send  for  the  Archbishop  of  Upsal,  who,  coming 
to  the  king's  bedside,  began,  in  a  learned  and  logical  manner, 
to  enter  into  the  scholastic  definition  of  faith.  The  prelate's 
disquisition  lasted  an  hour.  When  he  had  done,  the  king  said, 
with  much  energy,  "  All  this  is  ingenious,  but  not  comfortable  ; 
it  is  not  what  I  want.  Nothing  but  the  farmer's  faith  will  do 
for  me." 


DELIVERED  UNTO  DEATH  FOR  OUR  SINS. 

Who  was  delivered  for  our  offenses,  and  was  raised  again  for  our  justifi- 
cation. —  Romans  4  :  25. 

/CHRIST  atones  for  us  on  the  cross ;  he  justifies  us  on  the 
\J  throne.  That  he  may  purchase  our  pardon  for  us,  he 
must  die  ;  that  he  may  secure  the  application  of  his  blood  to 
our  case,  he  must  rise  again.  He  must  ever  live  to  intercede 
for  us  by  pointing  to  the  merit  of  his  death.  He  must  ever 
live  and  reign,  that  he  may  apply  the  pardoning  grace  to  the 
successive  generations  of  the  penitent  as  they  appear  in  faith 
before  him.  —  Dr.  D.  D.  Hliedon,  in  Com. 


460  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 


FAITH  WHICH  JUSTIFIES. 

Therefore  being  justified  by  faith,  we  have  peace  with  God,  through  our 
Lord  Jesus  Christ.  —  Romans  5:1. 

IF  we  would  at  once  see  what  a  true  and  saving  faith  is,  we 
may  take  the  sum  of  it  in  this  description.  It  is  when  a 
sinner,  being,  on  the  one  hand,  thoroughly  convinced  of  his 
sins,  of  the  wrath  of  God  due  to  him  for  them,  of  his  utter 
inability  either  to  escape  or  bear  this  wrath,  —  and  on  the  other 
hand,  being  likewise  convinced  of  the  sufficiency,  willingness, 
and  resignation  of  Christ  to  satisfy  justice,  and  to  reconcile 
and  save  sinners,  —  doth  hereupon  yield  a  firm  assent  unto 
these  truths  revealed  in  the  Scripture,  and  also  accepts  and 
receives  Jesus  Christ  in  all  his  offices,  —  as  his  prophet,  resolv- 
ing to  attend  unto  his  teaching  ;  as  his  Lord  and  King,  re- 
solving to  rely  upon  his  sacrifice  alone,  —  and  doth  accordingly 
submit  to  him,  and  confide  in  him  sincerely  and  perseveringly. 
This  is  that  faith  which  doth  justify,  and  will  certainly  save 
all  those  in  whom  it  is  wrought.  —  Bishop  Hopkins,  of  Lon- 
donderry. 

GOD'S  ANVIL. 

And  not  only  so,  but  we  glory  in  tribulations  also  ;  knowing  that  tribula- 
tion worketh  patience.  —  Romans  5  :  3. 


means  threshing;  and  Trench,  in  his  excel- 
lent  little  treatise  on  the  study  of  words,  has  carried  out 
the  figure,  showing  that  it  is  only  by  threshing  us  that  God  sep- 
arates the  wheat  from  the  chaff.  Here  is  a  precious  little 
morsel  which  somebody  has  clipped  from  an  old  paper  and 
sent  to  us,  credited  "  to  the  German  of  Julius  Sturm,"  and 
which  will  speak  touchingly  to  many  a  heart  which  has  been 
put  into  the  furnace  of  affliction. 

"I  HOLD   STILL." 

"  Pain's  furnace  heat  within  me  quivers, 

God's  breath  upon  the  flame  doth  blow, 
And  all  my  heart  in  anguish  shivers, 
And  trembles  at  the  fiery  glow  ; 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

And  yet  I  whisper,  '  As  God  will ! ' 
And  in  his  hottest  fire  hold  still. 

u  He  comes  and  lays  my  heart,  all  heated, 

On  the  hard  anvil,  minded  so 
Into  his  own  fair  shape  to  beat  it 

With  his  great  hammer,  blow  on  blow ; 
And  yet  I  whisper,  '  As  God  will ! ' 
And  at  his  heaviest  blows  hold  still. 

"  He  takes  my  softened  heart  and  beats  it ; 

The  sparks  fly  off  at  every  blow ;  • 
He  turns  it  o'er  and  o'er  and  heats  it, 

And  lets  it  cool,  and  makes  it  glow ; 
And  yet,  I  whisper,  '  As  God  will ! ; 
And,  in  his  mighty  hand,  hold  still. 

"  Why  should  I  murmur  ?  for  the  sorrow 
Thus  only  long-lived  would  be  ; 

Its  end  may  come,  and  will,  to-morrow,   ' 
When  God  has  done  his  work  in  me ; 

So  I  say,  trusting,  l  As  God  will  ! ; 

And,  trusting  to  the  end,  hold  still. 

"  He  kindles,  for  my  profit  purely, 

Affliction's  glowing,  fiery  brand, 
And  all  his  heaviest  blows  are  surely 

Inflicted  by  a  Master-hand  : 
So  I  say,  praying,  '  As  God  will ! ' 
And  hope  in  him,  and  suffer  still." 


461 


GRACE  FREELY  OFFERED. 

But  not  as  the  offense,  so  also  is  the  free  gift :  for  if  through  the  offense 
of  one  many  be  dead,  much  more  the  grace  of  God,  and  the  gift  by  grace, 
which  is  by  one  man,  Jesus  Christ,  hath  abounded  unto  many.  —  Romans  5  :  15. 

C\  RACE  does  not  stand  upon  a  distant  mountain-top,  and 
VT  call  on  the  sinner  to  climb  up  the  steep  heights,  that  he 


462  NEW   TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

may  obtain  its  treasures ;  it  comes  down  into  the  valley  in 
quest  of  him ;  nay,  it  stretches  down  its  hand  into  the  very 
lowest  depths  of  the  horrible  pit,  to  pluck  him  thence  out  of 
the  miry  clay.  It  does  not  offer  to  pay  the  ninety  and  nine 
talents  if  he  will  pay  the  remaining  one  ;  it  provides  payment 
for  the  whole,  whatever  the  sum  may  be.  It  does  not  offer  to 
complete  the  work  if  he  will  only  begin  it  by  doing  what  he 
can ;  it  takes  the  whole  work  in  hand,  from  first  to  last,  pre- 
supposing his  total  helplessness.  It  does  not  bargain  with 
the  sinner,  that  if  he  will  throw  off  a  few  sins,  and  put  forth 
some  efforts  after  better  things,  it  will  step  in  and  relieve 
him  of  the  rest'by  forgiving  and  cleansing  him;  it  comes  up 
to  him  at  once,  with  nothing  short  of  complete  forgiveness,  as 
the  starting-point  of  all  his  efforts  to  be  holy.  It  does  not 
say,  "  Go,  and  sin  no  more,  and  I  will  not  condemn  thee  ;  "  it 
says  at  once,  "  Neither  do  I  condemn  thee ;  go  and  sin  no 
more."  —  Rev.  H.  Bonar. 

A  WONDERFUL  PULPIT. 

Moreover  the  law  entered  that  the  offense  might  abound.     But  where  sin 
abounded,  grace  did  much  more  abound.  —  Romans  5  :  20. 

THE  pulpit  of  a  true  Christian  ministry  is-  no  rose-water 
affair,  to  suit  the  likes  and  dislikes  of  men  in  their  sins.  It 
must  show  "  the  exceeding  sinfulness  of  sin,"  that  the  remedy 
for  sin  may  be  sought  after  and  applied  to  the  soul.  Those 
ministers  who  make  prominent  their  laudations  of  human  na- 
ture, and  keep  out  of  sight  man's  deep  depravity,  and  his  need 
of  pardon  and  converting  grace,  as  declared  in  the  Bible,  are 
quack  doctors  in  the  hospital  of  this  world's  humanity.  They 
seek  to  effect  a  surface  cure,  while  the  disease  of  sin  is  deep- 
seated,  and  demands  the  most  faithful  probing  to  touch  its 
depths  of  corruption.  That  only  is  a  cure  that  changes  the 
heart.  That  sinner  only  is  saved  into  whose  moral  nature 
God  puts  the  "new  spirit"  (Ezekiel  11:19),  after  taking 
away  "  the  stony  heart."  Rev.  W.  F.  Crafts,  A.  M.,  gives  us 
a  beautiful  illustration  of  a  true  gospel  pulpit :  — 

"  In  the  cathedral  of  Brussels  there  is  one  of  the  most  won- 
derful pulpits  in  the  world,  which  is   called  '  The  Chair  of 


NEW   TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  463 

Truth.'  It  is  carved  very  skillfully  in  wood,  and  represents 
the  pulpit  in  the  midst  of  l  the  tree  of  life,'  so  that  the  preacher 
seems  to  speak,  indeed,  in  God's  stead,  as  if  he  were  only  a 
1  voice/  like  John  the  Baptist,  uttering  the  message  of  God's 
heart.  Beneath  the  pulpit,  and  beneath  the  tree,  we  see 
Adam  and  Eve,  hanging  their  guilty  heads  in  shame,  and 
hastening  from  the  garden,  driven  forth  by  the  angel  with  the 
flaming  sword,  who  is  following  them.  The  serpent's  form  is 
twined  about  the  tree,  and  its  head,  with  open  mouth,  is  seen 
above  the  pulpit;  but  upon  that  head  stands  the  Christ-child, 
with  the  cross  as  its  spear  and  staff,  and  his  mother  behind 
him.  The  seed  of  the  woman  is  bruising  the  serpent's  head. 
This  symbolic  pulpit  is  a  powerful  lecture  in  homiletics,  and 
the  art  of  Christian  teaching  generally.  Every  successful 
pulpit  must  be  founded  on  an  intense  realization  of  sin,  and 
crowned  with  a  grand  assurance  of  the  power  of  Christ  to 
triumph  over  sin." 

Every  Christian  teacher,  whether  in  the  pulpit,  in  the 
home  circle,  or  in  the  Sunday  school,  needs  the  same  realiza- 
tion of  ntan's  sinfulness,  and  the  same  assurance  of.  Christ's 
saving  power.  "  Sin  abounds."  "  Grace  does  much  more 
abound."  These  two  supreme  facts  must  be  intensely  real  in 
the  heart  of  every  teacher  of  God's  word,  that  he  may  indeed 
be  a  "  fellow-helper  to  the  truth." 
May,  1874. 

DID  SHE  WALK  IN  NEWNESS  OF  LIFE? 

Therefore  we  are  buried  with  him  by  baptism  into  death:  that  like  as 
Christ  was  raised  up  from  the  dead  by  the  glory  of  the  Father,  even  so  we 
also  should  walk  in  newness  of  life.  —  Romans  6  :  4. 

MRS.  A.  was  a  church  member.  She  thought  herself  ex- 
ceedingly benevolent.  She  gave  to  almost  every  cause. 
We  will  see  how  benevolent  she  was.  She  gave  six  dollars 
for  a  pocket  handkerchief,  and  having  a  dollar  left  after  the 
purchase,  dropped  it  in  the  box  for  "  foreign  missions."  She 
gave  forty  dollars  for  a  crape  shawl,  and  two  dollars  the  same 
day  to  "  domestic  missions/'  She  gave  ten  dollars  for  a  pair 
of  earrings,  and  a  quarter  of  a  dollar  to  the  "  tract  society ; " 


464  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

three  hundred  dollars  she  expended  on  a  fashionable  party 
when  her  daughter  Amelia  "  carne  out/7  and  fifty  dollars  went 
towards  repairing  the  church  and  paying  the  pastor.  Her 
elegant  cut  velvet  hat  cost  fifteen  dollars ;  she  paid  fifty 
cents  about  the  same  time  towards  a  new  Sabbath  school 
library.  She  gave  three  dollars  for  Eliza  Ann's  senseless  wax 
doll,  and  one  dollar  towards  educating  a  young  immortal  in 
Africa.  Which  weighed  the  heaviest  in  her  heart,  Christ  or 
the  fashionable  world  ?  Will  God  be  satisfied  with  the  dribblets 
which  chance  to  remain  in  the  Christian's  purse,  after  every 
elegant  taste  has  been  gratified,  and  that,  too,  when  a  heathen 
world  is  perishing? 

THE  BODY  OF  SIN  DESTROYED. 

Knowing  this,  that  our  old  man  is  crucified  with  him,  that  the  body  of  sin 
might  be  destroyed,  that  henceforth  we  should  not  serve  sin.  —  Romans  6  :  6. 

A  MAN  may  beat  down  the  bitter  fruit  from  an  evil  tree 
until  he  is  weary  ;  whilst  the  root  abides  in  strength  and 
vigor,  the  beating  down  of  the  present  fruit  will  not  hinder  it 
from  bringing  forth  more.  This  is  the  folly  of  some  men ; 
they  set  themselves  with  all  earnestness  and  diligence  against 
the  appearing  eruptions  of  lust,  but,  leaving  the  principle  and 
root  untouched,  perhaps  unsearched  out,  they  make  but  little 
or  no  progress  in  this  work  of  mortification.  —  John  Owen, 
D.D. 


CAN  WE  DO  NO  MORE  FOR  CHRIST? 

Likewise  reckon  ye  also  yourselves  to  be  dead  indeed  unto  sin,  but  alive 
unto  God  through  Jesus  Christ  our  Lord.  —  Romans  6:11. 

IN  this  day  and  age  of  the  world,  a  large  and  wide  field  is 
open  for  Christian  philanthropy  and  zeal,  wherein  to  exer- 
cise its  fullest  benevolence  and  most  extended  schemes  of 
usefulness,  in  the  blessed  work  of  Sabbath  schools,  Bible  and 
tract  distribution,  missions,  and  many  other  noble  plans  for 
benefiting  our  fallen  race.  One  hardly  need  be  in  want  of  a 
place  to  work.  Yet,  with  all  these  opportunities  for  doing 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  465 

good,  there  are  those  who  find  little  or  nothing  to  do  for  Christ. 
Such  go  upon  the  ground  that  all  cannot  engage  in  Sabbath 
school  instruction,  or  in  carrying  the  word  of  life  from  door 
to  door,  or  enlist  as  foreign  and  home  missionaries.  And 
must  there,  on  this  account,  be  some  idlers  in  the  vineyard, 
some  excused  from  labor  for  Christ,  except  so  far  as  their 
pecuniary  aid  is  called  for  ?  Admit  that  all  these  avenues  of 
usefulness  are  closed  to  you ;  can  you  not  speak  a  word  for 
Christ  ?  Were  our  conversational  powers  given  us  for  our 
own  gratification  and  that  of  our  friends  merely,  or  for  this, 
as  the  chief  object?  Much  of  our  influence,  for  weal  or  woe, 
upon  those  around  us,  must  depend  upon  the  use  we  make  of 
the  "  one  talent "  committed  to  us  in  the  gift  of  speech.  Look 
at  it,  Christian  friend  !  You  have  an  impenitent  man  in  your 
employ.  He  has  been  by  your  side,  engaged  in  the  same 
labor,  for  weeks,  and  months,  perhaps  even  years,  and  there 
has  been  a  free  interchange  of  thought  and  feeling  on  almost 
every  subject ;  but  have  you  ever  talked  with  him  frankly  on 
the  one  thing  needful  —  inquired  after  his  soul's  interest  ? 
The  wife  and  mother,  who  regrets  that  she  "  is  so  shut  up  at 
home,"  has  she  been  faithful  in  urging  the  claims  of  Christ 
upon  her  children  and  domestics,  and  up<3n  all  who  make  up 
that  dear  home  circle  ? 


BODILY  INDULGENCES. 

Let  not  sin  therefore  reign  in  your  mortal  body,  that  ye  should  obey  it  in 
the  lusts  thereof.  —  Romans  6  :  12. 

/CHRISTIANITY  forbids  all  hurtful  indulgences,  which  war 
\J  against  the  soul. 

Many  are  the  New  Testament  passages  referring  to  the 
hindrances  which  wrong  physical  appetites  throw  in  the  way 
of  spiritual  advancement.  "  Seeing  we  are  compassed  about 
with  so  great  a  cloud  of  witnesses,  let  us  lay  aside  every 
weight,  and  the  sin  which  doth  so  easily  beset  us ;  and  let  us 
run  with  patience  the  race  that  is  set  before  us."  Here, 
under  the  same  figure,  the  apostle  urges  physical  and  dietetic 
59 


4G6  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

discipline,  like  that  of  the  foot-racers,  as  essentially  connected 
with  growth  in  spiritual  grace.  In  Romans  6,  he  says,  "  Let 
not  sin,  therefore,  reign  in  your  mortal  bodies,  that  ye  should 
obey  it  in  the  lusts  thereof."  Peter  says,  "  Abstain  from 
fleshly  lusts,"  —  extravagant  appetites  and  passions,  — - "  which 
war  against  the  soul."  There  are  other  scriptures  showing 
the  intimate  relation  which  the  bodily  system  bears  to  the 
spiritual  character  j  and  it  has  seemed  strange  to  me  that  ser- 
mons based  upon  this  great  and  important  fact,  to  which  so 
many  scriptures  attest,  are  almost  never  preached.  There  is, 
probably,  greater  damage  done  to  the  soul  of  Christianity  at 
the  present  day  by  the  varied  sensualities  of  the  lips,  than  by 
almost  any  other  means.  And  yet  there  is  but  just  one  form 
of  intemperance  referred  to  in  the  preaching  of  the  day,  and 
that  too  often  omitted. 


DR.  RUSH  ON  THEATER-GOING. 

Know  ye  not  that  to  whom  ye  yield  yourselves  servants  to  obey,  his  ser- 
vants ye  are  to  whom  ye  obey ;  whether  of  sin  unto  death,  or  of  obedience 
unto  righteousness?  —  Ifymans  6 :  16. 

DR.  RUSH  told  a  friend  that  he  was  once  in  company  with 
a  lady,  a  professor  of  religion,  who  was  speaking  of  the 
pleasure  she  anticipated  at  the  theater  in  the  evening. 
"  What,  madam,"  said  he,  "  do  you  go  to  the  theater  ?  " 
"  Yes,"  was  the  reply ;  "  and  don't  you  go,  doctor  ?  " 
"  No,  madam,"  said  he  ;  "  I  never  go  to  such  places  !  " 
"  Why,    sir,    do  you  not  go  ?      Do  you  think   it   sinful  ? " 
said  she. 

He  replied,  "  I  will  never  publish  to  the  world  that  I  think 
Jesus  Christ  a  bad  master,  and  religion  an  unsatisfying  portion, 
which  I  should  do  if  I  went  on  the  devil's  ground  in  quest  of 
happiness." 

This  argument  was  short,  but  conclusive.  The  lady  de- 
termined not  to  go. 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS, 


467 


THOMAS  PAINE'S  LAST  HOURS. 

What  fruit  had  ye  then  in  those  things  whereof  ye  are  now  ashamed?  for 
the  end  of  those  things  is  death.  —  Romans  6  :  21. 

A  RECENT  memoir  of  Stephen  Grellet,  a  beloved  Christian 
minister  among  the  Friends,  furnishes  us  some  facts  con- 
nected with  the  death-bed  of  Thomas  Paine,  which  have  never 
before  been  published,  and  which  will  be  read  with  the  deepest 
interest.  There  is  a  terrible  pathos  in  the  story  of  a  life  of 
such  blasphemy  and  darkness,  lit  up  at  last  with  the  stern  re- 
vealings  of  death. 

"  A  few  days  previous  to  my  leaving  home  on  my  last  re- 
ligious visit,"  says  Mr.  Grellet,  "  on  hearing  that  he  [Paine] 
was  ill,  and  in  a  very  destitute  condition,  I  went  to  see  him, 
and  found  him  in  a  wretched  state ;  for  he  had  been  so  neg- 
lected and  forsaken  by  his  pretended  friends,  that  the  common 
attentions  to  a  sick  man  had  been  withheld  from  him.  The 
skin  of  his  body  was,  in  some  places,  worn  off,  which  greatly 
increased  his  sufferings.  A  nurse  was  provided  for  hinij  and 
some  needful  comforts  were  supplied.  He  was  mostly  in  a 
state  of  stupor ;  but  something  that  had  passed  between  us  had 
made  such  an  impression  upon  him,  that  some  days  after  my 
departure,  he  sent  for  me,  and  on  being  told  I  was  gone  from 
home,  he  sent  for  another  Friend. 

"  This  induced  a  valuable  young  Friend,  Mary  Roscoe,  who 
had  resided  in  my  family,  and  continued  at  Greenwich  during 
part  of  my  absence,  frequently  to  go  and  take  him  some  little 
refreshments  suitable  for  an  invalid,  furnished  by  a  neighbor. 

"  Once,  when  she  was  there,  three  of  his  deistical  associates 
came  to  the  door,  and  in  a  loud,  unfeeling  manner,  said,  '  Tom 
Paine,  it  is  said  you  are  turning  Christian  5  but  we  hope  you 
will  die  as  you  have  lived  ;  '  and  then  went  away.  On  which, 
turning  to  Mary,  he  said  l  You  see  what  miserable  comforter^ 
they  are.' 

"  Once  he  asked  her  if  she  had  ever  read  any  of  his  writings  ; 
and  on  being  told  that  she  had  read  but  very  little  of  them,  he 
inquired  what  she  thought  of  them,  adding,  '  From  such  a  one 
as  you  I  expect  a  correct  answer.'  She  told  him  that,  when 


468  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

very  yoimg,  his  '  Age  of  Reason '  was  put  into  her  hands,  but 
that  the  more  she  read  in  it,  the  more  dark  and  distressed  she 
felt,  and  she  threw  the  book  into  the  fire. 

"  *  I  wish  all  had  done  as  you/  he  replied ;  l  for  if  the  devil 
has  ever  had  any  agency  in  any  work,  he  has  had  it  in  my 
writing  that  book/ 

"  When  going  to  carry  him  some  refreshment,  she  repeat- 
edly heard  him  uttering  the  language,  '  0  Lord  !  Lord  God  I' 
or,  l  Lord  Jesus  !  have  mercy  upon  me  ! ' 

"  It  is  well  known  that  during  some  weeks  of  his  illness, 
when  a  little  free  from  bodily  pain,  he  wrote  a  great  deal ;  tin's 
his  nurse  told  me :  and  Mary  Roscoe  repeatedly  saw  him  writ- 
ing. If  his  companions  in  infidelity  had  found  anything  to 
support  the  idea  that  he  continued  on  his  death-bed  to  espouse 
their  cause,  would  they  not  have  eagerly  published  it  ?  But 
not  a  word  is  said  ;  there  is  a  total  secrecy  as  to  what  has  be- 
come of  these  writings/7 


CHRIST  IS  WONDERFUL. 

For  I  was  alive  without  the  law  once ;  but  when  the  commandment  came, 
sin  revived,  and  I  died.  —  Romans  7:9. 

WELL  may  Christ  be  called  Wonderful.  He  is  wonderful 
for  what  he  is  in  the  present.  And  here  I  will  just 
appeal  to  you  personally  —  is  he  wonderful  to  you  ?  Let  me 
tell  the  story  of  my  own  wonderment  at  Christ ;  and,  in  telling 
it,  I  shall  be  telling  the  experience  of  all  God's  children. 
There  was  a  time  when  I  wondered  not  at  Christ.  I  heard 
of  his  beauties,  but  I  had  never  seen  them  j  I  heard  of  his 
power,  but  it  was  naught  to  me  ;  it  was  but  news  of  something 
done  in  a  far  country ;  I  had  no  connection  with  it,  and  there- 
fore I  observed  it  not.-  But,  once  upon  a  time,  there  came  one 
to  my  house  of  a  black  and  terrible  aspect.  He  smote  the 
door.  I  tried  to  bolt  it,  to  hold  it  fast.  He  smote  again  and 
again,  till  at  last  he  entered,  and  with  a  rough  voice,  he 
summoned  me  before  him ;  and  he  said,  "  I  have  a  message 
from  God  for  thee.  Thou  art  condemned  on  account  of  thy 
Bins."  I  looked  at  him  with  astonishment.  I  asked  him  his 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  469 

name.  He  said,  "  My  name  is  the  Law  ;  "  and  I  fell  at  his  feet 
as  one  that  was  dead.  "  I  was  alive  without  the  law  once ; 
but  when  the  commandment  came,  sin  revived,  and  I  died." 
As  I  lay  there,  he  smote  me.  He  smote  me  till  every  rib 
seemed  as  if  it  must  break,  and  the  bowels  be  poured  forth. 
My  heart  was  melted  like  wax  within  me.  I  seemed  to  be 
stretched  upon  a  rack  —  to  be  pinched  with  hot  irons  —  to  be 
beaten  with  whips  of  burning  wire.  A  misery  extreme  dwelt 
and  reigned  in  my  heart.  I  dared  not  lift  up  mine  eyes,  but 
I  thought  within  myself,  "  There  may  be  hope,  there  may  be 
mercy  for  me.  Perhaps  the  God  whom  I  have  offended  may 
accept  my  tears  and  my  promises  of  amendment,  and  I  may 
live."  But  when  that  thought  crossed  me,  heavier  were  the 
blows,  and  more  poignant  my  sufferings,  than  before,  till  hope 
entirely  failed  me,  and  I  had  naught  wherein  to  trust.  Dark- 
ness, black  and  dense,  gathered  around  me.  I  heard  a  voice 
as  it  were  of  rushing  to  and  fro,  and  of  wailing  and  gnashing 
of  teeth.  .  I  said  within  my  soul,  "  I  am  cast  out  from  his  sight ; 
I  am  utterly  abhorred  of  God  ;  he  hath  trampled  me  in  the 
mire  of  the  streets  in  his  anger."  And  there  came  one  by  of 
sorrowful  but  of  loving  aspect,  and  he  stooped  over  me,  and 
he  said,  "  Awake,  thou  that  sleepest,  and  arise  from  the  dead, 
and  Christ  shall  give  thee  light."  I  arose  in  astonishment, 
and  he  took  me,  and  he  led  me  to  a  place  where  stood  a  cross, 
and  he  seemed  to  vanish  from  my  sight.  But  he  appeared 
again  hanging  there.  I  looked  upon  him  as  he  bled  upon  that 
tree.  His  eyes  darted  a  glance  of  love  unutterable  into  my 
spirit,  and  in  a  moment,  looking  at  him,  the  bruises  that  my 
soul  had  suffered  were  healed ;  the  gaping  wounds  were  cured  ; 
the  broken  bones  rejoiced  ;  the  rags  that  half  covered  me  were 
all  removed  ;  my  spirit  was  white  as  the  spotless  snows  of  the 
far- off- north.  I  had  melody  within  my  spirit ;  for  I  was  saved, 
washed,  cleansed,  forgiven,  through  him  that  did  hang  upon 
the  tree.  0,  how  I  wondered  that  I  should  be  pardoned  !  It 
was  not  the  pardon  that  I  wondered  at  so  much ;  the  wonder 
was,  that  it  should  come  to  me.  I  wondered  that  he  should  be 
able  to  pardon  such  sins  as  mine.  —  C.  H.  Spurgeon. 


470  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 


DECEIVABLENESS  OF  SIN. 

For  sin,  taking*  occasion  by  the  commandment,  deceived  me,  and  by  it 
slew  me.  —  Romans  1  :  11. 


Watchman  and  Reflector  has  some  very  sensible  criti- 
JL  cisms  on  the  semi-infidel  theories  of  natural  goodness  and 
excellences  of  sinful  nature.  It  says  these  rose-water  theories 
as  to  what  sin  actually  is,  in  its  root  and  character,  belong 
purely  to  the  study,  and  find  no  favor  practically  in  the  great 
out-door  world.  One  of  these  very  writers,  if  he  were  to 
awake  some  morning  and  find  that  his  house  had  been  robbed, 
would  be  just  as  eager  as  any  one  else  to  .catch  the  thieves, 
and  have  them  brought  to  punishment.  The  sinners  that 
break  into  his  own  house  to  steal,  and,  if  need  be,  to  kill,  are 
not  the  kind  of  sinners  contemplated  in  his  theory.  In  short, 
in  the  actual  business  of  life,  and  where  the  great  common 
sense  of  humanity  has  free  course,  sin  is  estimated,  in  its  tem- 
per and  quality,  just  as  it  is  in  the  Bible,  and  in  all  true  evan- 
gelical preaching.  Everywhere  on  the  face  of  the  earth,  in 
the  common  details  of  their  daily  life,  men  regard  sin  as  that 
which  is  guilty  and  punishable.  So  strongly  is  this  sentiment 
imbedded  in  the  human  mind  that  where  courts  are  corrupted 
and  justice  is  delayed,  where  crimes  are  winked  at  and  go 
unpunished,  the  people  as  a  mass  will  rise  up  and  become  the 
summary  avengers  of  iniquity.  When  a  band  of  men,  in  the 
silence  of  the  night,  take  a  gang  of  robbers  from  the  officers 
of  the  law,  and  hang  them  upon  the  nearest  tree  because  they 
cannot  otherwise  have  justice  done,  is  it  to-  be  supposed  that 
they  and  the  wide-spread  community  which  they  represent 
hold  to  these  soft  and  sickly  theories  as  to  what  sin  is  ?  Would 
they  be  content  to  talk  of  it  and  think  of  it  as  a  "  mere  defect 
of  nature,"  or  as  "  arising  from  imperfect  knowledge  "  ?  No  ; 
the  Bible  and  the  common  sense  of  mankind  agree  on  this  sub- 
ject, as  upon  many  others,  and  these  feeble  theories  are  as 
offensive  to  reason  as  they  are  to  Christian  doctrine. 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  471 


DIFFERENT  ESTIMATES  OF  SIN. 

Was  then  that  which  is  good  made  death  unto  me?  Gqd  forbid.  But  sin, 
that  it  might  appear  sin,  working  death  in  me  by  that  which  is  good,  that  sin, 
by  the  commandment,  might  become  exceeding  sinful.  —  Romans  7  :  13. 

WHEN"  the  doctrine  of  man's  natural  depravity  is  preached 
in  scriptural  fashion  from  the  evangelical  pulpit,  there 
are  multitudes  of  men  who  curl  the  lip  in  scorn,  and  bless 
themselves  that  they  take  more  elevated  and  cheerful  views 
of  human  nature.  Those  especially  who  call  themselves  Liberal 
Christians  are  always  greatly  shocked  at  the  bare  mention  of 
"  total  depravity/'  though  they  seldom  take  pains  to  inform 
themselves  what  that  doctrine,  as  held  by  the  evangelical 
churches,  really  is.  We  have  also  an  abundance  of  writers  in 
these  modern  times,  who,  when  they  sit  down  to  theorize 
about  sin,  make  it  such  an  exceedingly  simple  and  innocent 
affair,  that  no  one  need  be  troubled  by  it.  It  is  a  mere  defect 
of  nature,  arising  from  want  of  proper  knowledge.  It  is  inci- 
dental to  all  early  and  finite  training.  It  is  not  only  harmless 
in  the  long  run,  but  a  positive  source  of  good. 


CHRIST  OUR  DELIVERER. 

0,  wretched  man  that  I  am!  who  shall  deliver  me  from  the  body  of  this 
death  ?  —  Romans  7  :  24. 

THE  seventh  chapter  of  Romans  is  too  often  made  a  hiding- ' 
place  for  backslidden  professors,  and  such  as  professed 
religion  without  ever  experiencing  a  change  of  heart.  The 
true  Christian  leaves  this  chapter,  as  a  description  of  experi- 
ence at  his  conversion,  as  quickly  as  the  sick  man  leaves  the 
hospital  when  fully  cured. 

Our  Lord  does  more  than  pardon,  —  he   delivers.     "Who 
shall  deliver  me  ? "  is  the  cry  of  a  seeker. 

Man  in  the  flesh,  as  a  child  of  Adam,  wants  two  'things  — 
the  forgiveness  of  the  sins  which  he  committed  in  that  state  ; 
and  also  deliverance  out  of  that  state,  and  to  get  into  a  new 
state.     For  man,  the  judgment  will  be  according  to  the  deeds 


472  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

done  in  his  body,  whether  good  or  bad.  Now,  as  Christians, 
we  find  that  we  are  forgiven  our  sins,  for  which  Christ  died ; 
and  not  only  this,  but  that  our  old  man  is  crucified  with  him, 
that  the  body  of  sin  might  be  destroyed.  God  has  turned  to 
the  tree,  and  says,  "  The  tree  is  bad."  Then  he  deals  with 
it  in  Christ,  in  judgment,  not  merely  its  fruit.  Then  he  shows 
the  source  of  life  to  us,  —  Christ  himself,  —  after  he  has  cut 
all  away  !  —  Times  of  Refreshing. 


TRINITY  IN  UNITY. 

So  then  with  the  mind  I  myself  serve  the  law  of  God.  —  Romans  7  :  25. 

THE  authority  of  the  law  of  God,  says  the  Rev.  N.  West,  is 
the  authority  of  a  Trinity  in  Unity.  "  I  myself  serve  the 
law  of  God."  (Rom.  7  :  25.)  "Fulfill  the  law  of  Christ." 
(Gal.  6  :  2.)  "The  law  of  the  Spirit  of  life."  (Rom.  8  :  2.) 
The  divine  law  is,  then,  the  law  of  God,  of  Christ,  and  of  the 
Spirit.  But  it  is  written,  "  There  is  one  lawgiver,  who  is  able 
to  save,"  &c.  (James  4  :  12.)  Therefore  these  three  are  one. 
Here,  then,  is  the  true  reason  why  the  Scriptures  represent 
the  whole  Trinity  was  tempted  and  resisted  by  the  disobedi- 
ence of  man.  For  sin  being  the  transgression  of  the  law,  and 
the  law  resting  on  the  sanction  of  the  undivided  authority  of 
the  Father,  the  Son,  and  the  Holy  Ghost,  every  breach  of  it 
is  against  the  Trinity.  Hence  the  strong  prohibition,  "  Ye 
shall  not  tempt  the  Lord  your  God."  (Deut.  6  :  16.) 


HE  WILL  RAISE  US  UP. 

But  if  the  Spirit  of  him  that  raised  up  Jesus  from  the  (load  dwell  in  you, 
he  that  raised  up  Christ  from  the  dead  shall  also  quicken  your  mortal  bodies 
by  his  Spirit  that  dwelleth  in  you.  —  Romans  8  :  11. 

THE  earth  is  God's  chest,  in  which  he  locks  up  the  dust  of 
his  saints  for  a  short  time ;  but  when  God  calls  for  this 
treasure  again,  the  earth  shall  presently  be  willing  to  yield 
what  was  intrusted  to  her  bowels :  as  the  dew  of  heaven  full- 


NEW   TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  473 

ing  upon  the  herbs  after  they  are  withered  and  almost  dead 
by  the  parching  heat  of  the  sunne,  again  waxe  green  and 
flourish,  so  when  we  have  laine  withering  in  the  grave,  the 
Lord  Jesus  Christ  shall  be  as  the  dew  of  heaven  upon  us ;  He 
shall  come  down  in  His  power  and  put  a  new  life  into  us,  and 
after  death  Ave  shall  be  raised  to  a  life  of  glory.  Our  bodies 
are  called  in  Scripture  the  temples  of  God.  Let  me  tell  you 
that  God  will  not  pull  downe  His  temples,  unless  He  intended 
to  build  them  up  againe ;  He  will  set  up  these  temples  in 
glory,  which  he  pulls  downe  and  layes  in  the  dust  with 
dishonour.* 


MINISTRY  OF  AFFLICTION. 

For  I  reckon  that  the  sufferings  of  this  present  time  are  not  worthy  to  be 
compared  with  the  glory  wluch  shall  be  revealed  in  us.  —  Romans  8  :  18. 

AN  invalid  of  twenty  years,  whose  sufferings  were  extreme, 
was  one  night  thinking  of  the  reason  of  this  long-con- 
tinued affliction ;  suddenly  the  room  filled  with  light,  and  a 
beautiful  form  bent  over  her,  saying, — 

"  Daughter  of  sorrow,  art  thou  impatient?" 

"  No ;  but  I  am  full  of  pain  and  disease,  and  I  see  no  end  ; 
nor  can  I  see  why  I  must  suffer  thus." 

"  Come  with  me,  daughter,  and  I  will  show  thee." 

He  tenderly  took  her  up  in  his  arms,  and  carried  her  over 
land  and  water,  till  he  set  her  down  in  a  far-off  city,  and  in  the 
midst  of  a  large  workshop.  The  room  was  full  of  windows, 
and  the  workmen  seemed  to  have  small  brown  pebbles,  which 
they  were  grinding,  and  shaping,  and  polishing.  The  guide 
pointed  her  to  one  who  seemed  to  be  most  earnestly  at  work. 
He  had  a  half-polished  pebble,  which  was  now  seen  to  be  a 
diamond,  in  a  pair  of  strong  pincers.  He  seemed  to  grasp  the 
little  thing  as  if  he  would  crush  it,  and  to  hold  it  to  the  rough 
stone  without  mercy.  The  stone  whirled,  and  the  dust  flew, 
and  the  jewel  grew  smaller  and  lighter.  Ever  and  anon  he 

*  From  "  The  Perfection  of  Justification  maintained  against  the  Pharise, 
and  the  Purity  of  the  Sanctification  against  the  Stainers  of  it.  By  John  Simp- 
son, an  unworthy  publisher  of  Gospel  Truths  in  London."  London,  1G48. 

60 


474  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

would  stop,  hold  it  up  to  the  light,  and  examine  it  carefully. 
"  Workman,"  said  the  sufferer,  "  will  you  please  tell  me  why 
you  bear  on  and  grind  the  jewel  so  hard  ?  " 

"  I  want  to  grind  off  every  flaw  and  crack  in  it." 

"  But  don't  you  waste  it  ?  " 

"  Yes  ;  but  what  is  left  is  worth  so  much  more.  The  fact  is, 
this  diamond,  if  it  will  bear  the  wheel  long  enough,  is  to 
occupy  a  very  important  place  in  the  crown  we  are  making 
up  for  our  king.  We  take  more  pains  with  such.  We  have 
to  grind  and  polish  them  a  great  while  j  but  when  they  are 
done  they  are  beautiful.  The  king  was  here  yesterday,  and 
much  pleased  with  our  work,  but  wanted  that  this  jewel  in  par- 
ticular should  be  ground  and  polished  a  great  deal.  So  you 
see  how  hard  I  hold  it  down  on  this  stone.  And  see,  there  is 
not  a  crack  nor  a  flaw  in  it !  What  a  beauty  it  will  be  !  " 

Gently  the  guide  lifted  up  the  poor  Sufferer,  and  again  laid 
her  down  on  her  bed  of  pain. 

"  Daughter  of  sorrow,  dost  thou  understand  the  vision  ?  " 

"  0,  yes ;  but  may  I  ask  you  one  question? " 

"  Certainly." 

"  Were  you  sent  to  me  to  show  me  all  this  ?  " 

"  Assuredly." 

"  0,  may  I  take  to  myself  the  consolation  that  I  am  a  dia- 
mond, and  am  now  in  the  hands  of  the  strong  man  who  is  pol- 
ishing it  for  the  crown  of  the  great  King?  " 

"  Daughter  of  sorrow,  thou  mayst  have  consolation :  and 
every  pang  of  suffering  shall  be  like  a  flash  of  lightning  in  a 
dark  night,  revealing  eternity  to  thee  ;  and  hereafter  thou  shalt 
'  run  without  weariness  and  walk  without  faintness,'  and  sing 
with  those  who  have  come  out  of  great  tribulation." 


INTERCESSION  OF  THE  SPIRIT. 

Likewise  the  Spirit  also  helpeth  our  infirmities ;  for  we  know  not  what  we 
should  pray  for  as  we  ought ;  hut  the  Spirit  itself  maketh  intercession  for  us 
with  groanings  which  can  not  be  uttered.  —  Romans  8  :  2G. 


D 


R.  CHALMERS  gives  the  following  interesting  explana- 
tion of  the  intercession  of  the  Spirit :  — 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  475 

<k  How  is  it,  that  l  the  Spirit  itself  maketh  intercession  for 
us  with  groanings  which  can  not  be  uttered  ? '  When  the 
Spirit  maketh  intercession  for  us,  it  is  not  by  any  direct  sup- 
plication from  himself  to  God  the  Father  on  behalf  of  any  one 
individual,  but  it  is  by  pouring  upon  that  individual  the  spirit 
of  prayer  and  supplication.  The  man  whom  he  prays  for  is,  in 
fact,  the  organ  of  his  prayer.  The  prayer  passes,  as  it  were, 
from  the  Spirit  through  him  who  is  the  object  of  it.  These 
groanings  of  the  Spirit  of  God  which  can  not  be  uttered  are 
those  unutterable  desires  wherewith  the  heart  is  charged, 
and  which  can  only  find  vent  in  the  ardent  but  unspeakable 
breathings  of  one  who  feels  his  need,  and  longs  to  be  relieved 
from  it ;  who  has  a'  strong  and  general  appetency  after  right- 
eousness, and  yet  can  only  sigh  it  forth  in  ejaculations  of  in- 
tense earnestness.  These  are  called  the  groanings  of  the 
Spirit  of  God,  because  it  is,  in  fact,  he  who  hath  awakened 
them  in  the  spirit  of  man.  When  he  intercedes  for  a  believer, 
the  believer's  own  heart  is  the  channel  through  which  the 
intercession  finds  its  way  to  the  throne  of  grace." 


GOOD  OUT  OF  EVIL. 

And  we  know  that  all  things  work  together  for  good  to  them  that  love  God ; 
to  them  who  are  the  called  according  to  his  purpose.  —  Romans  8 :  28. 

rilREASONS,  seditions,  battles,  and  revolutions,  so  far  as  they 
JL  are  made  up  of  evil,  are  of  man ;  but  in  this  evil  development 
are  to  be  recognized,  nevertheless,  the  controlling  purpose 
and  overruling  goodness  of  God.  Judas  was  the  son  of  per- 
dition, and  Satan. possessed  him;  but  his  intended  decadence 
sped  on  the  work  of  redemption.  The  fall  of  Jerusalem 
seemed  like  a  geyser  of  hell,  springing  up  to  meet  an  over- 
turned vial  of  the  hottest  wrath  of  Heaven  ;  but  into  the  heart 
of  that  glowing  ruin,  as  into  molten  wax,  was  stamped  down 
a  new  seal  of  attestation  to  Christ's  Messiahship,  and  out  of 
that  furnace-mouth  of  vengeance  went  a  new  pentecostal  fire, 
a  fresh  and  wider  evangelization  of  the  Gentiles.  The  wars 
that  marked  the  Protestant  reformation  on  the  soil  of  Ger- 
many, Holland,  France,  England,  and  Scotland,  and  the  later 


476  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

struggles  of  the  English  commonwealth,  spread  round  much 
of  woe,  and  wrong  even ;  but  who  could  spare  from  European 
and  American  history  the  seeds  of  truth  and  life,  order  and 
freedom,  that  those  conflicts  scattered?  The  good  very  far 
outweighed  the  precedent  and  attendant  ills.  Could  litera- 
ture, could  freedom,  could  religion  forego  the  heroes,  martyrs, 
sages,  and  confessors  that  emerged  in  those  trials,  and  be- 
queathed to  us  their  enduring  triumphs  ? 

We  are,  throughout  our  land,  —  once  so  peaceful,  and  fertile, 
and  teeming  with  promise,  —  now  feeling  the  terrible  ills  of 
warfare ;  but  are  we  —  because  of  its  drafts  of  men  and  its 
heavy  burdens  of  taxation  and  consumption,  the  harvest  fields 
that  it  tramples  down,  and  the  hospital  couches  that  it  litters 
with  human  sufferers,  the  households  that  it  shivers,  and  the 
graves  that  it  fills  —  to  say  that  it  has  abrogated  a  prayer  or 
a  Sabbath  ?  Has  it  repealed  the  gospel,  or  banned  the  further 
descent  of  the  regenerating  and  sanctifying  Spirit  of  God  ? 
None  of  all  these.  God  is  in  the  struggle.  We,  in  our  temerity, 
clay  as  we  are,  are  too  prone  to  forget  this,  and  to  question 
and  to  instruct  the  divine  Worker  who  is  tempering  and 
molding  the  ductile  mass.  When  man  undertakes  to  mend 
God's  sovereign  behests,  he  spoils  himself  into  a  misshapen 
vessel  of  dishonor.  God  is  in  the  struggle.  And  for  his 
church  shall  good  emerge  from  all  these  dark  and  stormy 
scenes.  —  Dr.  Williams. 


THE  FLAGS  WHICH  SAVED  LIFE. 

What  shall  we  then  say  to  these  things?     If  God  be  for  us,  who  can  be 
against  us?  —  Romans  8:31. 

AN  American  citizen,  whose  birth  was  in  the  British  empire, 
was  temporarily  residing  in  Spain.  While  there,  he  was 
accused  of  committing  a  capital  crime,  in  the  estimation  of  that 
semi-barbarous  nation.  He  was  tried,  condemned,  and  sen- 
tenced to  be  shot.  He  sought  the  interposition  of  the  Ameri- 
can consul  in  his  behalf.  The  consul  inquired  into  the  case, 
and  found  the  penalty  too  severe  for  the  offense,  according  to 
the  laws  of  civilized  nations.  He  therefore  begged  the  au- 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  477 

tliorities  to  forbear  the  execution  of  the  condemned  man,  but 
to  no  avail.  An  appeal  was  made  to  the  British  consul  to  use 
his  influence  to  save  the  life  of  the  unjustly  condemned  man, 
which  he  cheerfully  did  ;  but  the  authorities  were  inexorable. 
Nothing  but  his  death  would  satisfy  them.  The  day  of  execu- 
tion was  fixed,  and  the  place  indicated.  The  victim  of  Spanish 
hatred  was  led  out  in  front  of  a  file  of  soldiers,  who  only  waited 
the  order  to  fire,  when  an  American  citizen  would  be  unjustly 
put  to  death.  At  this  critical  moment,  by  a  mutual  under- 
standing, the  British  and  American  consuls,  each  with  the  flag 
of  his  country,  stepped  forward  and  enveloped  the  trembling 
culprit  within  the  folds  of  the  flags  which  represent  the  two 
great  nations  of  Christendom.  Will  they  fire  now?  No, 
they  dare  not ;  for  those  flags  represent  powers  which  they 
dare  not  disregard.  The  culprit  was  saved. 

There  is  another  banner,  the  symbol  of  mercy,  power,  and 
pardon.  It  is  the  banner  of  the  cross— the  colors  of  that 
"  kingdom  which  is  not  of  this  world."  "Wrap  this  around  the 
soul  of  any  of  earth's  guiltiest  ones,  and  he  may  bid  defiance 
to  the  powers  of  earth  and  hell.  "  For  if  God  be  for  us,  who 
can  be  against  us  ?  "  Divine  justice  can  send  no  arrow  of 
eternal  death  against  the  soul  of  one  whom  Jesus  saves 
through  faith  in  his  blood.  —  Rev.  W.  S.  Titus. 


INSTRUCTIVE  ETYMOLOGY  OF  THE  WORD  "TRIB- 
ULATION." 

Who  shall  separate  us  from  the  love  of  Christ?  shall  tribulation,  or 
distress,  or  persecution,  or  famine,  or  nakedness,  or  peril,  or  sword  ?  — 
Romans  8 :  35. 

"TT7E  all  know,  in  a  general  way,  that  this  word,  which  occurs 
I  V  not  seldom  in  Scripture  and  in  the  Liturgy,  means  afflic- 
tion, sorrow,  anguish  ;  but  it  is  quite  worth  our  while  to  know 
how  it  means  this,  and  to  question  the  word  a  little  closer. 
It  is  derived  from  the  Latin  tribulum,  —  that  word  signify- 
ing the  threshing  instrument,  or  roller,  by  which  the  Romans 
separated  the  corn  from  the  husks ;  and  tribulatio,  in  its 
primary  significance,  was  the  act  of  this  separation.  But 


478  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

some  Latin  writer  of  the  Christian  church  appropriated  the 
word  and  image  for  the  setting  forth  of  a  higher  truth ;  and 
sorrow,  and  distress,  and  adversity  being  the  appointed  means 
for  the  separating  in  men  of  their  chaff  from  their  wheat,  of 
whatever  in  them  was  light,  and  trivial,  and  poor,  from  the 
solid  and  the  true,  therefore  he  called  these  sorrows  and  griefs 
"  tribulations,"  threshings,  that  is,  of  the  inner  spiritual  man, 
without  which  there  could  be  no  fitting  him  for  the  heavenly 
garner.  —  Trench. 


CHRIST  OUR  STRENGTH. 

Nay,  in  all  these  things  we  are  more  than  conquerors  through  him  that 
loved  us.  —  Romans  8  :  37. 

IT  is  the  inactivity  of  faith  in  Jesus  that  keeps  us  so  imper- 
fect, and  wrestling  with  our  corruptions,  without  any  ad- 
vancement. We  wrestle  in  our  own  strength  too  often,  and 
so  are  justly,  yea,  necessarily,  foiled ;  it  can  not  be  otherwise 
till  we  make  him  our  strength.  This  we  are  still  forgetting, 
and  had  need  to  be  put  in  mind  of,  and  ought  frequently  to 
remind  ourselves.  We  would  be  at  doing  for  ourselves,  and 
insensibly  fall  into  this  folly  even  after  much  smarting  for  it, 
if  we  be  not  watchful  against  it.  There  is  this  wretched 
natural  independency  in  us  that  is  so  hard  to  beat  out.  All 
our  projectings  are  but  castles  in  the  air,  imaginary  buildings 
without  a  foundation,  till  once  laid  on  Christ.  But  never  shall 
we  find  heart  peace,  sweet  peace,  and  progress  in  holiness,  till 
we  be  driven  froni'it,  to  make  him  all  our  strength ;  till  we  be 
brought  to  do  nothing,  to  attempt  nothing,  to  hope  or  expect 
nothing,  but  in  him ;  and  then  shall  we  indeed  find  his  full- 
ness and  all-sufficiency,  and  "  be  more  than  conquerors  through 
him  who  hath  loved  us."  —  Archbishop  Leighton. 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  479 


THE  OLD  SCOTCH  WOMAN'S  FAITH. 

For  I  am  persuaded  that  neither  death,  nor  life,  nor  angels,  nor  principal- 
ities, nor  powers,  nor  things  present,  nor  things  to  come,  nor  hight,  nor 
depth,  nor  any  other  creature,  shall  be  able  to  separate  us  from  the  love  of 
God,  which  is  in  Christ  Jesus  our  Lord.  —  Romans  8 :  38,  39. 

BY  the  side  of  a  rippling  brook  in  one  of  the  secluded  glens 
of  Scotland  there  stands  a  low,  mud-thatched  cottage, 
with  its  neat  honeysuckle  porch  facing  the  south.  Beneath 
this  humble  roof,  on  a  snow-white  bed,  lay,  not  long  ago,  old 
Nancy,  the  Scotch  woman,  patiently  and  cheerfully  awaiting 
the  moment  when  her  happy  spirit  would  take  its  flight  to 
"  mansions  in  the  skies,"  experiencing  with  the  holy  Paul, 
"  We  know  that  if  our  earthly  house  of  this  tabernacle  were 
dissolved,  we  have  a  building  of  God,  a  house  not  made  with 
hands,  eternal  in  the  heavens."  By  her  bedside,  on  a  small 
table,  lay  her  spectacles  and  her  well-thumbed  Bible,  —  her 
"  barrel  and  her  cruse,"  as  she  used  to  call  it,  —  from  which 
she  daily,  yea,  hourly,  spiritually  fed  on  the  "  bread  of  life." 
A  young  minister  frequently  called  to  see  her.  He  loved  to 
listen  to  her  simple  expressions  of  Bible  truths  ;  for  when  she 
spoke  of  her  "  inheritance,  incorruptible,  undefiled,  and  that 
fadeth  not  away,"  it  seemed  but  a  little  way  off;  and  the  lis- 
tener almost  fancied  he  heard  the  redeemed  in  heaven  saying, 
"  Unto  him  that  loved  us,  and  washed  us  from  our  sins  in  his 
own  blood." 

One  day  the  young  minister  put  to  the  happy  saint  the  fol- 
lowing startling  question  :  "  Now,  Nanny,"  he  said,  "  what  if, 
after  all  your  prayers,  and  watching,  and  waiting,  God  should 
suffer  your  soul  to  be  eternally  lost  ?  "  Pious  Nanny  raised 
herself  on  her  elbow,  and  turning  to  him  .a  wistful  look,  laid 
her  right  hand  on  the  precious  Bible,  which  lay  open  before 
her,  and  quietly  replied,  "  Ae,  dearie  me,  is  that  a'  the  length 
you  hae  got  yet,  mon  ?  "  and  then  continued,  her  eyes  spar- 
kling with  almost  .heavenly  brightness,  "God  would  hae  the 
greatest  loss.  Poor  Nanny  would  but  lose  "her  soul,  and  that 
would  be  a  great  loss  indeed  ;  but  God  would  lose  his  honor 
and  his  character.  Haven't  I  hung  my  soul  on  his  <  exceed- 


480  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

ingly  precious  promises  '  ?  and  if  he  brak'  his  word  he  would 
make  himsel'  a  liar,  and  a'  the  universe  would  rush  into  con- 
fusion !  "• 

Thus  spoke  the  old  Scotch  pilgrim.  These  were  among  the 
last  words  that  fell  from  her  dying  lips,  and  most  precious 
words  they  were  —  like  "  apples  of  gold  in  pictures  of  silver.'7 


CHRIST'S  DIVINITY  AND  HUMANITY. 

Whose  are  the  fathers,  and  of  whom  as  concerning  the  flesh  Christ  came, 
who  is  over  all,  God  blessed  for  ever.     Amen.  —  Romans  9  :  5. 

DO  you  ask  how^you  shall  distinguish  when  a  text  speaks 
of  Christ  in  respect  to  his  human  nature  ?  I  answer,  just 
as,  when  you  speak  of  a  man,  you  distinguish  whether  what  is 
said  relates  to  his  body  or  his  soul.  When  I  say,  "  Abraham 
is  dead/'  I  mean  obviously  his  mortal  part.  When  I  say, 
"  Abraham  is  alive,"  I  mean  obviously  his  immortal  part. 
When  the  evangelist  says  that  Jesus  increased  in  stature 
and  wisdom,  and  in  favor  with  God  and  man,  and  when  he 
affirms  of  him  other  things  predicable  of  our  human  nature, 
he  obviously  means  to  apply  all  this  to  his  human  nature. 
When  he  affirms  that  the  Logos  is  God,  and  that  he  made  the 
universe,  when  the  apostle  says  that  he  is  God  over  all  and 
blessed  for 'ever,  I  cannot  help  thinking  it  to  be  equally  obvi- 
ous that  they  predicate  this  of  his  divine  nature."  The  simple 
answer  to  your  question  then  is,  that  we  must  determine  which 
nature  is  meant  by  what  is  affirmed  concerning  it.  —  M.  Stuart 
to  Channing. 


HEAVEN  A  PREPARED  PLACE. 

And  that  he  might  make  known  the  riches  of  his  glory  on  the  vessels  of 
mercy,  which  he  had  afore  prepared  unto  glory.  —  Romans  9  :  23. 

A  SCOFFING  infidel  of  considerable  abilities,  being  once  in 
company  with  a  person  of   weak  intellect,  but    a  real 
Christian,  and  supposing,  no  doubt,  that  he  should  obtain  an 
easy  triumph,  and  display  his  ungodly  wit,  put  the  following 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  481 

question  to  him :  "  I  understand,  sir,  that  you  expect  to  go  to 
heaven  when  you  die ;  can  you  tell  me  what  sort  of  a  place 
heaven  is  ?  "  "  Yes,  sir,"  replied  the  Christian  ;  "  heaven  is 
a  prepared  place  for  a  prepared  people,  and  if  your  soul  is  not 
prepared  for  it,  with  all  your  boasted  wisdom,  you  will  never 
enter  there." 

"  For  vain  applause  transgress  not  Scripture  rules; 
A  witty  sinner  is  the  worst  of  fools." 


THE  GOSPEL  OF  CHRIST  THE  TRUE  CIVILIZER. 

And  he  saith  also  in  Osee,  I  will  call  them  my  people  which  were  not  my 
people,  and  her  beloved  which  was  not  beloved.  —  Romans  9  :  25. 

IN  Mr.  Pritchard's  Researches  into  the  Physical  History  of 
Mankind,  vol.  i.  p..  183,  we  find  a  beautiful  confirmation  of 
the  above  important  truth.  He  says,  "  So  rapid  has  been  the 
spread  of  civilization  around  the  settlements  of  the  United 
Brethren,  by  whom  the  task  of  introducing  the  Christian  reli- 
gion among  the  Hottentots  was  undertaken,  as  to  have  given 
rise  to  a  general  notion  that  the  missionaries  of  that  church 
direct  their  endeavors  in  the  first  place  to  the  diffusion  of 
industry  and  social  arts,  and  make  religion  a  secondary  object 
of  attention.  This,  however,  they  uniformly  deny.  It  is  the 
unvarying  statement  of  these  missionaries,  deduced  from  the 
experience  of  a  hundred  years  of  patient  service  and  laborious 
exertions  among  the  rudest  and  most  abject  tribes  of  human 
beings,  that  the  moral  nature  of  man  must  be  in  the  first 
instance  quickened,  the  conscience  awakened,  and  the  better 
feelings  of  the  heart  aroused  by  the  motives  which  Christian- 
ity brings  with  it,  before  any  improvement  can  be  hoped  for 
in  the  outward  behavior  and  social  state ;  that  the  rudest  sav- 
ages have  sufficient  understanding  to  be  susceptible  of  such. a 
change ;  and  that,  when  it  has  once  taken  place,  all  the  bless- 
ings of  civilization  follow  as  a  necessary  result." 

61 


482  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

NOT  BY  WORKS,  BUT  BY  FAITH. 

What  shall  we  say  then?  That  the  Gentiles,  which  followed  not  after 
righteousness,  have  attained  to  righteousness,  even  the  righteousness  which 
is  of  faith.  —  Romans  9  :  30. 

A  P.OOR  Indian,  who  had  been  a  very  wicked  man,  but  who 
had  become  pious,  was  desired  to  tell  how  it  was  that  he 
had  been  led  to  Christ.  He  described  it  in  this  way,  taking 
his  figures  from  his  way  of  life,  as  he  had  been  accustomed  to 
chase  the  deer  and  the  bear  over  mountains  and  through 
morasses :  — 

"  I  was  in  the  mud,"  said  he ;  "I  tried  to  get  out,  and  I 
could  not.  I  tried  the  harder,  and  the  harder  I  tried  the  faster 
I  sunk.  I  found  I  must  put  forth  all  my  strength ;  but  I  went 
down  deeper,  and  deeper,  and  deeper.  I  found  I  was  going 
all  over  in  the  mire  ;  I  gave  the  death-yell,  and  found  myself 
in  the. arms  of  Jesus  Christ." 

Admirable  picture  of  the  fruitlessness  of  all  our  efforts  to 
save  ourselves !  How  slow  we  are  in  learning  that  all  per- 
sonal -and  human  expedients  to  extricate  ourselves  are  utterly 
in  vain  !  But  no  sooner  is  the  discovery  made  than  the  arms 
of  Jesus  are  open  to  receive  us. 

There  is  but  one  step  out  of  self  into  Christ.  As  soon  as 
"  0,  wretched  man  that  I  am  !  who  shall  deliver  me  ?  "  bursts 
from  the  convicted  and  anguished  soul,  and  the  eye  of  faith  -is 
fixed  upon  Christ,  the  cry  of  deepest  distress  is  immediately 
changed  into  "  Thanks  be  unto  God,  through  Jesus  Christ  our 
Lord ! " 


RELIGION  NOT  TO  BE  COVERED  UP. 

That  if  thou  shalt  confess  with  thy  mouth  the  Lord  Jesus,  and  shalt  be- 
lieve in  thine  heart  that  God  hath  raised  him  from  the  dead,  thou  shalt  be 
saved.  —  Romans  10  :  9. 

IN  a  recent  outpouring  of  the  Spirit  in  A.,  there  was  a  large 
and  interesting  family,  in  which  the  mother  was  the  only 
professor  of  religion.     They  lived  three  miles  from  the  church. 
The  father,  some  fifty  years  old,  took  great  pains  to  be  at  tho 


NEW   TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  483 

meetings ;  and  the  mother,  though  the  family  ran  down  to  the 
cradle,  contrived  to  have  all  but  a  picket  guard  round  the  baby 
out  to  every  meeting.  Soon  the  children  began  to  manifest 
anxiety ;  the  eldest  daughter  gave  her  heart  to  Christ ;  a  little 
son  expressed  full  determination  to  be  the  Lord's. 

The  heart  of  the  father  was  moved,  and  in  a  social  meeting 
he  said,  "  My  friends,  I  am  a  wretched  sinner.  When  I  was 
sixteen  years  old,  away  at  school,  my  mind  was  awakened, 
and  I  awoke  one  morning  very  happy,  trusting  in  Christ: 
everything  seemed  to  be  praising  God ;  but  I  covered  it  up 
in  my  heart,  and  it  soon  passed  away.  From  that  time  I  have 
been  a  miserable  man,  of  no  account  to  myself  or  anybody 
else,  and  I  don't  think  there  is  any  mercy  for  me  now." 

Fervent  prayers  were  offered  for  him.  He  was  exhorted  to 
lay  aside  his  fears  and  come  to  Jesus.  He  went  home,  set  up 
an  altar  in  his  house,  and,  after  a  great  struggle,  publicly  con- 
secrated himself  to  God.  Two  grown  sons  and  two  smaller 
ones  came  to  the  Saviour,  —  the  father,  daughter,  and  five  sons 
all  sitting  at  the  Saviour's  feet.  There  is  great  joy  in  that 
house.  "  Them  that  honor  me  I  will  honor/'  says  God. 


FAITH  SUBJECT  TO  THE  WILL. 

For  with  the  heart  man  bclieveth  unto  righteousness  ;  and  with  the  mouth 
confession  is  made  unto  salvation.  —  Romans  10 :  10. 

I  HAVE  a  striking  illustration  to  mention.  I  was  asked  one 
day  to  breakfast  at  the  house  of  an  excellent  man,  who 
has  gone  to  his  everlasting  rest  —  the  late  Thomas  Meux,  of 
Bloomsbury  Square ;  and,  on  going  in,  I  heard  him  saying, 
u  You  deny  the  Bible,  and  therefore  there  is  no  arguing  with 
•you."  I  instantly  guessed  there  was  a  skeptic  present,  and 
instead  of  giving  an  exposition  of  a  chapter,  as  I  had  done  on 
one  or  two  occasions,  I  resolved  to  give  a  succinct  summary 
of  the  evidences  of  the  Christian  faith.  In  the  course  of  my 
remarks,  I  made  the  following  statement,  which  I  had  received 
from  good  authority  :  "  There  was  an  infidel  of  great  notoriety, 
and  of  no  ordinary  pjowers  of  mind.  He  had  a  wife  who  was 


484  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

a  Christian,  and  a  daughter  who  was  believed  to  be  so :  his 
wife  died,  and  went  to  her  rest,  and  after  some  time  consump- 
tion laid  the  daughter  also  on  her  dying  bed.  Three  or  four 
days  before  her  death,  she  called  her  father  to  her  bedside, 
and  put  the  question  to  him,  l  Father,  am  I  to  die  in  the  creed 
you  teach,  or  in  the  faith  in  which  my  mother  died  ? '  The 
struggle  in  the  father's  mind  was  intense,  and  his  frame  was 
convulsed  for  a  time.  At  last,  in  the  agony  of  his  feelings,  he 
gave  utterance  to  the  convictions  of  his  heart  — l  Die,  my 
child,  in  your  mother's  faith/  7) 

I  little  suspected,  when  I  rose  from  the  table,  and  was  in- 
troduced to  the  party,  that  that  very  father  was  at  the  moment 
in  the  room.  There  were  tears  in  his  eyes,  but  no  conviction 
carried  to  his  heart ;  though  I  reasoned  with  him  for  two  hours, 
no  impression  was  made  apparently  upon  his  hardened  heart, 
or  his  seared  and  deadened  conscience.  But  carry  this  fact 
with  you,  that  infidelity  may  do  for  Sunday  newspapers  and 
Socialist  halls,  but  it  will  not  bear  the  terrible  test  of  the 
departing  hour.  —  Dr.  Gumming* 


A  TRUE  CONFESSOR. 

For  the  Scripture  saith,  Whosoever  believeth  on  him  shall  not  be  ashamed.  — 
Romans  10 :  11. 

n  chapel  of  the  Consumptives'  Home,  Boston,  connects 
ie  various  wards.     A  door  opens  at  each  corner  of  the 
chapel  directly  into  a  ward.     Those  who  are  able  to  do  it  have 
only  to  step  in,  and  those  who  are  obliged  to  remain  can  hear 
much  of  what  passes  in  the  chapel  through  the  open  doors. 

One  morning  a  young  man  rose  and  spoke  in  a  voice  re- 
duced by  his  disease  to  a  hoarse  whisper ;  yet  he  was  heard  by. 
all.  Tall  arid  finely  formed,  yet  attenuated  to  a  shadow,  he 
stood  erect.  His  face  was  brilliant  from  its  pallor,  contrasted 
with  the  hectic  flush  of  his  hollow  cheeks.  His  eyes  were 
large  and  clear.  His  words  were  caught  by  the  eager  listen- 
ers, and  every  one  seemed  to  tell  on  every  heart. 

He   said,  "  I  am  a  Canadian  Frenchman,  born  and  bred  a 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  485 

Catholic.  I  knew  nothing  of  Jesus  until  I  came  here.  My 
prejudices  were  deep  and  strong.  The  kindness  I  met  here 
on  every  side  touched  me.  I  never  was  in  such  a  place  be- 
fore. Everybody  seemed  happy,  and  they  all  agreed  that  it 
was  Jesus  who  made  them  so.  It  was  too  much  for  me.  I 
saw  they  had  something  I  had  not.  None  were  afraid  of 
death.  I  was  ;  it  made  me  very  miserable.  I  asked  the  doc- 
tor about  it.  He  told  me  to  believe  on  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ, 
and  he  would  set  me  right,  and  then  confess  him,  and  he  would 
make  me  as  happy  as  anybody  else. 

"  My  proud  heart  rebelled.  At  last  I  yielded,  broke  down, 
made  up  my  mind  to  trust  and  confess  ;  I  did  so,  and  was 
blessed.  Jesus  has  filled  me  with  love,  joy,  and  peace,  and 
now  I  am  going  to  stand  up  and  speak  for  him  as  long  as  I 
can  whisper  his  name  ;  and  when  my  voice  is  all  gone,  and  I 
can  not  speak  at  all,  I  will  still  stand  up  for  him  as  long  as  my 
strength  lasts  ;  and  when  I  can't  do  that,  I  will  raise  up  my 
hand  for  him.  Blessed  be  his  holy  name." 


PREACHING  AN  INSTITUTION  OF  -GOD. 

And  how  shall  they  preach,  except  they  be  sent?  as  it  is  written,  How  beau- 
tiful  are  the  feet  of  them  that  preach  the  gospel  of  peace,  and  bring  glad»tidings 
of  good  things  !  —  Romans  10  :  15. 

MEN,  called  of  God  to  the  work  of  the  Christian  ministry, 
preach   for   spiritual  and  eternal   results.      Concerning 
their  worth,  a  writer  has  said,  — 

Preaching  is  not  a  trade.  It  comes  not  under  the  rules  of 
business.  We  are  sorry  it  passes  for  one  of  the  "  professions." 
It  is  work  —  brain  work,  heart  work,  life  work.  It  takes  cog- 
nizance of  all  trades,  all  business,  all  professions.  It  looks  into 
all  die  relations  of  men,  and  deals  with  all  truth  and  all  error. 
There  is  nothing  so  private  or  so  public  as  to  be  out  of  its 
range.  Preaching  intermeddles  with  all  knowledge  ;  it  has  to 
do  with  wisdom  and  ignorance,  with  potentate  and  beggar. 
It  searches  all  thoughts,  and  tests  all  motives.  It  goes  into 
the  deepest  chambers  of  the  soul,  and  touches  the  springs  of 
thought  and  the  foundations  of  life.  In  the  name  of  God  it 


486  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

lays  the  hand  of  authority  upon  the  motives  of  men,  and  inter- 
weaves itself  with  the  very  texture  of  character.  Well  might 
an  inspired  man  exclaim,  "  Who  is  sufficient  for  these  things  ?  " 
Would  that  every  preacher  could  feel  with  Paul  the  .burden 
of  this  ministry. 


UNAPPRECIATION  OF  THE  BIBLE. 

So  then  faith  cometh  by  hearing,  and  hearing  by  the  word  of  God.  — 
Romans  10 :  17. 

IMAGINE  yourself  living  in  that  age  and  state  of  the  world 
in  which  human  nature  is  found  unenlightened  by  revela- 
tion. Fancy  yourselves,  for  a  moment,  encompassed  with  the 
darkness  of  heathenism ;  the  paths  of  virtue  and  safety  ob- 
scured ;  your  Maker  hidden  from  your  view ;  your  origin, 
your  duty,  your  destination  unknown ;  the  way  to  the  tomb, 
your  inevitable  course,  haunted  with  spectres  of  doubt  and 
dismay ;  your  spirits  turning  on  every  side  for  light  and 
direction,  but  finding  on  every  side  darkness  and  uncertainty. 
In  the  midst  of  this  gloom,  suppose  the  heavens  opened,  and 
there  descended  to  you  a  messenger,  bringing  to  you  a  book, 
which  informed  you  of  your  origin  and  destiny;  which  re- 
vealeH  to  you  the  true  God,  and  assured  you  of  his  love  and 
favor ;  which  made  the  path  of  every  virtuous  excellence  plain 
before  you,  and  disclosed  to  you  a  title,  an  eternal  title,  to  im- 
mortality. With  what  transports  of  delight  would  you  receive 
the  messenger  !  I  see  you,  in  imagination,  falling  prostrate  at 
his  feet.  The  book  which  he  gives  you  you  would  press  to 
your  lips  *  you  would  hold  it  to  your  bosom  ;  you  would  drop 
on  it  the  tears  of  excessive  joy.  As  the  messenger  returned 
to  the  skies,  you  would  follow  him  with  benedictions,  till  he 
vanished  from  your  view  ;  and  the  precious  volume  you  would 
carry  to  your  habitation  with  care  and  unspeakable  exultance. 
Your  wife  and  your  children  would  be  called  to  behold  the 
gift.  Your  neighbors  and  friends  would  be  shown  the  treas- 
ure. And  were  the  wealth  of  the  world  offered  you  in  ex- 
change for  it,  you  would  again  clasp  it  in  your  hands,  and 
declare  it  above  all  price.  But,  my  brethren,  take  away  the 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  487 

Scriptures,  and  what  is  your  condition  but  the  condition  of 
unenlightened  nature  ?  Consider  their  inspiration  of  God,  and 
their  important  contents,  and  what  is  their  value  less,  than  if 
they  were  brought  to  you  immediately  from  the  skies  ?  And 
yet  how  imperfectly  are  they  appreciated  !  Who  hath  suffi- 
ciently regarded  them  ?  Of  the  worth  of  the  sacred  volume 
no  estimation  would  be  too  high.  For  the  kindness  and  con- 
descension of  the  Almighty  in  giving  it  to  us  no  measure  of 
gratitude  would  be  excessive.  But,  because  we  have  always 
been  in  the  enjoyment  of  it,  and  its  light  and  comfort  are 
familiar  to  our  minds,  we  behold  it,  as  we  behold  the  sun  in 
the  heavens,  unmindful  of  the  majesty  and  benignity  of  its 
Author,  and  almost  unconscious  of  the  importance  of  its  beams. 
Surely,  if  the  views  we  have  taken  of  the  subject  are  remem- 
bered, this  insensibility  to  the  value  of  the  best  blessing  of 
life  will  be  reproved  by  your  consciences,  and  carefully  cor- 
rected. When  3rou  think  of  the  inspiration  of  the  Scriptures,- 
of  their  completeness,  and  of  their  end  and  uses,  unless  you 
are  ungrateful  to  your  Maker  and  unjust  to  yourselves,  you 
will  be,  like  the  Psalmist,  as  glad  of  God's  word  as  one  that 
findeth  great  spoils.  —  Bishop  Dehon's  Sermons  on  the  Scrip- 


THE  BIBLE  IS  THE  ROOT. 

Boast  not  against  the  branches ;  but  if  thou  boast,  thou  bearest  not  the 
root,  but  the  root  thee.  —  Romans  11 :  18. 

A  BRAHMIN  in  Mysore,  India,  was  led  by  the  Holy  Spirit 
to  inquire  into  the  truth  of  Christianity.  He  read  the 
Scriptures  and  religious  tracts  very  eagerly.  He  was  deeply 
impressed  with  the  Pilgrim's  Progress.  "  That  book  is  better 
than  the  Bible,"  said  he. 

His  teacher  (Mr.  Sanderson,  the  missionary)  did  not  think 
it  desirable  to  give  a  direct  contradiction  to  that  statement, 
but  he  taught  him  the  difference  by  a  sort  of  parable.  Point- 
ing to  a  scene  before  him,  he  said  to  him,  "  Do  you  see  that 
beautiful  mango  tree  there  ?  "  * 

"  Yes,"  was  the  answer. 


488  A7.£JF   TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

"  Don't  you  see  the  beautiful  fruit,  which  drops  its  nectar 
upon  the  ground  ?  " 

"  Yes." 

"  Don't  you  eat  the  fruit,  and  enjoy  its  sweetness  ?  " 

"  Yes." 

"  And  where  would  that  tree  be  if  there  were  no  root  to 
the  tree  ?  " 

"  0,"  said  the  man,  "  now  I  see  what  you  mean  :  the  Bible 
is  the  root,  and  all  other  good  books  in  the  world  spring 
from  it." 

He  never  afterward  said  that  any  book  was  better  than  the 
Bible. 

It  pleased  God  so  to  bless  the  teaching  of  his  own  word, 
that  this  poor  man  became  a  humble  and  earnest  Christian, 
and  his  own  son  and  daughter  have  grown  up  to  be  useful 
workers  among  the  heathen  around. 


"GOD  IS  ABLE  TO  GRAFF  THEM  IN  AGAIN." 

And  they,  also,  if  they  abide  not  still  in  unbelief,  shall  be  graffed  in ;  for 
God  is  able  to  graff  them  in  again.  —  Romans  11 :  23. 

A  WRITER  in  the  Foreign  Missionary  says,  "  A  most  ex- 
traordinary change  has  come  over  the  general  state  of  the 
Jews  in  Berlin.  Many  of  the  leading  statesmen  and  literati 
in  Prussia  are  of  the  house  of  Israel.  I  have  a  list  before  me, 
containing  no  less  than  twenty-seven  names  of  Hebrew  Chris- 
tians, professors  or  teachers,  who  have  recently  been  engaged 
in  the  noble  University  of  Berlin  to  give  instruction  in  theolo- 
gy, law,  medicine,  or  other  branches  of  science  ;  and  in  every 
department  of  public  life  many  are  to  be  found  who  are  dis- 
tinguished for  their  attainments  and  services  in  every  good  and 
noble  cause,  who  show  that,  by  God's  mercy,  there  is  no  differ- 
ence between  the  Jew  and  the  Greek ;  both  are  one4  in  Christ. 
And  yet,  as  Dr.  Biesenthal  assured  me,  no  less  than  forty 
thousand  copies  of  some  of  the  treatises  of  the  Talmud  have 
been  sold  in  one  year  by  o»e  printer  in  Berlin.  This  seems 
to  be  incredible,  These  copies  are  used  in  various  schools, 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  489 

where  Jewish  youths  are  educated  in  all  the  darkness  of  rab- 
binical night. 

"  It  may  be  said,  Very  few  of  these  forty  thousand  copies 
remain  in  Berlin.  It  is  obvious  that,  aniid  a  population  of 
twenty-five  thousand  Jews,  only  a  comparatively  small  number 
of  these  copies  could  be  required  in  one  year,  as,  no  doubt,  the 
Talmudic  schools  in  that  place  must  have  been  already  sup- 
plied with  books  a  year  ago,  and  the  wear  and  tear  of  a  single 
year  can  not  be  so  very  great.  But  still  the  fact  is  a  startling 
one ;  and  the  more  so.  as  Dr.  Biesenthal  assured  me  also,  that 
students  may  now  be  found  in  the  college  where  the  Talmud 
is  taught  in  Berlin  at  the  early  hour  of  three  in  the  morning." 


DO  YOU  EVER  PRAY? 

0,  the  depth  of  the  riches  both  of  the  wisdom  and  knowledge  of  God! 
how  unsearchable  are  his  judgments,  and  his  ways  past  finding  out !  — 
Romans  11 :  33. 

SOME  years  ago,  as  Rev.  George  Buel  was  passing  a  public 
liouse  in  Baltimore,  a  half- intoxicated  young  man  came  out, 
and  Mr.  Buel  gave  him  two  tracts  ;  one,  "  Am  I  Prepared  to 
Die?"  the  other,  "Do  you  ever  Pray  ? "  Not  a  word  was 
spoken.  Years  went  by,  and  the  event  passed  out  of  the 
minister's  mind. 

A  few  years  after,  as  Mr.  Buel  was  pacing'  the  deck  of 
one  of  our  ocean  steamers,  a  gentleman  approached  him,  ex- 
tended his  hand,  and  spoke  cordially.  But  Mr.  Buel  strove  in 
vain  to  recall  the  features  before  him.  "  I  perceive,"  said  the 
gentleman,  "  that  you  do  not  recognize  me  j  but  I  shall  have 
reason  to  thank  God  throughout  eternity  for  your  kindness 
years  ago."  He  then  related  the  above  circumstances,  and 
said,  "  At  first  I  was  angry  ;  but  afterward  I  read  the  tracts. 
My  mother,  who  had  been  dead  for  several  years,  was  piouSj 
and  taught  me  in  early  life  to  pray  j  but  I  wandered  from  her 
teachings,  and  the  tavern  had  become  my  constant  resort. 
The  tract,  '  Do  you  ever  Pray  ? '  brought  back  to  my  mind 
my  mother,  and  all  her  hallowed  teachings.  '  Am  I  Prepared 
to  Die  ? '  The  question  rang  through  my  very  soul !  My 
62 


490  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

sins  rose  up  before  me  in  fearful  array,  until  I  cried  aloud  for 
mercy  ;  and,  blessed  be  God,  he  heard  my  prayer, "forgave  my 
sins,  and  bestowed  on  me  the  hope  of  eternal  life  through  Jesus 
Christ  his  Son." 

Mr.  Buel  found  that  the  young  man  was  now  residing  in  the 
west,  a  thriving  merchant,  laboring  to  advance  the  cause  of 
Christ,  and  especially  to  induce  ah1  to  touch  not,  taste  not,  the 
intoxicating  cup.  —  M.  E.  K. 


NOT  CONFORMED,  BUT  TRANSFORMED. 

And  be  not  conformed  to  this  world ;  but  be  ye  transformed  by  the  renew- 
ing of  your  mind,  that  ye  may  prove  what  is  that  good,  and  acceptable,  and 
perfect  will  of  God.  —  Romans  12  :  2. 

HOW  does  the  world  around  us  need  now  the  aspect  of  a 
robust  piety  in  all  its  conspicuous  walks  !  No  argument 
to  prove  that  faith  in  Christ  and  him  crucified  is  so  potent  to 
save  a  man  at  this  hour  as  when  Paul  preached  in  Corinth, 
could  be  as  convincing  as  the  holy  life  of  one  with  the  world 
under  his  feet,  using  his  talent  for  business  and  for  accumula- 
tion simply  to  honor  Christ  and  to  aid  in  uplifting  his  fellow- 
men  everywhere.  It  is  an  honor  to  be  considered  a  "  pe- 
culiar" people  in  the  sense  of  the  New  Testament.  It  is 
much  safer  to  be  accounted  of  the  world  too  strict  and  rigid 
in  our  interpretation  of  duty  and  service,  than  to  be  so  lax  as 
to  win  its  ready  compliments  for  our  great  breadth  of  charity 
and  liberality  of  sentiment.  There  is,  after  all,  to  be  in  every 
instance  a  positive  and  permanent  choice  of  masters,  and  there 
is  a  world- wide  difference  between  them.  The  progress  of 
civilization  does  not  harmonize  them.  Their  subjects  can  not 
in  heart  be  brought  nearer  together.  They  are  instinctive 
foes  to  each  other's  prevailing  sentiments.  Christ  leads  one 
Jiost,  and  Mammon  the  other.  To  be  for  Christ  is  to  turn  the 
back  upon  the  world  as  an  object  of  leading  desire  and  ser- 
vice. To  make  the  ambitions,  promises,  or  pleasures  of  the 
world  an  end,  is  to  turn  the  face  away  from  Christ  and  to  wor- 
ship at  another  shrine.  —  Rev.  D.  Curry,  D.  D. 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  491 


TWO  SCENES. 

Let  love  be  without  dissimulation.  Abhor  that  which  is  evil ;  cleave  to  that 
which  is  good.  —  Romans  12  :  9.  . 

A  GENTLEMAN  took  his  son  to  a  drunken  row  in  a  tavern, 
-LJL  where  the  inmates  were  fighting  and  swearing,  and  said 
he,- 

"  Do  you  know  what  has  caused  all  this  ?  " 

"  No,  sir." 

His  father,  pointing  to  the  decanters,  sparkling  with  rum, 
said,  — 

"  That's  the  cause  ;  will  you  take  a  drink  ?  " 

The  boy  started  back  with  horror,'  and  exclaimed,  — 

"  No  ! " 

Then  he  took  his  child  to  the  cage  of  a  man  with  delirium 
tremens.  The  boy  gazed  upon  him  affrighted  as  the  drunk- 
ard raved  and  tore  ;  and  thinking  the  demons  were  after  him, 
cried,  — 

"  Leave  me  alone  !  leave  me  alone  !  I  see  'em  !  they're 
coming  ! " 

"  Do  you  know  the  cause  of  this,  my  boy  ?" 

"  No,  sir." 

"  This  is  caused  by  drink ;  will  you  have  some  ?  "  and  he 
shrank  with  a  shudder  as  he  refused  the  cup. 

Next- they  called  at  the  miserable  hovel  of  a  drunkard,  where 
was  squalid  poverty,  and  the  drunken  father  beating  his  wife, 
and,  with  oaths,  knocking  down  his  children. 

"  What  has  caused  this  ?  "  said  the  father. 
..The  son  was  silent.  When  told  that  it  was  rum,  he  de- 
clared he  would  never  touch  a  drop  in  his  life.  But  suppose 
that  lad  should  be  invited  to  a  wedding  feast,  where  with  fruit 
and  cake  the  wine-cup  is  passed  amid  scenes  of  cheerfulness 
and  gayety,  where  all  the  friends  are  respectable,  beloved, 
and  kind  to  each  other,  and  he  should  be  asked  to  drink  ;  would 
he  refuse  ?  Or,  suppose  him  walking  out  with  his  father  on 
New  Year's  day  to  call  upon  his  young  lady  friends  to  enjoy 
the  festivity  of  the  ushering  in  of  the  new  year.  With  other 
things,  wine  is  handed  to  him  by  a  smiling  girl.  His  noble- 


492  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

hearted  father,  whom  he  loves,  presses  the  wine-glass  to  his 
lips,  and  compliments  the  young  lady  upon  the  excellence  of 
its  quality ;  what  wonder  if  the  son  follow  his  example  ?  — 
Emblem  Annual. 


SLOTHFULNESS  FORBIDDEN.. 

Not    slothful   in  business .;    fervent   in   spirit,    serving    the   Lord.  —  Ro- 
mans 12 :  11. 

SUBJECTION  to  worldly  labor  and  toil  puts  us  in  mind  of 
O  our  fallen  state,  and  is  really  a  mercy  to  us  fallen  crea- 
tures ;  for  occupation  both  for  our  minds  and  bodies  in  the 
concerns  of  the  world  is  conducive  to  our  bodily  health.  It 
calls  forth  the  powers  of  the  mind  into  exercise,  and  it  espe- 
cially is  a  great  preservative  against  many  temptations  to  which 
otherwise  we  should  be  exposed.  Six  days  of  the  week  are 
allotted  for  arranging  all  our  worldly  matters,  as  well  as  one 
day  of  the  seven  which  is  immediately  set  apart  for  the  service 
of  God.  <•  Six  days  shalt  thou  labor,  and  do  all  thy  work." 
But  sin,  that  mars  everything,  does  also  mar  that  wise  and 
gracious  ordination  which  assigns  to  us  occupation  in  the 
world.  In  two  opposite  ways  it  injures  us.  It  either  leads 
men  to  neglect  their  lawful  callings  through  sloth  and  indo- 
lence, or  by  wholly  engrossing  their  attention,  from  love  of 
money  and  covetousness,  it  induces  them  to  act  unfairly  toward 
others,  and  to  ruin  their  own  souls.  —  Muirhead. 


CHRISTIANITY  EXEMPLIFIED. 

Therefore,  if  thine  enemy  hunger,  feed  him ;  if  he  thirst,  give  him  drink : 
for  in  so  doing  thou  shalt  heap  coals  of  fire  on  his  head.  —  Romans  12  :  20. 

ITIHE  following  is  a  touching  illustration  of  the  spirit  which 
1  Christianity  begets,  contrasted  with  that  which  heathen- 
ism inspires  :  — 

Two  men  living  in  the  southern  part  of  Africa  had  a  quar- 
rel, and  became  bitter  enemies  to  each  other.  Soon  after,  one 
of  them  found  a  little  girl  belonging  to  his  enemy  in  the  woods, 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  493 

at  some  distance  from  her  father's  house.  He  seized  her  and 
cut  off  two  of  her  fingers  ;  and  as  he  sent  her  home  scream- 
ing with  her  bleeding  hands,  he  cried,  "  I  have  had  my  re- 
venge ! " 

Years  passed  away.  The  little  girl  had  grown  up  to  be 
almost  a  young  woman.  One  day  there  came  to  her  father's 
door  a  poor,  worn-out,  gray-headed  old  man,  who  asked  for 
something  to  eat.  She  knew  him  at  once  as  the  cruel  man 
who  had  cut  off  her  fingers.  She  went  into  the  hut,  and 
ordered  the  servant  to  take  him  bread  and  milk  as  much  as 
he  could  eat,  and  sat  down  and  watched  him  eat  it. 

When  he  had  finished  she  dropped  the  covering  that  hid 
her  hands  from  view,  and,  holding  them  up  before  him,  she 
said,  "  I  have  had  my  revenge  !  "  The  man  was  overwhelmed 
with  surprise.  The  secret  of  the  girl's  conduct  was,  that  in 
the  mean  time  she  had  become  a  Christian,  and  had  learned 
the  meaning  of  the  verse,  "  If  thine  enemy  be  hungry,  give 
him  bread  to  eat ;  if  he  be  thirsty,  give  him  water  to  drink : 
for  thou  shalt  heap  coals  of  fire  upon  his  head." 

How  beautiful  the  conduct  of  this  injured  Christian  girl  ap- 
pears in  contrast  with  that  of  her  heathen  enemy  !  Let  us 
imitate  such  conduct,  arid  endeavor  by  God's  grace  to  follow 
closely  the  teaching  and  example  of  Him  who  is  the  bright 
pattern  of  the  Christian  life.  Jesus  conquers  by  kindness  and 
love.  When  we  were  enemies,  he  died  for  us  ;  and  in  propor- 
tion as  we  have  his  spirit  shall  we  manifest  love  and  kindness 
toward  any  who  have  injured  us  or  are  unfriendly  toward  us. 


BIBLE  CATECHISM  ON  TEMPERANCE. 

Be  not  overcome  of  evil,  but  overcome  evil  with  good.  —  Romans  12  :  21. 

INTEMPERANCE  is  now  the  greatest  of  evils,  and  is  over- 
coming to  their  ruin  thousands  every  year. 

1.  Who  was  the  first  drunkard  ?    Gen.  9  :  20,  21. 

2.  Who  took  the  first  temperance  pledge  ?  Judges  13  : 13, 14. 

3.  Did  anybody  mentioned  in  the  Bible  ever  take  the  pledge 
of  his  own  accord  ?    Dan.  1  :  8. 


494  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

4.  Was  he  any  healthier  or  wiser  in  consequence  ?    Dan.  1 : 
15-17. 

5.  Ought  kings  to  drink  wine  ?    Prov.  31:4. 

6.  Ought  ministers  to  drink  wine  ?   Lev.  8  :  9. 

7.  Ought  we  to  make  companions  of  drunkards?  1  Cor.  5:11. 

8.  Can  any  drunkard  enter  the  kingdom  of  heaven  ?    1  Cor. 
6  :  9,  10. 

9.  Does  God  pronounce  any  woe  upon  drunkards  ?   Isaiah 
5  :  11-22. 

10.  Why  has  he  pronounced  his  woe  ?    Isaiah  28  :  7,  8. 

11.  Are  drunkards  likely  to  get  rich?    Prov.  21  :  17. 

12.  What  are  'the    consequences  of  drinking?     Prov.  23: 
29,  30. 

13.  How  may  we  avoid  these  consequences?    Prov.  23  :  31. 

14.  What  will  be  .the  result  if  we  disregard  this  advice  ? 
Prov.  23  :  32. 

15.  Is  it  wise  to  tamper  with  strong  drink?    Prov.  20  : 1. 

16.  Where  was  the  first  temperance  society  ?    Jer.  35  :  6-8. 

17.  What  blessing  did  God  pronounce  upon  the  first  temper- 
ance society?    Jer.  35  :  18,  19. 

18.  Is  intemperance  a  vice  ?    Gal.  5  :  21. 

19.  When  is  temperance  a  virtue  ?    Gal.  5  :  22,  23. 

20.  Tobacco  and  opium  were  not  known  when  the  Bible  was 
written,  so  that  they  are  not  mentioned  by  name  in  the  Bible ; 
but  is  there  anything  in  the  Bible  that  covers  all  intemperate 
habits  ?    Rom.  14  :  21. 


WORTHY  EXAMPLE  OF  MORAL  PRINCIPLE. 

Let  every  soul  be  subject  unto  the  higher  powers.  —  Romans  18  :  1. 

TEREMIAH  HORROX,a  young  and  enthusiastic  astronomer 
U  in  the  seventeenth  century,  looked  forward  with  great  in- 
terest to  the  first  known  transit  of  Yenus  across  the  sun's  disk. 
Eminent  astronomers,  as  Kepler  and  Tycho  Brahe,  had  fore- 
told this  passage  to  take  place  on  a*  given  day  in  the  year 
1631. 

The  day  came  and  passed,  but  the  transit  did  not  occur. 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  495 

Young  Hor'rox  set  himself  to  the  task  of  carefully  examining 
the  long  table  of  figures  and  calculations  by  which  the  time 
of  its  crossing  the  sun's  face  should  be  known.  After  much 
careful  study  he  discovered  a  mistake  in  those  tables,  and 
that  its  passage  would  occur  on  the  4th  of  December,  1639, 
or  eight  years  later  than  was  first  supposed.  But  the  4th 
of  December  that  year  came  on,  the  holy  Sabbath.  Should  he 
sit  at  his  telescope  and  examine  this  hitherto  unseen  phenom- 
enon, or  should  he  go  to  his  accustomed  place  of  worship  in 
his  Sabbath  devotions  ?  Moral  principle  with  him  was 
stronger  than  love  for  his  favorite  study,  or  desire  to  see  this 
planet  in  its  first  known  transit. 

He  commenced  his  observations  with  the  rising  sun,  con- 
tinued them  till  time  for  public  worship,  then,  dropping  all,  he 
went  to  church  ;  returned  to  his  instrument  for  a  few  minutes 
at  noon,  then  back  to  his  place  of  worship  in  the  afternoon ; 
then  returning  to  his  telescope,  he  was  gratified  in  seeing 
what  no  mortal  eye  had  ever  before  seen  —  the  transit  of  Venus 
across  the  sun's  disk.  He  could  not  hope  to  see  another  transit 
of  this  planet,  as  it  would  be  one  hundred  and  twenty-two 
years  before  it  would  recur.  Great  as  was  his  anxiety  to  see 
this  astronomical  phenomenon,  his  regard  for  the  worship  of 
God  was  greater.  Moral  principle  triumphed. 


UNTHOUGHT-OF  CONSIDERATION. 

The  night  is  far  spent,  the  day  is  at  hand ;  let  us  therefore  cast  off  the  works 
of  darkness,  and  let  us  put  on  the  armor  of  light.  —  Romans  13  :  12. 

WHILE  traveling,  Mr.  Hervey  met  with  a  lady  who  largely 
expatiated  on  the  amusements  of  the  stage,  as  being,  in 
her  opinion,  superior  to  all  other  pleasures.  She  remarked 
that  there  was  the  pleasure  of  thinking  on  the  play  before  she 
went,  the  pleasure  she  enjoyed  while  there,  and  the  pleasure 
of  reflecting  on  it  afterward.  Mr.  Hervey,  who  had  heard  her 
remarks  without  interruption,  now  said,  with  his  usual  mild- 
ness, that  there  was  one  pleasure  more  which  she  had  forgot- 
ten. "  What  can  that  be  ?  "  she  eagerly  asked ;  for  she  thought 
she  must  have  included  them  all.  With  a  grave  look  and 


496  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

striking  manner  Mr.  Hervey  replied,  "  Madam,  the  pleasure  it 
will  give  you  on  a  death-bed."  A  clap  of  thunder  or  a  flash 
of  lightning  could  not  have  more  surprised  her :  the  remark 
went  to  her  heart.  She  had  no  reply  to  make  ;  the  rest  of  the 
journey  was  occupied  in  deep  thought  j  she  abandoned  the 
theatre,  and  heartily  pursued  those  pleasures  which  afford 
present  satisfaction,  and  can  impart  solid  comfort  in  a  dying 
hour. 

POWER  OF  GOD'S  WORD. 

Let  us  walk  honestly,  as  in  the  day;  not  in  rioting  and  drunkenness,  not 
in  chambering  and  wantonness,  not  in  strife  and  envying.  —  Romans  13  :  13. 

JUNIUS  was  reclaimed  from  atheism  by  casting  his  eye  upon 
the  New  Testament  lying  open  in  his  study,  and  reading 
the  first  of  St.  John's  Gospel,  "  In  the  beginning  was  the  Word/'7 
&c.,  being  amazed  with  the  strange  majesty  of  the  style,  and 
profoundness  of  the  mysteries  therein  contained.  What  should 
I  speak  of  St.  Augustine  ?  who  was  strangely  converted  by 
hearing  a  voice  saying,  "  Tolle,  lege,  Tolle,  lege"  and  fastening 
his  eyes  upon  the  first  passage  of  Scripture  he  lighted  on, 
which  was  this,  "  Let  us  walk  honestly  as  in  the  day,  not  in 
gluttony  and  drunkenness,"  <fcc.  (Rom.  13  :  13, 14.)  No  sooner 
was  the  verse  read,  than  a  pious  resolution  for  amendment  of 
life  settled  in  him.  Alipius,  certified  hereof,  desires  to  peruse 
the  place,  and  falleth  upon  the  verse  immediately  following, 
"  Him  that  is  weak  in  faith  receive  ye  ;  "  which  he  applying  to 
himself,  besought  St.  Augustine  to  strengthen  him  in  the 
truth,  as  Christ  commanded  Peter,  "  Tu  conversus,  confirma 
fratres ; "  which  task  he  so  well  performed,  that  with  little 
travail  in  a  short  space,  two  twins  were  brought  forth  to  the 
churcjb  at  one  time.  Thus  the  word  of  God,  whether  heard 
or  read,  non  ut  sonus,  non  ut  litera,  not  as  it  is  ink  and 
paper,  not  as  it  is  a  sound  or  collision  of  the  air,  but  as  it  is 
an  instrument  of  God,  and  the  power  of  God  unto  salvation 
(Bom.  1  :  16),  maketh  the  man  of  God  perfect  (2  Tim.  3  :  17). 
It  frameth  and  moldeth  the  heart,  it  printeth  it  like  a  stamp, 
melteth  it  like  wax,  bruise th  it  like  a  hammer,  pricketh  it  like 
a  nail,  and  cutteth  it  asunder  like  a  sword.  —  Things  New 
and  Old. 


NEW   TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 


497 


A  MAN  IS  RESPONSIBLE  FOR  HIS  BELIEF. 

For  none  of  us  liveth  to  himself,  and  no  man  dieth  to  himself.  —  Ro- 
mans 14  :  7. 


is  a  mercantile  company  which  bulks  largely  in  the 
_L  public  eye,  and  turns  over  vast  sums,  and  spreads  its 
agencies  widely  over  the  world.  You  think  the  concern  is 
solid,  and  court  its  alliance.  You  are  accepted;  your  -inter- 
ests are  bound  to  its  fortune,  and  are  ruined  in  its  fall.  Your 
favorable  opinion  of  a  hollow  pretense  did  not  prevent  the  loss 
of  your  means  when  the  bubble  burst.  The  law  is  universal. 
In  the  nature  of  things  it  can  not  be  otherwise.  It  is  a  hollow 
form  of  philosophy  that  deceives  some  men  on  this  point. 
They  say,  Surely  God  will  not  punish  a  man  hereafter  who 
conscientiously  walks  up  to  his  convictions,  although  these 
convictions  be  in  point  of  fact  mistaken.  They  err,  knowing 
neither  the  inspired  Scriptures  nor  the  natural  laws.  Do  men 
imagine  that  God,  who  has  established  this  world  in  such  ex- 
quisite order,  and  rules  it  by  regular  laws,  will  abdicate,  and 
leave  the  better  world  in  anarchy?  This  world  is  blessed  by 
an  undeviating  connection  between  causes  and  their  effects  ; 
will  the  next  be  abandoned  to  random  impulses,  and  run  back 
to  chaos  ?  The  idea  is  not  only  false,  but  impossible  and  ab- 
surd. It  is  not  even  conceivable  that  the  direction  of  a  man's 
course  should  "not  determine  his  landing-place. 


CERTAINTY  OF  A  GENERAL  JUDGMENT. 

But  why  dost  thou  judge  thy  brother?  or  why  dost'thou  set  at  naught 
thy  brother?  for  we  shall  all  stand  before  the  judgment  seat  of  Christ.  —  Ro- 
mans 14  :  10. 

LET  us  suppose  that,  at  the  time  when  Britain  was  peopled 
by  half-savage"  tribes,  before  the  period  of  the  Roman 
sway,  some  gifted  seer  among  the  Druids  had  engraven  upon 
a  rock  a  minute  prediction  of  a  portion  of  the  future  history 
of  the  island.     Suppose  he  had  declared  that  it  should,  ere 
long,  be  conquered  by  a  warrior  people  from  the  south ;  that 
63 


498  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

he  should  name  the  Caesar  himself,  describe  his  eagle  standard, 
and  all  the  circumstances  of  the  conquest.  Suppose  he  should 
portray  the  Saxon  invasion  centuries  after,  the  sevenfold  di- 
vision of  the  monarchy,  the  Danish  inroad,  the  arrival  and 
victory  of  the  Normans.  Our  imagined  prophet  pauses  here, 
or  at  whatever  other  precise  period  you  please  to  suppose ; 
and  his  next  prediction,  overleaping  a  vast  undescribed  in- 
terval, suddenly  represents  the  England  of  the  present  day. 
Now  'conceive  the  forefathers  of  existing  England  to  have 
studied  this  wondrous  record,  and  to  find,  to  their  amazement, 
that  every  one  of  its  predictions  was  accurately  verified  ;  that, 
as  their  generations  succeeded,  they  but  walked  in  the  traces 
assigned  for  them  by  the  prophetic  inscription,  and  all  it  spoke 
progressively  became  fact.  Can  we  suppose  that,  however  fur 
away  in  futurity  was  the  one  remaining  event,  and  however 
impossible  to  them,  at  their  early  stage,  to  conceive  the  means 
by  which  all  the  present  wonders  of  this  mighty  empire  could 
ever  be  realized,  they  wtmld  permit  themselves  to  doubt  its 
absolute  certainty  after  such  overwhelming  proofs  of  the  super- 
natural powers  of  the  seer  who  guaranteed  it  ?  Would  they  not 
shape  their  course  as  confidently  in  view  of  the  unquestionable 
future  as  in  reference  to  the  unquestionable  past  ?  It  should 
be  thus  with  regard  to  the  coming  judgment.  — Arclibp.  Butler. 


PERSONAL  RESPONSIBILITY: 

So  then  every  one  of  us  shall  give  account  o*  himself  to  God.  —  7?o- 
mans  14 :  12. 

T)EMEMBER  that,  in  the  day  of  judgment,  thy  account  must 
Xi  be  personal.  God  will  not  ask  you  what  your  church  did  ; 
he  will  ask  you  what  you  did  yourself.  Now,  there  is  a  Sun- 
day school.  If  God  should  try  all  members  of  the  church  in  a 
body,  they  would  each  of  them  say,  0  Lord,  as  a  body,  we 
had  an  excellent  Sunday  school,  and  had'many  teachers  :  and 
so  they  would  excuse  themselves.  But  no ;  one  by  one,  all 
professors  must  come  before  him.  "  What  did  you  do  for  the 
Sabbath  school  ?  I  gave  you  a  gift  for  teaching  children  ; 
what  did  you  do  ?  "  "  0  Lord,  there  was  a  Sabbath  school." 


NEW   TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 


499 


That  has  nothing  to  do  with  it ;  what  did  you  do  ?  You  are 
not  to  account  now  for  the  company  with  which  you  were 
united,  but  for  yourself  as  an  individual.  "  0,"  says  one, 
"  there  were  a  number  of  poor  ministers  ;  I  was  at  the  Surrey 
Hall,  and  so  much  was  done  for  them."  No ;  what  did  you 
do  ?  You  must  be  held  personally  responsible  for  your  own 
wealth,  for  your  own  ability.  "  Well,"  says  one,  "  I  am  happy 
to  say  there  is  a  great  deal  more  preaching  now  than  there 
used  to  be  ;  the  churches  seem  to  be  roused."  Yes,  sir ;  and 
you  seem  to  take  part  of  the  credit  to  yourself.  Do  you 
preach  more  than  you  used  to  ?  Remember,  it  is  not  what 
your  brethren  are  doing,  but  it  is  what  you  do,  that  you  will 
be  called  to  account  for  at  the  bar  of  God;  and  each  one  of 
you  will  be  asked  this  question :  "  What  hast  thou  done  with 
thy  talent?"  All  your  connection  with  churches  will  avail 
you  nothing ;  it  is  your  personal  doings  —  your  personal  ser- 
vice toward  God  that  is  demanded  of  you  as  an  evidence  of 
saving  grace.  And  if  others  are  idle,  —  if  others  pay  not  God 
his  due,  —  so  much  the  more  reason  why  you  should  have 
been  more  exceedingly  diligent  in  doing  so  yourself,  —  C.  H. 
Spurgeon. 

A  BAD  EXAMPLE  AND  ITS  INFLUENCE. 

It  is  good  neither  to  eat  flesh,  nor  to  drink  wine,  nor  anything  whereby  thy 
brother  stumbleth,  or  is  offended,  or  is  made  weak.  —  Romans  14 :  21. 

A  VERY  marked  and  painful  instance  of  the  effects  of  a  bad 
example  occurred  recently  in  the  vicinity  of  Boston.  A 
gentleman  of  high  social  position,  a  member  of  an  evangelical 
church,  and  the  father  of  an  interesting  family,  —  one  whose 
life  was  closely  watched,  and  whose  errors  as  well  as  virtues 
were  sure  to  be  imitated,  —  gave  a  large  party.  It  was  on  the 
occasion  of  the  twenty-fifth  anniversary  of  his  marriage.  The 
company  was  very  select,  consisting  in  most  part  of  clergymen 
of  his  own  denomination,  and  the  leading  literary  and  business 
men  of  his  acquaintance,  with  their  families,  nearly  all  being 
professed  Christians. 

At  the  bountiful  supper  which  was  provided,  conspicuous 
among  the  articles  of  luxury  on  the  tables,  appeared  a  goodly 


500  NEW   TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

supply  of  wine.  The  clergymen,  with  others,  freely  partook 
of  the  wine  which  had  been  so  bountifully  provided. 

One  gentleman  looked  upon  the  scene  with  evident  surprise 
for  a  time,  then  he  seemed  to  hesitate,  and  finally  he  drank  more 
than  all  the  rest.  He  went  home  and  drank  again  that  night,  and 
again  the  next  day,  and  the  next.  In  a  week  he  was  a  ditch 
drunkard,  and  in  a  month  was  discharged  from  the  church,  of 
which  he  had  been  a  consistent  and  valued  member  for  seven 
years.  He  had  been  accustomed  in  early  life  to  habits  of  dis- 
sipation, and  that  single  evening's  experience  was  sufficient 
to  bring  the  old  temptation  upon  him  with  overwhelming  force. 
Christian  duty,  home,  manliness,  all  that  he  was  or  ever  hoped 
to  be,  were  swallowed  up  in  that  one  low  passion.  The  exam- 
ple of  his  own  pastor  had  ruined  him. 

What  say  our  defenders  among  the  churches  of  moderate 
drinking?  Is  no  one  responsible  in  such  a  case  as  this  ?  Does 
not  the  Bible  say  something  about  him  "  who  putteth  the  oup 
to  his  neighbor's  lips"?  In  this  instance  the  results  are 
clearly  traceable  ;  but  who  will  dare  to  say  how  often  as  ter- 
rible consequences  follow  when  nothing  is  said  and  little  is 
publicly  known  of  them  ? 


CHEER  HIM. 

Let  every  one  of  us  please  his  neighbor  for  his  good  to  edification.  —  Ra- 
mans 15 :  2. 

IN  one  of  our  large  cities,  a  fire  broke  out  in  a  lofty  dwelling. 
It  was  near  midnight,  and  the  flames  had  made  headway 
before  they  were  discovered.  The  fire  companies  rallied,  but 
the  smoke  had  become  so  thick  that  the  outlines  of  the  house 
were  scarcely  visible,  and  the  fiery  element  was  raging  with 
fearful  power,  when  a  piercing  cry  thrilled  all  hearts  as  they 
learned  that  there  was  one  person  yet  unsaved  within  the 
building.  In  a  moment  a  ladder  was  swung  through  the 
flames  and  planted  against  the  heated  walls,  and  a  brave  fire- 
man rushed  up  its  rounds  to  the  rescue.  Overcome  by  the 
smoke,  and  perhaps  dauitted  by  the  hissing  flames  before  him, 


NEW   TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  501 

he  halted  and  seemed  to  hesitate.  It  was  an  awful  scene.  A 
life  hung  in  the  balance,  and  each  moment  was  an  age. 

"  Cheer  him  ! "  shouted  a  voice  from  the  crowd  ;  and  a  wild 
"  hurrah  !  "  burst  like  a  tempest  from  the  beholding  multitude. 
That  cheer  did  the  work,  and  the  brave  fireman  went  upward 
amid  smoke  and  flame,  and  in  a  moment  descended  with  the 
rescued  one  in  his  arms. 

Friend,  brother,  when  you  see  a  brave  soul  battling  with 
temptation,  struggling  under  the  cross,  rushing  forward  to 
rescue  dying  men,  and  yet  faltering  in  an  hour  of  weakness  or 
a  moment  of  peril,  then  "  cheer  him."  And  as  a  pebble's  fall 
may  change  a  river's  course,  so  your  words  of  sympathetic 
kindness  may  uplift  a  drooping  heart,  and  fix  its  faltering 
purpose  for  a  noble  life. 


HABITUAL  CHRISTIAN  ACTIVITY. 

Now,  the  God  of  hope  fill  you  with  all  joy  and  peace  in  believing,  that  ye 
may  abound  in  hope,  through  the  power  of  the  Holy  Ghost.  —  Romans  15  :  13. 

WHAT  is  especially  needed  now  is  a  habit  of  Christian  ac- 
tivity. Mere  momentary  impulse,  under  some  cogent 
appeals,  is  certainly  better  than  immovable  idleness  or  stolid 
indifference,  but  it  is  not  the  thing  needed.  Neither  is  it 
enough  to  maintain  only  the  positions  already  attained,  or  be 
satisfied  simply  with  the  silent  influence  of  personal  holiness 
of  character ;  but  there  must  be  positive,  personal,  aggressive 
effort  upon  sin  in  every  form.  There  must  be  a  full  appre- 
ciation of  the  tremendous  interests  at  stake,  both  to  the  church 
and  to  the  world,  of  the  approaching  crisis,  when  from  every 
quarter  of  the  globe  God's  people  are  summoned  to  more 
splendid  exhibitions  of  piety,  and  to  more  heroic  exploits  of 
self-denial.  Resolutions  at  conventions,  synods,  and  assem- 
blies, are  good,  but  if  not  put  into  the  concrete  form  of  vigor- 
ous action,  they  are  only  blank  cartridges  fired  upon  a  mob, 
irritating  and  stimulating  to  greater  resistance  those  who  are 
to  be  subdued  to  the  sway  of  truth. 

Hold  up,  however,  a  bleeding  Saviour,  and  you  will  beget 
bleeding  hearts.     Exhibit  an  ever-faithful,  self-sacrificing  Son 


502 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 


of  God,  who,  though  "  he  was  rich,  yet  for  our  sakes  became 
poor,  and  who,  though  he  thought  it  not  robbery  to  be  equal 
with  God,  yet  made  himself  of  no  reputation,  but  took  upon 
him  the  form  of  a  servant,  and  became  obedient  unto  death, 
even  the  death  of  the  cross,"  and  you  crucify  the  spirit  that 
has  pounds  for  fashion,  but  pennies  for  salvation,  that  has 
loaves  for  luxury,  but  crumbs  for  a  starving  world.  This 
sweetens  oceans  of  Marah  and  begets  an  elasticity  of  spirit 
equal  to  the  most  arduous  or  most  multifarious  toils.  This 
makes  the  timid  bold  and  the  slothful  diligent,  the  indifferent 
zealous  and  the  cold  ardent.  This  puts  energy  into  the  with- 
ered arm  and  ingenuity  into  the  dull  brain,  wings  to  leaden 
feet  and  eloquence  in  stammering  lips.  —  A.  C.  Wedekind,  D.D. 


SUGGESTIONS  TO  MINISTERS. 

Yea,  so  have  I  strived  to  preach  the  gospel.  —  Romans  15  :  20. 

A  GIFTED  preacher  now  walking  through  the  "  border 
land,"  almost  home,  gives  this  as  the  secret  of  his  large 
success  :  he  has  ever  aimed  to  convey  one  central  idea  in  each 
discourse,  and  generally  but  one  main  fact.  Thus  have  the 
"  arrows  "  in  his  hands  l>een  made  "  sharp,"  and  his  hearers 
have  uniformly  left  with  one  definite  and  vivid  impression 
dominant  in  the  mind.  "  Ye  must  be  born  again ;  "  from  this 
a  powerful  argument  for  the  necessity  of  the  new  birth  was 
drawn,  everything  centering  on  "  must."  So  another  of  his 
remarkable  discourses  is  remembered  by  the  word  "  almost " 
—  "  almost  persuaded,"  etc.,  being  the  text. 

We  are  so  anxious  to  get  thoughts  into  our  discourses  that 
we  sometimes  make  them  appear,  as  Professor  Phelps  says, 
"  like  a  table  of  contents."  Better  digest  one  weighty  truth, 
and  then  bring  it  home  with  vigor,  so  that  it  will  tell  on  heart 
and  conscience.  Again,  are  we  not  too  anxious  to  say  new 
things,  overlooking  the  actual  daily  wants  of  our  people  in 
seeking  mere  intellectual  novelties  ?  Sydney  Smith  well  said 
that  the  object  of  preaching  was  "  constantly  to  remind  man- 
kind of  what  mankind  is  constantly  forgetting  ;  not  to  supply 
the  defects  of  human  intelligence,  but  to  fortify  the  feebleness 


NEW   TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  503 

of  human  resolutions  ;  to  recall  mankind  from  the  by-paths 
where  they  turn,  into  the  path  of  salvation,  which  they  all 
know,  but  few  tread  ;  in  other  words,  to  persuade  men  to  be- 
come reconciled  to  God."  —  Christian  Mirror. 


PEMALE  HELPERS  IN  THE  MINISTRY. 

Greet  Priscilla  and  Aquila,  my  helpers  in  Christ  Jesus.  —  Romans  16  :-3. 

GOD  has  greatly  honored  the  labors  of  Mrs.  Van  Cott  in  her 
public  services  as  an  Evangelist,  as  the  following  extract 
from  her  letter,   recently   published   in   the    North- Western 
Christian  Advocate,  will  show:  — 

"  I  have  been  at  Lynn,  Mass.,  three  weeks.  Two  hundred 
and  three  have  started  for  heaven.  Last  night,  eighteen  new 
cases,  all  adults  ;  night  before  last,  seventeen  new  cases  — 
two  drunkards  and  one  rum-seller.  On  Tuesday  night  the 
devil  declared  that  we  should  not  prevail.  I  declared,  by  the 
grace  of  God,  that  I  would  not  leave  the  house  until  I  had 
seen  a  victory ;  and  so,  with  thirty  young  converts,  spent  the 
entire  night  in  prayer.  The  interest  never  for  one  moment 
abated.  The  pastor  and  many  of  the  older  members  remained 
with  us.  I  never  left  that  house  for  a  moment  for  thirty-three 
hours.  But,  0,  what  praying  !  And,  glory  be  to  God  !  we 
did  have  the  victory  in  answer  to  prayer.  We  heard,  from  all 
parts  of  the  city,  that  men  and  women  were  awakened  ;  some 
at  midnight,  others  at  three  o'clock  in  the  morning,  arose,  and 
prayed  earnestly  for  salvation.  Many  of  these  did  not  know 
that  the  meeting  was  being  held.  Glory  be  to  God  !  " 

How  much  better  to  work  for  God  in  the  salvation  of  souls, 
than  be  prating  about  the  propriety  of  women  preaching. 


PIOUS  CHRISTIAN  FEMALES. 

Salute  Tryphena  and  Tryphosa,  who  labor  in  the  Lord.     Salute  the  be- 
loved Persis,  which  labored  much  in  the  Lord.  —  Romans  16  :  12. 

PIOUS  Christian  females,  presenting  patterns  of  genuine 
wives  and  mothers,  often  furnish  a  beautiful  contrast  to 
the   prevailing  depravation  of  manners,  and  reckless  pursuit 


504  XEW   TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

of  earthly  things,  to  be  found  in  families  of  pagans,  or  of  mere 
nominal  Christians.  By  them  the  seeds  of  Christianity  were 
planted  in  the  souls  of  those  who  afterward  produced  great 
effect  as  teachers  of  the  church.  The  pious  Nonna,  by  her 
prayers  and  the  silent  influence  of  the  religion  which  shone 
through  her  life,  gradually  won  over  to  the  gospel  her  husband 
Gregory,  who  had  belonged  to  an  unchristian  sect ;  and  he  be- 
came a  devoted  bishop.  The  first  born  .son  was  carried,  soon 
after  his  birth,  to  the  altar  of  the  church,  when  they  placed  a 
volume  of  the  Gospels  in  his  hands,  and  dedicated  him  to  the 
service  of  the  Lord.  The  example  of  a  pious  education,  and 
this  early  consecration,  first  received  from  his  mother,  of  which 
he  was  often  reminded,  made  a  deep  impression  on  the  son ; 
and  he  compares  his  mother  to  Hannah,  who  consecrated  Sam- 
uel to  God.  This  impression  abode  with  him  while  exposed, 
during  the  years  of  his  youth  which  he  spent  at  Athens,  to  the 
contagion  of  the  paganism  which  there  prevailed. 

This  son,  the  distinguished  church  teacher,  Gregory  of  Na- 
zianzen,  says  of  his  mother,  that  her  emotions,  when  dwelling 
on  the  historical  fact  connected  with  her  faith,  overcame  all 
sense  of  pain  from  her  own  sufferings,  and  death  surprised  her 
while  praying  at  the  altar.  The  pious  Arethusa,  of  Antioch, 
retired  from  the  bustle  of  the  world,  to  which  she  belonged 
by  her  condition,  into  the  still  retreat  of  domestic  life.  Hav- 
ing lost  her  husband  at  the  age  of  twenty,  she  chose,  from 
regard  to  his  memory,  and  a  desire  to  devote  herself  wholly  to 
the  education  of  her  son,  to  remain  a  widow,  and  it  was  owing 
in  part  to  this  early,  pious,  and  careful  education,  that  the  boy 
became  afterward  so  well  known  as  the  great  church  teacher, 
John  Chrysostom.  In  like  manner,  Monica,  by  her  submissive, 
amiable,  and  gentle  spirit,  softened  the  temper  of  a  violent, 
passionate  husband,  and  while  she  had  much  to  suffer  from 
him,  scattered  the  seeds  of  Christianity  in  the  soul  of  her  son, 
Augustine,  which,  after  many  stormy  passages  of  life,  brought 
forth  fruit  in  h;m  abundantly.  —  Forest's  Neander. 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  505 


A  MISDIRECTED  LETTER. 

Now  I  beseech  you,  brethren,  by  the  name  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ^ 
ye  all  speak  the  same  thing,  and  that  there  be  no  divisions  among  you ;  but 
that  ye  be  perfectly  joined  together  in  the  same  mind  and  in  the  same  judg- 
ment. —  1  Cor.  1 :  10. 

fTlHE  Rev.  Mr.  Bulkley,  of  Colchester,  Conn.,  was  famous  in 
_L  his  day  as  a  casuist  and  sage  counselor.  A  church  in  his 
neighborhood  had  fallen  into  unhappy  divisions  and  conten- 
tions, which  they  were  unable  to  adjust  among  themselves. 
They  deputed  one  of  their  number  to  the  venerable  Bulkley, 
for  his  services,  with  a  request  that  he  would  send  it  to  them 
in  writing.  The  matters  were  taken  into  serious  considera- 
tion, and  the  advice,  with  much  deliberation,  committed  to 
writing.  It  so  happened  that  Mr.  Bulkley  had  a  farm  in  an 
extreme  part  of  the  town,  upon  which  he  intrusted  a  ten- 
ant. In  superscribing  the  two  letters,  the  one  for  the  church 
was  directed  to  the  tenant,  and  the  one  for  the  tenant  to  the 
church.  The  church  was  convened  to  hear  the  advice  which 
was  to  settle  all  their  disputes.  The  moderator  read  as  fol- 
lows :  "  You  will  see  to  the  repair  of  the  fences,  that  they  be 
built  high  and  strong,  and  you  will  take  special  care  of  the  old 
black  bull."  This  mystical  advice  puzzled  the  church  at  first ; 
but  an  interpreter  among  the  more  discerning  ones  was  soon 
found,  who  said,  "  Brethren,  this  is  the  very  advice  we  most 
need  j  the  direction  to  repair  the  fences  is  to  admonish  us  to 
take  good  Heed  in  the  admission  and  government  of  our  mem- 
bers ;  we  must  guard  the  church  by  our  Master's  laws,  and 
keep  out  strange  cattle  from  the  fold.  And  we  must  in  a  par- 
ticular manner  set  a  watchful  guard  over  the  devil,  the  old 
black  bull,  who  has  done  so  much  hurt  of  late."  All  perceived 
the  wisdom  and  fitness  of  Mr.  Bulkley's  advice,  and  resolved 
to  be  governed  by  it.  The  consequence  was,  all  the  animosi- 
ties subsided,  and  harmony  was  restored  to  the  long-afflicted 
church.  —  Arvine's  Cyclopedia. 
64 


506  NEW   TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 


A  SKEPTIC  SILENCED. 

Where  is  the  wise?  where  is  the  scribe?  where  is  the  disputer  of  this 
world?  Hath  not  God  made  foolish  the  wisdom  of  this  world?  —  1  Cor.  1 :  20. 

A  SKEPTIC,  wise  in  his  own  eyes,  and  prudent  in  his  own 
J\.  sight,  once  asserted,  in  the  presence  of  a  Christian,  that  lie 
would  believe  nothing  which  he  could  not  explain  and  compre- 
hend. Said  the  other,  "  I  believe  thousands  of  things  which 
I  can  neither  explain  nor  comprehend,  and  so  does  the  mass 
of  mankind."  The  infidel  scornfully  replied,  "  I  will  not !  " 
Said  the  Christian,  "  Explain  this  if  you  can :  here  are  four 
animals  feeding  in  a  meadow ;  on  the  back  of  one  grow 
feathers,  on  another  wool,  on  a  third  bristles,  on  the  fourth 
hair.  Please  explain  this  —  they  all  eat  grass.  Why  this 
diversity  ?  "  The  infidel  was  silenced. 

A  little  girl  was  intently  reading  her  Bible,  when  accosted 
by  a  skeptic  with,  "  Child,  you  can't  understand  that  book,  and 
it  is  not  true  !  "  Looking  up  in  his  face,  she  said,  "  There  is 
one  thing  in  the  Bible  certainly  true."  "  Pray,  what  is  that?" 
"  The  Bible  says,  <  In  the  last  days  shall  come  scoffers,'  and 
you  are  one  of  them."  It  is  needless  to  add  that  the  infidel 
was  silenced,  and  soon  left  the  child  to  peruse  her  precious 
book. 

BE  FAIR  IN  COMPARING. 

For  after  that  in  the  wisdom  of  God  the  world  by  wisdom  knew  not  God, 
it  pleased  God  by  the  foolishness  of  preaching  to  save  them  that  believe.  — 
1  Cor.  1 :  21. 

IT  is  to  no  purpose  for  the  infidel  to  offer  us  experiments 
made  under  these  Christian  heavens,  and  on  soil  mellowed 
and  prepared  by  the  gospel.  This  sort  of  fraud  has  been 
much  practised.  Infidels  have  wrought  out  their  theories 
under  the  full  blaze  of  the  Bible,  and  said,  Behold  the  light 
of  reason  !  They  have  stolen  a  torch  from  the  temple  of 
Christianity,  and  boasted  of  seeing  by  nature.  Gathering 
clusters  from  Christ's  vine,  the}r  have  twined  them  round  the 
dead  trunk  of  infidelity,  and  said,  See  what  fruit  our  system 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  507 

produces  !  And  this  may  be  a  cunning  device,  but  in  the 
way  of  argument  it  is  worse  than  nothing.  If  infidelity  would 
measure  itself  with  Christianity,  let  it  assume  an  equal  task. 
Let  it  take  a  field  as  deep  in  idolatry  and  corruption  as  ever 
the  Christian  missionary  entered,  and  with  only  its  own  sys- 
tem bring  it  up  to  intelligence  and  refinement ;  to  the  social 
order  and  Sabbath  worship  of  a  New  England  town.  Let  the 
preachers  of  infidelity  attempt  to  bring  a  besotted,  cannibal 
race  up  to  such  a  height  of  culture,  purity,  and  happiness, 
without  the  Bible,  without  the  knowledge  or  name  even  of 
Jesus  Christ,  without  a  precept  of  the  gospel  or  a  sanction 
from  the  Bible  — -  with  nothing  but  the  evidences  of  creation 
and  man's  wisdom.  And  to  make  the  experiment  a  fair  one, 
these  infidel  missionaries  must  themselves  have  had  no  Bible, 
no  Christian  training,  no  ideas  of  God,  of  the  soul,  of  immor- 
tality, and  the  hereafter  —  none  more  than  had  the  old  pagan 
philosophers.  But  taking  infidelity  as  it  is  educated  by  the 
Bible,  what  has  it  ever  done  for  the  world  ?  Where  are  the 
fields  it  has  turned  from  chaos  to  moral  beauty,  the  people 
it  has  raised  from  heathen  debasement  to  a  civilized  and  re- 
fined state,  with  nature  and  reason  only  ?  There  is  no  such 
example.  The  face  of  the  earth  presents  none,  and  history 
records  none.  Not  a  foot  of  this  world's  territory  has  been 
redeemed  from  paganism  by  infidels  ;  not  a  spot  in  all  heathen- 
dom has  bloomed  under  their  culture  ;  not  an  inch  of  moral 
verdure  is  due  to  their  teachings.  Their  scheme  is  worthless. 
It  not  only  does  nothing,  but  it  has  not  in  it  vitality  enough  to 
attempt  anything.  It  stays  at  home,  prates  of  reason,  sneers 
at  Christianity,  and  that  is  all. 


PREACH  CHRIST  CRUCIFIED, 

But  we  preach  Christ  crucified,  unto  the  Jews  a  stumbling-block,  and  unto 
the  Greeks  foolishness.  —  1  Cor.  1  :  23. 

"T)REACH    Christ   crucified."     Turn  not  aside  from  this, 

JL     under  the  temptation  of  meeting  some  question  of  the 

day,   or   some   bearing  of  the   public  mind.     There   is   some 

mystic  verbiage  which  some  esteem  to  be  of  transcendental 


508  NEW   TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

depth.  There  is  much  pantheism,  which  some  regard  as 
original  and  sublime.  Your  versatility  will  often  be  urged 
to  follow  after  these  conceits.  You  will  be  told  of  their  amaz- 
ing influence.  They  really  are  nothing  ;  they  are  bubbles  of 
the  hour.  They  can  not  boast  even  a  novelty.  I  conjure  you, 
care  little  for  them.  Yours  is  not  a  discretionary  theme  :  it  is 
unchanging.  Keep  to  it ;  abide  by  it.  It  is  one,  but  it  is  an 
infinite  one.  It  is  the  word  of  Christ,  divinely  great  and  true. 
Its  rigidness  can  never  hamper  your  thought ;  its  reiteration 
can  never  weary  your  inquiry.  At  no  point  can  it  restrict 
you.  It  is  a  large  place.  It  is  a  boundless  range.  It  is  a 
mine  of  wealth.  It  is  a  firmament  of  power.  Whither  would 
ye  go  from  it  ?  It  is  the  unwinding  of  all  great  principles  ; 
it  is  the  expansion  of  all  glorious  thoughts  ;  it  is  the  capacity 
of  all  blessed  emotions.  0  Calvary,  we  turn  to  thee  !  Our 
nature  (a  wreck,  a  chaos)  only  canst  thou  adjust.  We  have 
an  aching  void  which  only  thou  canst  fill !  We  have  pant- 
ings  and  longings  which  only  thou  canst  satisfy  !  Be  thou  the 
strength  and  charm  of  our  inward  life  !  Be  thou  the  earnest- 
ness of  our  deepest  interest !  Be  thou  our  inspiration,  impul- 
sion, divinity,  and  all !  Our  tears  never  relieved  us  until  thou 
taughtest  us  to  weep  !  Our  smiles  only  mocked  us  until  thou 
badst  us  rejoice  !  We  knew  no  way  of  peace  until  we  found 
our  way  to  thee  !  Hope  was  banished  from  us  until  its  dove 
.flew  downward  from  thee  upon  our  heart !  All  was  dormant 
until  thou  didst  stir  ;  all  was  dull  until  thou  didst  excite  us  ! 
Our  eyes  are  still  lifted  up  to  thee  as  to  the  hill  from  which 
cometh  all  our  help  !  Our  feet  shall  stand  upon  thee,  0  high 
mountain,  and  thou  shalt  make  them  beautiful,  while  we  pub- 
lish the  glad  tidings  of  Christ  crucified  !  —  Hamilton. 


GOD'S  WORD  THE  ONLY  AUTHORITY. 

Because  the  foolishness  of  God  is  wiser  than  men,  and  the  weakness  of 
God  is  stronger  than  men.  —  1  Cor.  1 :  25. 

IT  is  a  common  error  into  which  many  fall,  that  reason,  and 
so  much  of  the  Bible  as  seems  to  be  in  harmony  with  the 
mind  of  men,  shall  determine  our  faith  concerning  the  world 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  509 

to  come,  and  that  wherein  the  Bible  speaks  adversely  to 
human  notions,  it  shall  be  cast  off  as  of  no  account,  and  reason 
only  be  the  guide.  Such  a  course  of  reasoning  is  but  a  device 
of  the  devil.  For  he  whose  mind  is  so  darkened  or  depraved 
as  to  exalt  reason  above  revelation,  is  of  all  men  least  quali- 
fied to  make  reason  the  guide  and  authority  of  his  religious 
principles. 

The  wisdom  of  the  whole  world  is  as  nothing  compared  to 
God's  inspired  word.  A  single  sentence  from  that  word  will 
outweigh  the  conclusions  of  all  men  in  all  ages,  could  they  be 
combined  and  concentrated  on  a  single  proposition. 

A  single  declaration  of  the  Holy  Scriptures  could  not  be 
stronger  if  it  were  to  receive  the  concurrent  approval  of  all 
mankind.  Neither  would  it  be  weaker,  if  disapproved  by  the 
combined  reason  of  all  men.  We  can  neither  add  nor  detract 
from  the  wisdom,  authority,  and  certainty  of  all  that  God  has 
revealed  in  his  word.  It  is  ours  to  profit  by  it,  but  not  to 
improve  upon  it.  St.  Paul  tells  us,  "  The  foolishness  of  God  is 
wiser  than  men,  and  the  weakness  of  God  is  stronger  than 
men."  It  is  written,  ""There  are  many  devices  in  a  man's 
heart ;  nevertheless  the  counsel  of  the  Lord  shall  stand."  A 
Hebrew  prophet  has  also  said,  "  The  Lord  of  hosts  hath  sworn, 
saying,  Surely  as  I  have  thought,  so  shall  it  come  to  pass,  and 
as  I  have  purposed  so  shall  it  stand." 


AN  INFIDEL  AND  HIS  DOG. 

But  God  hath  chosen  the  foolish  things  of  the  world  to  confound  the  wise, 
and  God  hath  chosen  the  weak  things  of  the  world  to  confound  the  things 
which  are  mighty.  —  1  Cor.  1 :  27. 

SOME  men  are  wise  above  all  that  is  written.     Such  were 
some  of  us  until  we  were  taught  that  we   really  knew 
nothing  aright. 

A  blind  woman,  anxious  to  do  good  in  the  name  of  our 
blessed  Lord,  took  the  hand  of  a  little  girl  and  went  about  with 
tracts  for  distribution,  and  'with  such  words  as  were  put  into 
her  mouth  to  speak  to  one  and  another  as  opportunity  offered. 
One  day  she  happened  to  meet  a  man  who  looked  upon  the 


510  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

word  of  God  as  a  fable,  and  religion  as  a  superstition,  and 
when  she  held  out  a  tract  for  him  he  struck  it  out  of  her  hand, 
and  it  fell  to  the  ground.  This  man  had  a  well-trained  dog, 
which  took  up  the  tract  in  his  mouth  and  sat  upon  his  haunches, 
holding  it  up  to  his  master.  The  woman  passed  on,  leaving 
the  dog  in  this  position,  face  to  face  with  his  master.  When 
the  dog  had  remained  some  minutes,  holding  the  tract  up  to 
his  master,  the  man  finally  took  it  out  of  pity  to  the  animal, 
and  some  words  in  it  riveted  his  attention  and  induced  him  to 
read  it  through.  Conviction  seized  upon  him,  ending  in  his 
becoming  a  true  believer  in  Christ. 

A  dog  may  know  his  owner  better  than  a  man  his  heavenly 
Father ;  and  in  this  case  the  dog's  faithfulness  to  his  master 
was  the  means  of  the  man's  conversion  to  God. 

A  blind  woman  may  see  invisible  things  better  than  a  man 
wise  in  his  conceit  with  both  eyes  open.  So  it  was  here  ;  for 
this  man,  though  seeing  with  both  eyes,  was  spiritually  blind ; 
and  the  woman  without  sight  was  God's  instrument  for  open- 
ing his  blind  eyes.  —  Rev.  William  E.  Boardman. 


LUTHER'S  MODE  OF  PREACHING. 

And  I,  brethren,  when  I  came  to  you,  came  not  with  excellency  of  speech 
or  of  wisdom,  declaring  unto  you  the  testimony  of  God.  —  1  Cor.  2 :  1. 

"  T  DISCOURSE  as  plainly  as  possible,  for  I  desire  that  the 
JL  commonest  people,  that  children,  that  servants,  should 
understand  what  I  say.  It  is  not  for  the  learned  we  go  into 
the  pulpit ;  they  have  their  books."  Dr.  Erasmus  Alberus,  pre- 
vious to  his  departure  for  Brandenburg,  questioned  Dr.  Luther 
as  to  how  he  ought  to  preach  before  the  electors.  "Your 
sermons,"  replied  Martin,  "  should  be  addressed,  not  to  princes 
and  nobles,  but  to  the  rude,  uncultivated  commonalty.  If  in 
my  discourses  I  were  to  be  thinking  about  Melanchthon  and 
the  other  doctors,  I  should  do  no  good  at  all ;  but  I  preach  in 
plain  language  to  the  plain,  unlearned  people,  and  that  pleases 
all  parties.  If  I  know  the  Greek,  Hebrew,  and  Latin  lan- 
guages, I  reserve  them  for  our  learned  meetings,  where  they 


NEW   TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  511 

are  of  use  ;  for  at  these  we  deal  in  such  subtilties  and  such 
profundities  that  God  himself,  I  wot,  must  sometimes  marvel 
at  us." 


CHRIST  AND  HIM  CRUCIFIED. 

For  I  determined  not  to  know  anything  among  you  save  Jesus  Christ,  and 
him  crucified.  —  1  Cor.  2  :  2. 

A  SPANISH  artist  was  once  employed  to  paint  "  The  Last 
Supper."  It  was  his  object  to  throw  all  the  sublimity  of 
his  art  into  the  figure  and  countenance  of  the  Lord  Jesus ; 
but  he  put  on  the  fable  in  the  foreground  some  chased  cups, 
the  workmanship  of  which  was  exceedingly  beautiful.  When 
his  friends  came  to  see  the  picture  on  the  easel,  every  one 
said,  "  What  beautiful  cups  !  "  "  Ah  !  "  said  he,  "  I  have  made 
a  mistake;  these  cups  divert  the  eyes  of  the  spectator  from 
the  Lord,  to  whom  I  wished  to  direct  the  attention  of  the  ob- 
server." And  he  forthwith  took  up  his  brush  and  blotted 
them  from  the  canvas,  that  the  strength  and  vigor  of  the  chief 
object  might  be  prominently  seen  and  observed.  Thus  all 
Christians  should  feel  their  study  to  be  Christ's  exaltation ; 
and  whatever  is  calculated  to  hinder  man  from  beholding  him 
in  all  the  glory  of  his  person  and  works,  should  be  removed 
out  of  the  way.  "  God  forbid  that  I  should  glory,  save  in  the 
cross  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ." 


CHRIST,  NOT  ORATORY. 

And  my  speech  and  my  preaching  was  not  with  enticing  words  of  man's 
wisdom,  but  in  demonstration  of  the  Spirit  and  of  power.  —  1  Cor.  2 :  4. 

MY  brethren,  the  preaching  of  the  gospel  minister  should 
always  have  soul- winning  for  its  object.  Never  should 
we  seek  that  the  audience  should  admire  our  excellency  of 
speech.  I  have  in  my  soul  a  thousand  times  cursed  oratory, 
and  wished  that  the  arts  of  elocution  had  never  been  devised, 
or,  at  least,  had  never  profaned  the  sanctuary  of  God  j  for  often 
as  I  have  listened  with  wonder  to  speech  right  well  conceived, 


512  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

and  sentences  aptly  arranged,  I  have  felt  as  though  I  could 
weep  tears  of  blood  that  the  time  of  the  congregation  on  the 
Sabbath  should  be.  wasted  by  listening  to  wordy  rhetoric, 
when  what  was  wanted  was  a  plain,  urgent  pleading  with  men's 
hearts  and  consciences.  It  is  never  worth  a  minister's  while 
to  go  up  his  pulpit  stairs  to  show  his  auditors  that  he  is  an 
adept  in  elocution.  High-sounding  words  and  flowery  periods 
are  a  mockery  of  man's  spiritual  needs.  If  a  man  desireth  to 
display  his  oratory,  let  him  study  for  the  bar,  or  enter  Parlia- 
ment ;  but  let  him  not  degrade  the  cross  of  Christ  into  a  peg 
to  hang  his  tawdry  rags  of  speech  upon.  —  C.  H.  Spuryeon. 


LEARNING  THE  WAY  TO  HEAVEN. 

"Which  things  also  we  speak,  not  in  the  words  which  man's  wisdom  teach- 
eth,  but  which  the  Holy  Ghost  teacheth;.  comparing  spiritual  things  with 
spiritual.  —  1  Cor.  2  :  13. 

I  AM  a  creature  of  a  day,  passing  through  life  as  an  arrow 
through  the  air.  I  am  a  spirit  come  from  God,  and  re- 
turning to  God ;  just  hovering  over  the  great  gulf,  till  a  few 
moments  hence  I  am  no  more  seen.  I  drop  into  an  unchange- 
able eternity!  I  want  to  know  one  thing  —  the  way  to 
heaven ;  how  to  land  safe  on  that  happy  shore.  God  himself 
has  condescended  to  teach  the  way ;  for  this  very  end  he  came 
from  heaven.  He  hath  written  it  down  in  a  book.  0,  give  me 
that  book  !  At  any  price,  give  me  the  book  of  God  !  I  have  it 
here.  Here  is  knowledge  enough  for  me.  Let  me  be  homo  uniiis 
libri.  Here,  then,  I  am,  far  from  the  busy  ways  of  men.  I  sit 
down  alone  —  only  God  is  here.  In  his  presence  I  open,  I 
read  his  book,  for  this  end :  to  find  the  way  to  heaven.  Is 
there  a  doubt  concerning  the  meaning  of  what  I  read  ?  Does 
anything  appear  dark  or  intricate  ?  I  lift  up  my  heart  to  the 
Father  of  lights.  Lord,  is  it  not  thy  word,  "  If  any  man  lack 
wisdom,  let  him  ask  of  God"?  Thou  "  givest  liberally,  and 
upbraidest  not."  Thou  hast  said,  "  If  any  be  willing  to  do 
thy  will,  he  shall  know."  I  am  willing  to  do  :  let  me  do  thy 
will.  I  then  search  after  and  consider  parallel  passages  of 
Scripture,  "  comparing  spiritual  things  with  spiritual."  • 
Wesley. 


NEW   TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  513 


BELIEF  AND  SKEPTICISM. 

But  the  natural  man  receiveth  not  the  things  of  the  Spirit  of  God,  for  they 
are  foolishness  unto  him ;  neither  can  he  know  them,  because  they  are  spiritu- 
ally discerned.  —  1  Cor.  2  :  14. 

FAITH,  reverence,  and  humility  are  the  most  spiritual  traits 
of  character,  and  the  mystery  that  rightly  fosters  them  is, 
therefore,  to  be  gratefully  accounted  among  the  great  spirit- 
ualizers  of  that  character.  When  the  Saviour  was  asked  by 
Nicodemus,  "  How  can  these  things  be  ?  "  he  intimated  that 
the  "  mysteries  of  the  kingdom  of  heaven  "  can  be  discov- 
ered only  by  a  spiritual  faculty,  as  his  apostle  afterward  de- 
clared, "  Spiritual  things  are  spiritually  discerned."  To  unlock 
those  secret  things,  even  for  us  to  see  that  they  exist,  is  given 
only  to  those  who  hold  for  a  key  the  "  new  white  stone."  But 
blessed  be  that  overarching  world  of  mystery  that  evermore 
stimulates  our  wonder,  and  so  re-inspires  our  prayers. 

How  sad  the  abuse,  if  we  will  be  always  taking  these  glo- 
rious and  animating  mysteries  of  faith,  and  melting  them  down, 
and  running  them  into  the  casting  molds  of  our  own  theories, 
kneading  the  sweet  manna  of  the  wilderness  into  sour  Egyp- 
tian dough,  "  grinding  over  the  immortal  seed  of  heavenly 
truth,  and  mixing  it  with  the  leaven  and  spices  of  worldly 
wisdom  "  !  Better  to  make  our  arrogant  minds  kneel  and 
worship  at  the  throne. 

Contrast,  side  by  side,  the  believing  spirit  and  the  skeptical, 
in  all  that  makes  up  nobleness  and  strength  of  soul !  The 
one  fearless,  calm,  steadfast,  devout ;  the  other  timid,  agitated, 
wavering,  and  self-willed  !  The  one  broad  and  generous  in 
his  manhood ;  the  other  contracted  and  shrinking  !  The  one 
grateful  for  what  is  revealed ;  the  other  peevishly  inquisitive 
into  what  never  can  be  !  How  can  a  man  be  saved  unless  he 
will  stop  asking  impatient  and  profitless  questions,  and  turn  to 
the  vigorous,  conscientious  doing  of  those  things  that  belong 
to  him  to  be  done  —  even  all  the  words  of  the  law  of  Christ? 
So  much  was  signified  to  the  speculating  disciples  who  asked, 
"  Are  there  few  that  be  saved?  "  "  Strive  to  enter  in  at  the 
strait  gate  !  "  Toil  and  prayer  are  for  you.  "  Secret  things 
belong  unto  the  Lord  our  God." 
65 


514  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 


LESS  DENOMINATIONAL,  BUT  MORE  CHRISTIAN. 

For  while  one  saith,  I  am  of  Paul,  and  another,  I  am  of  Apollos,  are  yc  not 
carnal?  —  !  Cor.  3:4. 

rPHERE  are  as  many  church  registers  as  there  are  church 
JL  houses.  But  there  is  only  one  Lamb's  Book  of  Life  for  all 
the  ransomed  sinners  of  the  world.  That  is  the  place  for  your 
name.  It  is  not  Methodism,  nor  Presbyterianism,  nor  Lu- 
theranism,  nor  any  other  ism  of  men,  but  it  is  the  life  and  power 
of  the  Son  of  God,  we  preach.  The  different  denominations 
are  but  symmetrical  and  convenient  'apartments  in  the  one 
great  sanctuary  of  the  Lord.  These  distinct  organizations  are 
harmonious  counterparts.  Yet  men  separate  themselves  into 
sects,  and  magnify  their  consistent  differences  into  conflicting- 
doctrines.  They  build  theological  walls  around  themselves, 
the  closer  the  safer,  as  they  vainly  imagine  ;  and  they  begin, 
in  their  stifled  atmosphere  and  necessary  shade,  to  doubt  the 
orthodoxy  of  their  neighbors.  They  put  colored  glass  in  in- 
tervening windows,  draw  down  the  blinds,  bolt  the  doors,  and 
nestle  together,  as  though  all  outside  Christendom  were 
turning  infidel,  and  as  if  they,  secluded  company  alone  of  all 
the  earth,  held  fast  the  faith  once  delivered  to  the  saints. 
Such  a  faith,  so  monkishly  bound,  needs  a  new  deliverance  ! 

Now,  when  you  find  yourself  up  in  arms  in  defense  of  your 
creed,  pause  a  moment,  and  consider  whether,  in  all  your  life, 
you  have  been  so  brave  in  defending  the  Bible.  You  become 
excited  when  you  hear  your  Luther,  or  your  Calvin,  or  your 
Wesley,  or  your  Campbell  criticised  ;  but  you  will  stand  silent 
and  unmoved  when  the  name  of  your  Jesus  is  blasphemed ! 
Unless  you  can  recognize  prosperity  in  other  churches  as 
heartily  as  in  your  own,  and  rejoice  at  the  conversion  of  sin- 
ners under  anybody's  preaching  and  under  any  church's  roof, 
you  may  write  "  sectarian  "  as  a  fit  suffix  to  your  name.  You 
have  been  tempted  through  self  and  sect  to  enter  a  refuge  of 
lies.  '1st  and  'ism  are  warp  and  woof  of  the  enemy's  tent- 
covers,  and  you  have  been  deceived.  You  are  attracted  by 
the  sound  of  your  church  name  more  than  by  all  the  cries  of 
Calvary  !  Verily,  you  have  your  warning,  and  must  bear  the 


NEW   TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  515 

awful  consequences  of  trimming  your  Christianity  to  a  Disci- 
pline, or  Confession,  or  Catechism,  and  of  wounding  your  Lord 
in  the  house  of  his  friends.  —  The  Gospel  in  the  Trees,  by 
A.  Clark. 


GOD  GIVETH  THE  INCREASE. 

I  have  planted,  Apollos  watered,  but  God  gave  the  increase.  —  1  Cor.  3  :  6. 

AN  American  Methodist  minister,  Dr.  Bangs,  was  so  dis- 
couraged in  the  first  year  of  his  itinerancy  as  to  mount 
his  horse  to  go  home  and  give  up  the  work.  The  break- 
ing up  of  the  ice  on  Grand  River  made  it  impossible  for  him 
to  cross  it,  and  compelled  him  to  return.  That  night  he 
had  a  striking  dream,  which  influenced  all  his  after-life :  he 
was  plying  a  sledge  on  a  huge  rock,  but,  making  no  impres- 
sion, gave  up  in  despair,  when  a  dignified  form  appeared 
before  him  and  asked  why  he  stopped,  and,  receiving  his 
answer,  bade  him  strike  on ;  that  the  work  was  his,  not  the 
result.  He  struck  again,  and  the  rock  was  shivered  to  its 
foundation. 

Here  is  a  lesson  for  us,  we  whose  souls  are  sometimes  "  dis- 
couraged because  of  the  way,"  when  we  do  not  see  imme- 
diate fruit  of  our  labors..  The  work  is  ours,  the  results  are 
God's, 


THE  YOUNG  PHILOSOPHER  CONFOUNDED. 

For  the  wisdom  of  this  world  is  foolishness  with  God ;  for  it  is  written,  He 
taketh  the  wise  in  their  own  craftiness.  And  again,  The  Lord  knoweth  the 
thoughts  of  the  wise,  that  they  are  vain.  —  1  Cor.  3  :  19,  20. 

A  YOUNG  man  from  the  Provinces,  who  was  sent  to  Paris 
to  finish  his  education,  had  the  misfortune  of  getting  into 
bad  company.  He  went  so  far  as  to  wish,  and  finally  say,  there 
is  no  God ;  God  was  only  a  word.  After  staying  several  years 
in  the  capital,  the  young  man  returned  to  his  family.  One 
day  he  was  invited  to  a  respectable  house  where  there  was  a 
numerous  company.  While  all  were  entertaining  themselves 
with  news;  pleasure,  and  business,  two  girls,  aged  respectively 


516  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

twelve  and  thirteen,  were  seated  in  a  bay-window,  reading 
together.  The  young  man  approached  them,  and  asked,— 

"  What  beautiful  romance  are  you  reading  so  attentively, 
young  ladies  ?  " 

"  We  are  reading  no  romance,  sir  ;  we  are  reading  the  his- 
.tory  of  God's  chosen  people." 

"  You  believe,  then,  that  there  is  a  God  ?  " 

Astonished  at  such  a  question,  the  girls  look  at  each  other, 
the  blood  mounting  to  their  cheeks. 

"  And  you,  sir,  you  do  not  believe  it  ?  " 

11  Once  I  believed  it,  but  after  living  in  Paris,  and  studying 
philosophy,  mathematics,  and  politics,  I  am  convinced  that 
God  is  an  empty  word.'7 

"  I,  sir,  was  never  in  Paris ;  I  have  never  studied  philoso- 
phy, or  mathematics,  or  all  those  beautiful  things  which  you 
know ;  I  only  know  my  Catechism  j  but,  since  you  are  so 
learned,  and  say  there  is  no  God,  you  can  easily  tell  me 
whence  the  egg  comes?" 

"  A  funny  question,  truly ;  the  egg  comes  from  the  hen.'r 

"  And  now,  sir,  whence  comes  the  hen  ?  " 

"  You  know  that  as  well  as  I  do,  miss ;  the  hen  comes  from 
the  egg." 

"  Which  of  them  existed  first,  the  egg  or  the  hen  ?  " 

"  I  really  do  not  know  what  you  intend  with  this  question 
and  with  your  hen ;  but  yet  that  which  existed  first  was  the 
hen." 

"  There  is  a  hen,  then,  which  did  not  come  from  an  egg?  'r 

"  Beg  your  pardon,  miss,  I  did  not  take  notice  that  an  egg 
existed  first." 

"  There  is,  then,  an  egg  which  did  not  come  from  a  hen  ?  " 

"  0,  if  you  —  beg  pardon  —  that  is  —  you  see  — 

"  I  see,  sir,  that  you  do  not  know  whether  the  egg  existed 
before  the  hen,  or  the  hen  before  the  egg." 

"  Well,  then,  I  say  the  hen." 

"  Very  well ;  there  is,  then,  a  hen  which  did  not  come  from 
an  egg.  Tell  me  now  who  made  this  first  hen,  from  which  all 
other  hens  and  eggs  come  ?  " 

"  With  your  hens  and  your  eggs,  it  seems  to  me  you  take 
me  for  a  poultry  dealer." 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  517 

"  By  no  means,  sir ;  I  only  ask  you  to  tell  me  whence  the 
mother  of  all  hens  and  eggs  conies  ?  " 

"But  for  what  object?" 

"  Well,  since  you  do  not  know,  you  will  permit  me  to  tell 
you.  He  who  created  the  first  hen,  or,  as  you  would  rather 
have  it,  the  first  egg,  is  the  same  who  created  the  world ;  and 
this  being  we  call  God.  You,  who  can  not  explain  the  exist- 
ence of  a  hen  or  an  egg  without  God.  still  wish  to  maintain  to 
be  able  to  explain  the  existence  of  this  world  without  God." 

The  young  philosopher  was  silent ;  he  quietly  took  his  hat, 
and  full  of  shame  departed. 


ORDAINED  TO  STEWARDSHIP. 

Moreover  it  is  required  in  stewards  that  a  man  be  found  faithful.  — 
1  Cor.  4  :  2. 

ABOUT  a  generation  ago,  there  lived  near  the  eastern  bor- 
der of  New  Hampshire  a  man  named  Ichabod  C.,  who, 
though  a  man  of  marked  peculiarities  in  thought  and  speech, 
was  fervent  in  his  zeal  for  God,  and  watchful  to  obey  the  lead- 
ings of  the  Holy  Spirit. 

In  this  obedience  he  was  sometimes  called  to  deal  his  bread 
to  the  hungry,  distributing  to  the  necessities  of  the  saints,  and 
probably  also  to  the  necessities  of  the  sinners,  who  dwelt  in 
that  region  of  country. 

His  excellent  wife,  though  of  a  liberal  spirit,  occasionally 
felt  obliged  to  check  him  in  what  she  deemed  his  unwise  or 
lavish  distributions,  and  cautioned  him  to  use  better  judgment 
in  discharging  his  duty  to  the  poor.  One  day,  after  listening 
to  one  of  her  earnest  homilies  on  this  subject,  and  perhaps 
feeling  a  little  the  force  of  her  remarks,  and  possibly  despair- 
ing of  ever  conducting  that  branch  of  his  religion  to  her  sat- 
isfaction, he  turned  to  her  and  said, — 

"  I  will  ordain  you  steward  to  attend  to  this  whole  matter ;  " 
and,  putting  his  hands  upon  her  head,  he  then  and  there  offered 
up  a  solemn  prayer  to  God,  and  formally  transferred  to  her 
charge  the  stewardship  of  the  property  and  the  care  of  the 
poor  and  needy. 


518  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

To  some  this  might  have  seemed  an  idle  ceremony.  Not  so 
to  Mrs.  C.  She  could  not  rid  herself  of  the  sense  of  obliga- 
tion ;  while  as  for  her  husband,  he  took  no  sort  of  responsibil- 
ity in  the  case.  She  was  the  steward,  she  had  care  of  the 
poor,  and  she  must  attend  to  that  matter  herself.  And  she 
did  attend  to  it ;  for  she  would  sometimes  feel  so  impressed 
with  a  sense  of  duty  in  that  direction  that  she  would  be 
obliged  to  start  in  the  morning  before  breakfast,  and  go  and 
visit  the  poor  and  relieve  their  distresses. 

This  incident  has  suggested  the  thought,  0  that  others,  who 
find  fault  with  the  imperfect  service  of  their  fellow-laborers, 
might  feel  the  hand  of  God  laid  upon  them,  and  upon  all  they 
have,  ordaining  and  consecrating  them  to  stewardship  and 
service  in  his  cause ;  that  they  might  more  faithfully  do  the 
work,  and  more  worthily  fill  the  places  of  those  whose  errors 
they  are  so  quick  to  perceive. 

Stewardship  is  a  solemn  trust.  And  those  who  mark  the 
faults  and  failings  of  others'  modes  of  administration,  are  not 
thereby  discharged  from  duty,  nor  released  from  the  perform- 
ance of  their  appointed  work.  The  time  is  short,  the  needs 
are  urgent,  and  it  shall  be  said  to  one  and  another  of  those 
who  read  these  lines,  "  Give  an  account  of  thy  stewardship, 
for  thou  mayst  be  no  longer  steward."  Happy  shall  they  be 
in  that  day  who  now  so  make  unto  themselves  friends  with 
the  Mammon  of  unrighteousness,  that  when  their  earthly  lot 
and  portion  fail,  the  eternal  gates  shall  be  opened  wide  be- 
fore them,  and  they  shall  be  welcomed  to  everlasting  habita- 
tions, and  bidden  to  enter  the  joy  of  their  Lord. 


WHAT  THE  READING  OF  A  GOOD  BOOK  DID. 

And  what  hast  thou  that  thou  didst  not  receive?    Now,  if  thou  didst  receive 
it,  why  dost  thou  glory  as  if  thou  hadst  not  received  it?  —  1  Cor.  4  :  7. 

THE  world  is  full  of  books.     Pre-eminent,  and  above  all  other 
books,  is  the  Book  of  books,  God's  Book.     Then  there  are 
books  on  a  descending  scale,  from  good  to  bad,  from  bad  to 
worse,  till  you  get  down  to  such  as  corrupt  at  the  first  sight 
or  touch. 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  519 

The  reading  of  a  good  book  has  often  turned  the  life- course 
of  a  man  into  a  higher  and  nobler  plane  of  living.  The  follow- 
ing incident  is  an  example.  The  writer  heard  it  from  the  lips 
of  the  author  of  Systematic  Beneficence,  Rev.  J.  Ashworth. 
He  said,  "  A  fellow-minister  was  sent  to  a  charge,  which  for 
years  had  been  embarrassed  with  a  small  debt  on  the  church 
property.  At  the  time  of  the  incident  the  amount  of  the  in- 
debtedness was  three  thousand  dollars.  Former  ministers  had 
tried  to  pay  off  this  debt.  Subscriptions  had  been  circulated, 
but  the  small  and  insufficient  pledges  of  one  or  two  wealthy 
members  had  damaged  the  efforts,  and  discouraged  others,  and 
every  effort  had  failed  through  the  stinted  pledge  of  a  rich 
member  of  the  church.  Profiting  by  the  example  of  his  pred- 
ecessors, the  minister  referred  to  resolved  to  make  another 
effort  to  pay  off  that  old  church  debt ;  but  before  asking  for 
money,  he  sought  to  shed  some  light  on  the  conscience  of  this 
rich  man.  He  visited  him  one  day,  and  asked  him  if  he  had 
ever  read  that  small  volume,  entitled  Systematic  Beneficence, 
by  Rev.  J.  Ashworth.  "  No/7  said  the  brother  j  "  I  never 
have."  "  Will  you  read  it,"  said  his  pastor,  "  if  I  lend  it  to 
you  ?  "  "  Yes.  I  have  no  objections,"  said  this  man  of  wealth. 
The  minister  drew  the  book  from  his  pocket,  and,  handing  it 
to  him,  left  his  house.  The  book  was  kindly  received,  and 
read  j  conviction  fastened  on  the  conscience  of  this  man,  that 
he  had  not  been  a  good  steward  in  the  distribution  of  the 
wealth  God  had  committed  to  him.  This  good  book  had 
shown  him  that  the  ownership  of  all  things  is  in  God  ;  that  to 
him  belong  the  gold  and  silver,  and  "  the  cattle  upon  a  thou- 
sand hills  ;  "  and  that  we  are  the  stewards,  or  almoners  of  the 
bounty  of  Heaven. 

His  conscience  condemned  him  for  allowing  the  cause  of 
God  to  suffer,  while  he  had  the  means  of  preventing  it.  With 
this  conviction  he  came  to  the  home  of  the  minister,  and, 
addressing  his  pastor,  said,  "  I  feel  as  though  I  had  not  done 
all  I  ought  to  do  about  that  church  debt ;  if  you  will  write  a 
subscription  paper,  I  will  sign,  and  will  go  around  with  you, 
and  I  guess  we  can  remove  it  from  the  property.  The  minister 
drew  up  the  scription,  and  this  brother,  who  had  on  former 
occasions  put  down  one  hundred  dollars,  went  down  on  that 


520  ArEW   TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

paper  for  one  thousand  dollars  —  and  his  heart  was  in  it.  The 
minister  and  member  went  together  in  the  circulation  of  the 
paper ;  others  were  encouraged,  and  signed  liberally,  and  at 
the  end  of  two  da}7s  the  charge  had  been  well  canvassed,  and 
pledges  to  the  amount  of  twenty-five  hundred  dollars  had  been 
secured.  Five  hundred  remained ;  when  this  brother,  who 
made  the  first  subscription  of  one  thousand,  said,  "  I  think  I 
will  take  this  remaining  five  hundred,"  and  his  name  went 
down  for  five  hundred  more.  His  former  one  hundred  dollar 
pledge  was  all  he  could  do ;  now,  with  clearer  convictions  of 
duty,  fifteen  hundred  dollars  were  cheerfully  paid. 


WARNED  BY  A  SIGNAL-FIRE. 

I  write  not  these  things  to  shame  you,  but  as  my  beloved  sons  I  warn 
you.  —  1  Cor.  4  :  14. 

AS  a  boatman  stood  at  the  wheel  of  a  steamer,  and  guided 
her  down  the  deep,  narrow  Cumberland,  he  saw  directly 
in  the  channel  a  light.  It  was  regarded  as  the  signal  of  a 
small  craft,  which  seemed  to  be  anchored  in  the  narrow  chan- 
nel. If  a  craft,  it  was  evidently  out  of  its  place,  and  the  first 
impulse  was  to  run  the  steamer  directly  over  the  signal  and 
the  bark  it  protected.  But  as  the  vessel  neared  the  signal 
fire,  a  voice  was  heard,  with  a  corresponding  wave  of  the 
hand,  "  Keep  off !  keep  off !  " 

After  a  moment's  struggle  with  his  own  feelings,  the  pilot 
passed  around  the  signal  light.  He  was  very  angry,  and 
poured  forth  a  torrent  of  imprecations  upon  the  crew  of  the 
supposed  craft ;  but  when  he  reached  the  port  below,  he  was 
informed  that  a  huge  stone  had  separated  from  the  mountain 
summit  which  hung  over  the  margin  of  the  beautiful  river,  and 
lodged  directly  in  the  channel ;  that  the  signal-fire  and  the 
voice  of  warning  proceeded  from  a  sentinel  employed  and 
stationed  there  by  some  benevolent  persons,  who  regarded  the 
lives  and  property  of  their  fellows. 

Infinite  goodness  has  lit  the  fire  of  truth,  and  utters  a  warn- 
ing voice  to  mariners  on  every  rock  that  lifts  its  head  in  the 
stream  of  life.  We  arc  often  turned  and  saved  from  shipwreck 


NE  W   TES  TA  ME  NT  ILL  US  TRA  TIONS. 


521 


by  the  kind  providence  of  God,  while  that  providence  is  mys- 
terious and  afflictive  to  us ;  and  not  until  we  reach  the  port  in 
safety  shall  wo  fully  appreciate  the  design  and  benevolence 
which  prompted  it. 

KINGDOM  OF  GOD. 

For  the  kingdom  of  God  is  not  in  word,  but  in  power.  —  1  Cor.  4  :  20. 

TIHE  kingdom  of  God  is  a  kingdom  of  both  grace  and  glory. 
The  former  leads  to  the  latter.  These  two  kingdoms  of  grace 
and  glory  differ  not  specifically,  but  gradually  j  they  differ  not 
in  nature,  but  only  in  degree.  The  kingdom  of  grace  is  noth- 
ing but  the  inchoation  or  beginning  of  the  kingdom  of  glory ; 
the  kingdom  of  grace  is  glory  in  the  seed,  arid  the  kingdom  of 
glory  is  grace  in  the  flower ;  the  kingdom  of  grace  is  glory  in 
the  daybreak,  and  the  kingdom  of  glory  is  grace  in  the  full 
meridian  ;  the  kingdom  of  grace  is  glory  militant,  and  the  king- 
don  of  glory  is  grace  triumphant.  There  is  such  an  insepara- 
ble connection  between  these  two  kingdoms,  grace  and  glory, 
that  there  is  no  passing  into  the  one  kingdom  but  by  the  other. 
At  Athens  there  were  two  temples  —  a  temple  of  virtue  and 
a  temple  of  honor ;  and  there  was  no  going  into  the  temple  of 
honor  but  through  the  temple  of  virtue.  So  the  kingdoms  of 
grace  and  glory  are  so  joined  together,  that  we  can  not  go 
into  the  kingdom  of  glory  but  through  the  kingdom  of  grace. 
Many  people  aspire  after  the  kingdom  of  glory,  but  never  look 
after  grace ;  but  these  two,  which  God  hath  joined  together, 
may  not  be  put  asunder.  The  kingdom  of  grace  leads  to  the 
kingdom  of  glory.  —  T.  Watson. 


DELIGPIT  IN  DOING  EVIL. 

To  deliver  such  a  one  unto  Satan  for  the  destruction  of  the  flesh,  that  the 
spirit  may  be  saved  in  the  day  of  the  Lord  Jesus.  —  1  Cor.  5  :  5. 

WHO  is  the  most  diligent  bishop  and  prelate  in  all  England  ? 
I  will  tell  you.    It  is  the  devil.    He  is  the  most  diligent 
preacher  of  all  other :  he  is  never  out  of  his  diocese  ;  he  is 
66 


522  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

never  from  his  curd  ;  we  shall  never  find  him  unoccupied  ; 
he  is  ever  in  his  parish  ;  he  keepeth  residence  at  all  times  ;  ye 
shall  never  find  him  out  of  the  way,  call  for  him  when  ye  will ; 
he  is  ever  at  home,  the  most  diligent  preacher  in  all  the  realm  ; 
he  is  ever  at  his  plow  ;  he  is  ever  applying  to  his  business  ; 
ye  shall  never  find  him  idle,  I  warrant  you  ;  and  his  office  is 
to  hinder  religion,  to  maintain  superstition,  to  set  up  idolatry, 
to  teach  all  kinds  of  Popery.  He  is  as  ready  as  can  be  wished 
to  set  forth  his  plow  ;  to  devise  as  many  ways  as  can  be  to 
deface  and  obscure  God's  glory.  Where  the  devil  is  resident, 
and  hath  his  plow  going,  there  away  with  books,  and  up  with 
candles  j  away  with  Bibles,  and  up  with  beads  ;  away  with  the 
light- of  the  gospel,  and  up  with  the  light  of  candles,  yea,  at 
noonday.  Where  the  devil  is  resident,  that  he  may  prevail, 
too,  with  all  superstition  and  idolatry,  censing,  painting,  im- 
ages, candles,  palms,  ashes,  holy  water,  and  new  service  of 
men's  inventing,  as  though  man  could  invent  a  better  way  to 
honor  God  with  than  God  himself  hath  appointed,  down  with 
Christ's  cross,  up  with  Popish  purgatory ;  away  with  clothing 
the  naked,  supporting  the  poor  and  impotent,  up  with  the 
decking  of  images  and  gay  garnishing  of  stocks  and  stones ; 
down  with  God's  will  and  most  holy  Word,  up  with  man's  tra- 
ditions and  his  laws ;  down  with  the  old  honor  due  unto  God, 
and  up  with  the  honor  of  the  new  gods.  —  Bishop  Latimer. 


CHRIST  IS  THE  CHRISTIAN'S  PASSOVER. 

For  even  Christ,  our  passover,  is  sacrificed  for  us.  —  1  Cor.  5  :  7. 

EEY.  L.  D.  BARROWS,  in  Zion's  Herald,  makes  the  follow- 
ing explanations  of  the  passover.     He  says,  — 
"  The   Lord's  passover  was  celebrated  in  the   first  month, 
Abib,  of  their  ecclesiastical  year,  as  they  were   commanded 
(Ex.  12:2)  to  reckon  the  beginning  of  their  year  from  the 
memorable  event  of  the  passover.     This  is  called  the  Lord's 
passover,  because  he  passed  over  the  houses  of  Israel  when 
the  destroying  angel  slew  the  Egyptian  iirst-born.     On  that 
occasion  a  lamb  was  slain,  and  the  blood  Avas  spr.inkled  with  a 
bunch  of  hyssop  on  the  lintel  and  the  two  side-posts  of  the 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  523 

door.  The  feast  to  commemorate  this  wonderful  event  was 
devoted  to  meditation,  prayer,  praise,  and  other  suitable  offer- 
ings to  God.  A  male  lamb  without  blemish  was  slain  and 
eaten  with  lettuce,  or  bitter  herbs,  with  unleavened  bread. 
This  they  did  in  the  posture  of  travelers,  reins  girt,  shoes  on 
their  feet,  staves  in  their  hands,  and  eaten  in  a  hurry.  How 
indicative  of  that  dreadful  night !  Death  was  the  penalty  for 
neglect  of  this  feast  of  the  passover.  Since  the  destruction 
of  Jerusalem  the  Jews  have  ceased  to  offer  the  paschal  lamb, 
though  they  still  continue  this  anniversary.  Our  Lord  ob- 
served this  passover,  and  in  its  place  instituted  the  sacrament 
of  the  Lord's  Supper,  the  night  before  his  death.  Then  he, 
the  Lamb  of  God,  shed  his  own  blood,  by  which  alone  we  can 
be  saved  from  the  destroying  wrath  of  an  offended  and  in- 
sulted God.  Jehovah  has  decreed  that  without  the  shedding 
of  blood  there  is  no  remission  of  sin.  And,  as  it  was  not 
enough  that  the  paschal  lamb  was  slain,  but  his  blood  must 
be  sprinkled  on  the  door-posts,  so  it  is  not  enough  that  Christ 
has  died  for  us  j  his  blood  must  be  applied  to  our  hearts  by 
faith  in  him,  or  we  perish.  Our  Paschal  Lamb  is  our  only 
hope." 

EVIL  COMPANY. 

I  wrote  unto  you  in  an  epistle  not  to  company  with  fornicators.  —  1  Cor.  5  :  9. 

HPHE  following  beautiful  allegory  is  translated  from  the  Ger- 
JL  man  :  — 

Torphronius,  a  wise  teacher,  would  not  suffer  even  his  own 
grown-up  sons  and  daughter  to  associate  with  those  whose  con- 
duct was  not  pure  and  upright. 

"  Dear  father,"  said  the  gentle  Eulalia  to  him  one  day,  when 
he  forbade  her,  in  company  with  her  brother,  to  visit  the  vola- 
tile Lucinda,  —  "  dear  father,  you  must  think  us  very  childish  if 
you  imagine  that  we  should  be  exposed  to  danger  by  it." 

The  father  took  in  silence  a  dead  coal  from  the  hearth,  and 
reached  it  to  his  daughter. 

"  It  will  not  burn  you,  my  child  ;  take  it." 

Eulalia  did  so ;  and  behold !  her  delicate  white  hand  was 
soiled  and  blackened,  and,  as  it  chanced,  her  white  dress  also. 


524  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

"  We  can  not  be  too  careful  in  handling  coals/'  said  Eulalia, 
in  vexation. 

"  Yes,  truly,"  said  the  father  ;  "  you  see,  my  child,  that  coals, 
even  if  they  do  not  burn,  blacken.  So  it  is  with  the  company 
of  the  vicious." 


WHAT  DISQUALIFIES  FOR  THE  KINGDOM  OF  GOD. 

Know  ye  not  that  the  unrighteous  shall  not  inherit  the  kingdom  of  God? 
Be  not  deceived;  neither  fornicators,  nor  idolaters,  nor  adulterers,  nor  effem- 
inate, nor  abusers  of  themselves  with  mankind.  —  1  Cor.  6  :  9. 

A  TRAVELER  crossed  the  frontier,  and  had  to  pass  the 
J\.  custom-house.  The  officers  said  to  him,  — 

"  Have  you  any  contraband  goods  ?  " 

He  replied,  "  I  do  not  think  I  have." 

"  That  may  be  all  true,"  said  the  officers ;  "  but  we  can 
not  permit  you  to  pass  without  examination.  Permit  us  to 
search." 

"  If  you  please,"  said  the  traveler. 

The  examination  over,  the  traveler  addressed  the  officers, 
saying,  — 

"  Gentlemen,  will  you  allow  me  to  tell  you  what  thoughts 
this  examination  has  awakened  in  my  mind  ?  We  are  all 
travelers  to  an  eternal  kingdom,  into  which  we  can  not  take 
any  contraband  goods.  By  these  forbidden  things,  I  mean 
deceitfulness,  anger,  pride,  lying,  covetousness,  and  similar 
offenses,  which  are  hateful  in  the  sight  of  God.  For  all 
these,  every  man  who  passes  the  boundary  of  the  grave  is 
searched  far  more  strictly  than  you  have  searched  me.  God 
is  the  Great  Searcher  of  hearts ;  from  him  nothing  is  hid  ;  and 
in  that  kingdom,  as  in  this,  every  forbidden  article  subjects  a 
man  to  punishment."  —  Foster's  Cyclopedia. 


DRUNKENNESS. 

Nor  thieves,  nor  covetous,  nor  drunkards,  nor  revilers,  nor  extortioners, 
shall  inherit  the  kingdom  of  God.  —  1  Cor.  6  :  10. 

"PvRUNKENNESS  is  thus  characterized  by  Watson,  an  old 
JL/   Puritan  divine  :  — 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  525 

"  There  is  no  sin  which  doth  more  efface  God's  image  than 
drunkenness.  It  disguiseth  a  person,  and  doth  even  unman 
him.  Drunkenness  makes  him  have  the  throat  of  a  fish,  the 
belly  of  a  swine,  and  the  head  of  an  ass.  Drunkenness  is  the 
shame  of  nature,  the  extinguisher  of  reason,  the  shipwreck  of 
chastity,  and  the  murderer  of  conscience.  Drunkenness  is  hurt- 
ful to  the  body:  the  cup  kills  more  than  the  cannon.  It  causeth 
dropsies,  catarrhs,  apoplexies ;  it  fills  the  eyes  with  fire,  and 
the  legs  with  water,  and  turns  the  body  into  a  hospital.  But 
the  greatest  hurt  it  doth  is  to  the  soul :  excess  of  wine  breeds 
the  worm  of  conscience.  The  drunkard  is  seldom  reclaimed 
by  repentance,  and  the  ground  of  it  is  partly  because  by  this 
sin  the  senses  are  so  enchanted,  the  reason  so  impaired,  and 
lust  so  inflamed  ;  and  partly  it  is  judicial,  the  drunkard  being 
so  besotted  by  his  sin,  that  God  saith  of  him  as .  of  Ephraim, 
1  He  is  joined  to  his  cups,  let  him  alone  ;  let  him  drown  himself 
in  liquor  until  he  scorch  himself  in  fire.'  " 


THE  WIFE'S  PRAYER  ANSWERED. 

For  what  knowest  thou,  O  wife,  whether  thou  shalt  save  thy  husband?  or 
how  knowest  thou,  O  man,  whether  thou  shalt  save  thy  wife  ?  —  1  Cor.  7  :  16. 

A    WRITER  in  a  late  number  of  the   Christian  Advocate 
JLJL    vouches  for  the  truth  of  the  following  narrative  :  — 

The  Rev.  Benjamin  Collins,  a  zealous  and  successful  minis- 
ter of  the  gospel  in  New  Jersey,  was  converted  in  answer  to 
the  prayers  of  his  wife.  Having  experienced  religion  herself, 
she  became  deeply  solicitous  for  the  spiritual  welfare  of  her 
husband.  She  set  apart  six  months,  during  which  time  she 
determined  to  make  his  conversion  a  matter  of  earnest  prayer. 
That  period  having  nearly  expired,  she  saw  no  signs  of  serious- 
ness in  his  behavior.  On  the  contrary,  he  seemed  to  be  grow- 
ing worse.  He  appeared  ill-humored,  his  aim  being  to  have 
her  give  up  her  religion.  One  morning,  about  the  close  of  the 
six  months,  he  left  home  in  an  apparent  bad  humor,  and  on  his 
return  in  the  evening  he  heard  some  one  talking.  Supposing 
it  to  be  a  neighbor,  he  halted  at  the  door  to  recognize,  if  pos- 
sible, the  voice ;  but  it  was  his  wife  at  prayer ;  she  was  pray- 


526  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

ing  earnestly  for  him.  If  she  could  thus  pray  for  him,  after 
the  treatment  he  had  bestowed  upon  her,  she  must  have  some- 
thing he  had  not,  was  his  conclusion,  to  which  reason  drove 
him.  It  was  there  where  he  was  first  convicted.  After  they 
had  retired  for  the  night,  she,  much  discouraged,  spoke  to.  the 
following  effect:  uBen"  (her  usual  style  of  addressing  him),  "I 
want  to  save  my  soul,  and  want  to  know  if  you  will  go  with 
me  to  heaven  ;  if  not,  I  will  go  with  you  to  hell,  for  we  can't 
be  separated."  A  terrible  alternative  !  It  made  a  deep  im- 
pression upon  Collins.  The  idea  of  his  wife  going  to  hell  on 
his  account  was  too  much.  He  entreated  her  to  continue  her 
prayers  in  his  behalf,  which  she  did,  and  very  soon  both  hus- 
band and  wife  were  rejoicing  in  the  knowledge  of  sins  for- 
given. What  knowest  thou,  0  wife,  whether  thou  shalt  save 
thy  husband. 

TEXTS  FOR  TIME'S  FLIGHT. 

But  this  I  say,  brethren,  The  time  is  short  :  it  remaineth  that  both  they 
that  have  wives  be  as  though  they  had  none.  —  1  Cor.  7  :  29. 


following  texts  were  selected  by  one  on  a  bed  of  sick- 
J_  ness,  a  few  months  before  her  death,  in  reference  to  the 
hours  of  the  day  —  a  text  corresponding,  in  number  of  words, 
with  each  hour  as  the  clock  struck  :  — 

1.  Trust.    Ps.  37  :  3. 

2.  Fear  not.    Isa.  43  :  5. 

3.  God  is  love.    1  John  4  :  8. 

4.  Have  faith  in  God.    Mark  11  :  22. 

5.  Seek,  and  ye  shall  find.    Matt.  7  :  7. 

6.  I  know  that  my  Redeemer  liveth.    Job  19  :  25. 

7.  Not  my  will,  but  thine,  be  done.    Luke  22  :  42. 

8.  I  will  never  leave  thee,  nor  forsake  thee.    Heb.  13  :  5. 

9.  And  as  thy  days,  so  shall  thy  strength  be.    Deut.  33  :  25. 

10.  There  remaineth,  therefore,  a  rest  to  the  people  of  God. 
Heb.  4  :  9. 

11.  Casting  all  your  care  upon  him  ;  for  he  careth  for  you. 
1  Peter  5  :  7. 

12.  Him  that  cometh  to  me  I  will  in  no  wise   cast  out. 
John  6  :  37. 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  527 

FASHIONABLE  WOMEN. 

And  they  that  use  this  world  as  not  abusing  it ;  for  the  fashion  of  this 
world  passeth  away.  —  1  Cor.  7  :  31. 

FASHION  kills  more  than  toil  or  sorrow.  Obedience  to 
fashion  is  a  greater  transgression  of  the  laws  of  woman's 
nature,  a  greater  injury  to  her  physical  and  mental  constitu- 
tion, than  the  hardships  of  poverty  and  neglect.  The  slave 
woman  at  her  task  still  lives  and  grows  old,  and  sees  two  or 
three  generations  of  her  mistresses  pass  away.  The  washer- 
woman, with  scarcely  a  ray  of  hope  to  cheer  her  in  her  toils, 
will  live  to  see  her  fashionable  sisters  all  extinct.  The  kitchen 
maid  is  hearty  and  strong,  when  her  lady  has  to  be  nursed 
like  a  sick  baby.  It  is  a  sad  truth  that  fashion-pampered 
women  are  always  worthless  for  all  good  ends  of  life  :  they 
have  but  little  force  of  character ;  they  have  still  less  power 
of  moral  will,  and  quite  as  little  physical  energy.  They  live 
for  no  great  ends.  They  are  dolls,  formed  in  the  hands  of 
milliners  and  servants,  to  be  fed  to  order.  If  they  rear  chil- 
dren, servants  and  nurses  do  all,  save  to  conceive  and  give_ 
them  birth ;  and,  when  reared,  what  are  they  ?  What  do 
they  amount  to  but  weak  scions  of  the  old  stock  ?  Who  ever 
heard  of  a  fashionable  woman's  child  exhibiting  any  virtue 
and  power  of  mind  for  which  it  became  eminent  ?  Read  the 
biographies  of  our  great  and  good  men  and  women.  Not  one 
of  them  had  a  fashionable  mother  ! 


KNOWLEDGE  THAT  WILL  NOT  PROFIT. 

Knowledge  puffeth  up,  but  charity  edifieth.  —  1  Cor.  8:1. 

"  4  MAN,"  said  Dr.  Guthrie,  "  may  know  all  about  the  rocks, 
1JL  and  his  heart  remain  as  hard  as  granite  or  adamant ;  he 
may  know  all  about  the  winds,  their  courses  and  their  cur- 
rents, and  be  the  sport  of  passions  as  turbulent  and  fierce  as 
they  ;  he  may  know  all  about  the  stars,  and  his  fate  be  the 
meteor's,  that  blazes  for  a  little  while  and  is  then  lost,  quenched 


528  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

in  eternal  night ;  he  may  know  all  about  the  sea,  and  be  a 
stranger  to  the  peace  of  God ;  his  soul  may  resemble  its 
troubled  waters,  which,  lashed  by  storms  and  ruffled  by  every 
breath  of  wind,  can  not  rest,  but  throw  up  mire  and  dirt ;  he 
may  know  how  to  rule  the  spirit  of  the  elements,  and  not 
know  how  to  rule  his  own ;  he  may  know  how  to  turn  aside 
the  deadly  thunderbolt,  but  not  the  wrath  of  an  angry  God ; 
you  may  know  all,  in  short,  that  man  has  discovered  or  his 
skill  invented,  but  if  you  do  not  know  Jesus  Christ,  if  your 
eyes  have  never  been  opened  to  a  saving  knowledge  of  the 
truth,  what  will  that  avail  you  when  they  are  fixed  in  their 
sockets,  glazed  by  the  hand  of  death  ?  Equally  by  the  death- 
bed of  the  greatest  philosopher,  as  of  the  hardest  miser  that 
ever  ground  the  faces  of  the  poor,  there  is  room  and  reason 
for  the  solemn  question :  What  shall  it  profit  a  man  if  he  shall 
gain  the  whole  world,  —  all  its  learning,  its  wealth,  its  pleasures, 
and  honors,  —  and  lose  his  own  soul  ?  " 

"  There  may  be  a  knowledge  without  love.  Did  you 
ever  know  any  so  cunning  in  the  story  of  the  gospel  that  they 
could  tell  you  the  manner  of  Christ's  life  and  death,  from  point 
to  point,  and  yet  have  no  more  love  of  Christ  in  them  than 
there  is  fire  in  a  fish-pond  ?  The  seat  of  knowledge  is  the 
head  ;  of  love,  the  heart.  The  sun  may  shine  in  a  clear,  frosty 
day,  yet  for  all  his  light  it  may  be  bitter  cold,  and  the  face  of 
the  deep  be  frozen.  Our  eyes  may  see  when  our  bones  shake. 
The  beams  of  knowledge  may  fill  our  heads,  and  yet  winter  lie 
cold  in  our  hearts."  —  Adams. 


BE  CAREFUL  OF  YOUR  INFLUENCE. 

But  take  heed  lest  by  any  means  this  liberty  of  yours  become  a  stumbling- 
block  to  them  that  are  weak.  —  1  Cor.  8  :  9. 

A  MAN  who  bore  the  reputation  of  a  Christian  at  home, 
being  in  the  city,  went  to  the  theater,  thinking  the  act 
would  never  be  known.  Some  years  after,  he  was  sent  for  to 
visit  a  dying 'man.  This  man  charged  him  with  the  ruin  of 
his  soul.  While  young,  he  had  seen  the  professed  Christian 
enter  the  theater,  and  followed  his  example,  saying  to  himself, 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  529 

that  if  a  church  member  and  Sunday  school  superintendent 
could  do  this,  he  could.  He  had  become  hardened  in  sin,  and 
now  lay  hopeless  in  death,  but  felt  that  the  crisis  of  his  life 
was  that  fatal  example. 

Be  careful  of  your  influence  everywhere  ;  for  no  one  can 
tell  who  is  being  affected  by  your  words  or  example.  Be  the 
Christian  everywhere. 

LONGING  TO  SAVE  SOULS. 

To  the  weak  became  I  as  weak,  that  I  might  gain  the  weak :  I  am  made 
all  things  to  all  men,  that  I  might  by  all  means  save  some.  —  1  Cor.  9  :  22. 

IT  is  said  of  the  learned  John  Smith  "  that  he  had  resolved 
to  lay  aside  other  studies,  and  to  travail  in  the  salvation 
of  men's  souls,  after  whose  good  he  most  earnestly  thirsted." 
Of  Alleine,  author  of  the  Alarm  to  Unconverted  Sinners, 
it  is  said  that  "  he  was  infinitely  and  insatiably  greedy  of  the 
conversion  of  souls ;  and  to  this  end  he  poured  out  his  very 
heart  in  prayer  and  preaching."  Bunyan  said,  "  In  my 
preaching  I  could  not  be  satisfied  unless  some  fruits  did 
appear  in  my  work."  "  I  would  think  it  a  greater  happiness," 
said  Matthew  Henry,  "  to  gain  one  soul  to  Christ  than  moun- 
tains of  silver  and  gold  to  myself.  If  I  do  not  gain  souls  I 
shall  enjoy  all  other  gains  with  very  little  satisfaction,  and  I 
would  rather  beg  my  bread  from  door  to  door  than  undertake 
this  great  work."  Doddridge,  writing  to  a  friend,  remarked, 
u  I  long  for  the  conversion  of  souls  more  sensibly  than  for 
anything  besides.  Methinks  I  could  not  only  labor,  but  die 
for  it  with  pleasure." 


FOR  THE  GOSPEL'S  SAKE. 

And  this  I  do  for  the  gospel's  sake,  that  I  might  be  partaker  thereof  with 
you.  —  1  Cor.  9  :  23. 

BEHIND  all  the  ingenuities  of  address,  and  all  shiftings  of 
measures,  and   all  tentative  enterprises,  stands  one  un- 
changing, unchangeable  purpose  —  and  that  to  plant,  and  push, 
and  proclaim,  and  enthrone  everywhere  one  unchanging  and 
67 


530  KEW   TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

unchangeable  fact — the  faith  of  Christ.  For  that,  and  that 
simply,  and  that  always,  Paul  wants  to  gain  the  Jew  and  the 
Gentile,  the  legalist  and  the  Antinomian,  the  weak  and  the 
powerful.  When  he  meets  a  man,  the  first  question  he  has  to 
ask  about  him  is,  how  to  make  a  Christian  of  him  —  a  good 
model  for  every  Christian  minister.  Paul  would  never  desire  a 
parishioner  merely  to  take  up  a  pew,  help  to  fill  the  church, 
and  swell  the  parish  revenue.  The  moment  he  got  a  hearing 
from  anybody,  "  Christ  and  the  resurrection "  was  the  next 
word.  The  moment  he  gained  attention,  the  kingdom  of 
heaven  was  the  message.  If  anybody  admired  his  eloquence, 
or  was  struck  with  his  dialectics,  or  stopped  to  recognize  his 
manly  simplicity  and  courage,  Paul  had  not  an  instant  to  lose 
before  trying  for  his  conversion.  If  he  found  a  welcome  in 
any  city,  or  even  an  entrance  with  bonds  and  afflictions  instead 
of  salutes,  he  determined  not  to  know  anything  there  but 
Christ  and  him  crucified,  and  ceased  not  to  preach  him  till  he 
departed  thence.  —  Eev.  F.  D.  Huntington,  D.  D, 


SCRIPTURAL  TEMPERANCE. 

And  every  man  that  Btriveth  for  the  mastery  is  temperate  in  all  things. 
Now  they  do  it  to  obtain  a  corruptible  crown,  but  we  an  incorruptible.  — 
1  Cor.  9  :  25. 


gospel  temperance  principle  is  not  a  matter  of  one  idea, 
but  covers  the  whole  field  of  dietetic  habits.  Belonging 
to  this  principle  there  are  two  important  features  :  moderation  - 
iii  the  use  of  everything  needful,  and  entire  abstinence  from 
everything  hurtful.  The  first  feature  embraces  all  our  using 
of  needful  food  and  drink.  The  bread  which  Heaven  has  given 
us  should  be  eaten  with  such  moderation,  and  in  such  conform- 
ity to  divine  arrangement  given  to  the  digestive  forces,  that  the 
blessing  shall  not  be  transformed,  by  our  rebellion  against 
organic  law,  into  a  curse.  After  asking  God  to  bless  our  food, 
it  is  profanity  so  to  abuse  its  use  as  to  render  it  impossible  for 
him  to  bless  it,  without  entirely  repealing  his  own  fixed  laws 
pertaining  to  its  assimilation. 

While  rebelling  against  our  own  physical  being,  we  are  also 


NEW   TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  531 

warring  against  the  soul.  Deranged  physical  functions  blunt 
the  susceptibility  and  activity  of  the  spiritual.  A  gormandizing 
mouth  blunts  the  impressibility  of  the  moral  sense.  A  dys- 
peptic stomach  and  a  torpid  liver  hinder  growth  in  grace  and 
sanctification  of  the  heart.  While  creating  morbid  functions 
of  the  body,  and  pushing  it  into  an  early  grave,  we  are  grad- 
ually paralyzing  the  soul  and  lowering  the  standard  of  its 
spirituality.  While  laying  a  lame  physical  sacrifice  upon  the 
altar  of  Christ,  we  blemish  the  value  of  the  dedicated  inner 
man.  To  have  a  pious  soul  rise  in  the  scale  of  spirituality,  it 
must  be  allowed  to  dwell  in  a  pious  body,  whose  lusts  are 
subdued  and  denied. 

PETER  VANNEST  AND  THE  PREDESTINARIAN. 

But  I  keep  under  my  body,  and  bring  it  into  subjection,  lest  that  by  any 
means,  when  I  have  preached  to  others,  I  myself  should  be  a  castaway.  — 
1  Cor.  9  :  27. 

WHILE  traveling  the  Ponsett  circuit,  in  the  year  1797,  the 
Rev.  Peter  Vannest  was  often  set  upon  by  persons  hold- 
ing to  Calvinistic  theology,  when  short  and  decisive  encoun- 
ters would  occur.  The  following  is  an  example.  In  a  letter 
to  the  Rev.  A.  Stevens,  D.  D.,  Mr.  Vannest  recalls  one  of  those 
theological  encounters.  He  says,  — 

"  As  I  was  on  my  way  from  Norwich  to  Bozrah,  a  man  came 
up  to  me,  in  great  haste  and  concern,  and  asked  me  if  I  was  a 
Methodist  preacher.  I  said, '  Yes,  a  poor  one.'  He  said,  1 1 
have  been  wishing  and  looking  to  see  one  these  several  years, 
and  I  am  glad  I  have  found  one  at  last.7  I  asked  him  what  he 
wanted  with  him.  He  said,  <  To  make  him  ashamed  of  his 
erroneous  principles.'  '  What  are  they  ? '  I  asked.  <  You  hold 
to  falling  from  grace  —  don't  you  ? '  I  said,  {  Not  so  ;  we  hold  to 
getting  grace  and  keeping  it.'  '  But  you  allow  that  people 
can  fall  from  grace  ? '  '  That  is  another  thing ;  angels  fell ; 
Adam  fell ;  and  St.  Paul  said,  "  I  keep  under  my  body,  and 
bring  it  into  subjection,  lest  when  I  have  preached  to  others, 
I  myself  should  be  a  castaway."  If  you  do  not  believe  the 
Scriptures  you  are  an  infidel.'  He  said  he  believed  in  de- 
grees of  falling;  that  we  may  fall  partly,  but  not  finally. 


532  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

1  Now  sir,  if  you  please,  I  will  ask  you  a  few  plain  questions. 
Have  you  ever  had  grace?'  He  answered,  l  Yes.'  '  Have 
you  any  grace  now  ? '  t  To  be  sure  I  have,  as  I  can  not  lose 
it.'  l  Now  be  honest.  Don't  you  get  angry  ? '  '  Yes,  I  do.' 
1  Do  you  not  swear?'  '  Yes,  I  do.'  <  Do  you  not  get  drunk?  ' 
1  Yes,  I  do.'  l  What !  you  do  these  things  ?  Why,  you  have 
no  more  religion  than  the  devil.  Sir,  I  allow  two  degrees  in 
falling :  the  first  is  to  fall  from  grace  as  you  have,  if  you  ever 
had  any ;  and  if  you  do  not  repent  and  do  your  first  works, 
the  next  fall  will  be  into  hell,  to  be  miserable  for  ever.'  He 
put  whip  to  his  horse  and  went  off  in  a  hurry,  and  I  thought 
he  would  not  be  in  haste  to  find  another  Methodist  preacher." 
—  Stevens's  History  of  H.  E.  Church. 


"PASSED  THROUGH  THE  SEA." 

Moreover,  brethren,  I  would  not  that  ye  should  be  ignorant  how  that  all 
our  fathers  were  under  the  cloud,  and  all  passed  through  the  sea,  and  were  all 
baptized  unto  Moses  in  the  cloud  and  in  the  sea.  —  1  Cor.  10 :  1,  2. 

REV.  DR.  HODGE,  in  his  comments  on  the  "  Confession," 
has  the  following:  "  In  1  Corinthians  10  :  1,  2,  the  Israel- 
ites are  said  to  have  been  *  baptized  unto  Moses  in  the  cloud 
and  in  the  sea.'  Compare  Exodus  14 :  19-31.  But  the 
Egyptians  who  were  immersed  were  not  baptized ;  and  the 
Israelites  who  were  baptized  were  not  immersed.  In  1  Peter 
3  :  20,  21,  it  is  said  that  baptism  was  the  antitype  of  the  salva- 
tion of  the  eight  souls  in  the  ark.  Yet  the  very  gist  of  their 
salvation  consisted  in  their  not  being  immersed."  As  there 
are  many  immersions  that  are  not  baptisms,  so  there  are  many 
baptisms  that  are  not  immersions.  A  large  majority  of  the 
baptisms  that  have  been  administered  in  the  Christian  church 
have  not  been  immersions,  but  effusions  —  the  pouring  of 
water  upon  the  candidate.  It  would  seem  to  be  more  in  har- 
mony with  the  design  of  Christianity  that  the  element  (water) 
in  consecration  should  be  applied  to  the  person,  rather  than 
the  person  to  the  element,  as  in  immersion.  The  spirit  bap- 
tism on  the  day  of  pentecost  was  by  pouring.  Baptism  with 
water  is  an  emblem  of  the  work  of  the  Spirit  of  God  upon  our 
hearts,  now  that  it  is  "  poured  out "  in  these  latter  days. 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  533 

SPIRITUAL  DRINK. 

And  did  all  drink  the  same  spiritual  drink,  for  they  drank  of  that  spiritual 
Rock  that  followed  them ;  and  that  Rock  was  Christ.  —  1  Cor.  10  :  4. 

DURING  a  revival  in  a  town  in  Ohio,  a  man  who  had  been 
very  worldly-minded  was  awakened,  but  for  some  time 
concealed  his  feelings  even  from  his  wife,  who  was  a  praying 
woman.  She  left  him  one  evening  in  charge  of  his  little  girl 
of  three  "years  of  age.  After  her  departure,  his  anxiety  of 
mind  became  so  great  that  he  walked  the  room  in  his  agony. 
The  little  girl  noticed  his  agitation,  and  inquired,  "  What  ails 
you,  pa  ?  "  He  replied,  "  Nothing,"  and  endeavored  to  quiet 
his  feelings,  but  all  in  vain.  The  child  looked  up  sympathiz- 
ingly  in  his  face,  and  inquired,  with  the  artlessness  and  sim- 
plicity of  childhood,  "  Pa,  if  you  were  dry,  wouldn't  you  go 
and  get  a  drink  of  water  ?  "  The  father  started  as  if  a  voice 
from  heaven  had  fallen  on  his  ear.  He  thought  of  his  thirsty 
soul  famishing  for  the  waters  of  life  ;  he  thought  of  that  living 
fountain  opened  in  the  gospel ;  he  believed,  and  straightway 
fell  at  the  Saviour's  feet.  From  that  hour  he  dates  the  dawn- 
ing of  a  new  light  and  the  beginning  of  a  new  life. 


"A  WAY  OF  ESCAPE." 

There  hath  no  temptation  taken  you  but  such  as  is  common  to  man ;  but 
God  is  faithful,  who  will  not  suffer  you  to  be  tempted  above  that  ye  are  able, 
but  will  with  the  temptation  also  make  a  way  to  escape,  that  ye  may  be  able  to 
bear  it.  —  1  Cor.  10  :  13. 

THE  Chronicles  of  Froissart  relate  the  strange  issue  of  a 
siege  which  took  place  in  the  chivalry,  and  somewhere,  I 
think,  in  France.  Though  gallantly  defended,  the  outworks 
of  the  citadel  had  been  carried.  The  breach  was  practicable  ; 
to-morrow  was  fixed  for  the  assault.  That  none,  alarmed  at 
the  desperate  state  of  their  fortunes,  might  escape  under  the 
cloud  of  night,  the  besiegers  guarded  every  sally-port,  and,  in- 
deed, the  whole  sweep  of  wall.  They  had  the  garrison  in  a  net, 
and  only  waited  for  the  morrow  to  secure  or  to  slaughter  them. 


534  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

The  night  wore  heavily  on ;  no  sortie  was  attempted ;  no 
sound  came  from  the  beleaguered  citadel ;  its  brave  but  ill- 
starred  defenders  seemed  to  wait  their  doom  in  silence.  The 
morning  came ;  with  its  dawn  the  stormers  rushed  at  the 
the  breach ;  sword  in  hand  they  poured  in  to  find  the  nest 
empty,  cold.  The  bird  was  flown;  the  prey  escaped.  But 
how  ?  That  was  a  mystery  ;  it  seemed  a  miracle  till  an  open- 
ing was  discovered  that  led  by  a  flight  of  steps  down  into  the 
bowels  of  the  rock.  They  descended,  and  explored  their  way 
with  cautious  steps  and  lighted  torches,  until  this  subterranean 
passage  led  them  out  a  long  way  off  from  the  citadel,  among 
quiet,  green  fields  and  the  light  of  day.  It  was  plain  that  by 
this  passage,  the  doors  of  which  stood  open,  their  prey  had 
escaped  under  cover  of  night.  A  clever  device,  a  wise  pre- 
caution. It  was  a  refuge  of  the  besieged,  provided  against 
such  a  crisis.  And  when  affairs  seem  desperate,  and  the  worst 
has  come  to  the  worst,  how  should  it  encourage-  God's  peo- 
ple to  remember  that  he  has  promised  them  as  safe  a  retreat ! 
What  says  an  apostle  ?  "  God  is  faithful,  who  will  not  suffer 
you  to  be  tempted  above  that  ye  are  able  ;  but  will,  with  the 
temptation,  also  make  a  way  to  escape."  —  Han  and  the  Gospd. 


HOW  ¥E  SHOULD  EAT  AND  DRINK. 

Whether  therefore  ye  eat,  or  drink,  or  whatsoever  ye  do,  do  all  to  the  glory 
of  God.  —  1  Cor.  10 :  31. 

TO  do  all  things  for  the  glory  of  God  is  the  Christian's  law. 
All  things ;  the  apostle  specifies  among  them  eating  and 
drinking.  ,  He  means  evidently  that  a  Christian  is  to  eat  and 
drink  those  things,  and  in  those  measures,  which  conduce  to 
his  highest  efficiency  of  mind  and  body,  for  this  reflects  honor 
upon  the  Creator ;  the  healthier,  the  happier,  the  better  in  all 
respects  a  man  is,  the  more  glory  is  reflected  upon  the  wisdom 
and  goodness  of  God.  The  rule  to  eat  and  drink  to  the  glory 
of  God,  is  not  obeyed  by  merely  stopping  short  of  drunkenness 
and  gluttony.  It  is  not  enough  that  a  man  do  not  hurt  him- 
self, be  not  a  slave  to  appetite ;  he  must  make  his  eating  and 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  535 

his  drinking  a  revenue  of  good  to  himself  and  honor  to  the 
Being  that  made  him. 

By  parity  of  reasoning  must  the  Christian  dress  to  the  glory 
of  God.  This  surely  is  included  in  the  "  all  things  "  to  which  the 
rule  applies,  and  it  is  not  a  little  thing,  but  a  great  thing  ;  it  is 
to  be  ranked  next  to  if  not  alongside  of  eating  and  drinking  as 
a  manifestation  of  the  Christian  life.  The  Christian  law  is  too 
plain  to  be  misunderstood.  St.  Peter  and  St.  Paul  alike  have 
laid  it  down.  "  Outward  adorning  "  is  in  express  terms  put 
under  the  ban  ;  specifications  are  made,  just  such  as  the  times 
need  —  "  broidered  hair,  gold,  pearls,  costly  array."  In  precise 
and  well-considered  terms,  "  modest  apparel "  is  required ; 
good  works  in  place  of  gay  clothing;  the  manifestations  of 
"  the  hidden  man  of  the  heart,"  even  the  incorruptible  "  orna- 
ment of  a  meek  and  quiet  spirit,  which  is  in  the  sight  of  God 
of  great  price."  — Rev.  Dr.  Buddington. 


DR.  GUMMING  ON  THE  "REAL  PRESENCE." 

And  when  he  had  given  thanks,  he  brake  it,  and  said,  Take,  eat;  this  is  my 
body,  which  is  broken  for  you .  this  do  in  remembrance  of  me.  —  1  Cor.  11 :  24. 

EEY.  DR.  GUMMING,  of  London,  recently  said,  that  in  the 
Highlands  of  Scotland,  he  once  met  a  lady  of  noble  birth, 
who  asked  him  if  he  believed  in  the  "  real  presence."  "  Cer- 
tainly I  do,"  he  said.  "  I  am  very  glad,"  she  replied  ;  "  but 
you  are  the  first  Protestant  clergyman  I  ever  met  with  who 
did."  "  We  attach  different  meanings  to  the  same  words," 
said  Dr.  Gumming.  "  I  believe  in  the  real  presence  of  our 
Lord  wherever  two  or  three  are  gathered  together  in  his  name. 
I  can  not  believe  as  you  do  about  the  real  presence,  when  I 
consider  the  words  l  in  remembrance  of  me.'  Memory  has  to 
do  with  the  past,  with  an  absent  friend.  To  eat  and  drink  in 
remembrance  of  one  who  is  actually  present  before  one's  eyes 
is  an  absurdity." 

A  lady  who  accompanied  her  was  silent ;  but  a  few  months 
ago,  Dr.  Gumming  received  a  letter  from  her  father,  saying, 
that  when  his  daughter  went  to  Scotland  she  was  on  the  verge 


536  NEW   TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

of  Romanism,  owing  to  the  influence  of  this  noble  friend,  and 
that  the  words  of  Dr.  Gumming  on  "  in  remembrance  of  me," 
were  blessed  by  God  in  preventing  her  from  becoming  a 
Romanist,  and  that  she  was  converted,  and  had  just  died,  re- 
joicing in  Christ. 

REFUSING  TO  COMMUNE. 

But  let  a  man  examine  himself,  and  so  let  him  eat  of  that  bread,  and  drink 
of  that  cup.  For  he  that  eateth  and  drinketh  unworthily,  eateth  and  drinketh 
damnation  to  himself,  not  discerning  the  Lord's  body.  —  1  Cor.  11 :  28,  29. 

SOME  time  since  we  attended  a  sacramental  meeting  in  a 
neighboring  church,  and  as  we  were  distributing  the  ele- 
ments, we  observed  a  worthy  deacon  sitting  on  the  seats  ap- 
propriated to  the  portion  of  the  assembly  that  did  not  wish  to 
partake  of  the  ordinance.  Knowing  him  to  be  a  very  good 
man,  we  took  occasion,  after  the  service  was  over,  to  express 
our  surprise  and  regret  at  seeing  him  in  such  a  position.  He 
replied,  that  he  had  a  personal  difficulty  in  a  pecuniary  trans- 
action with  one  of  the  members  of  the  church,  and  having  lost 
all  confidence  in  his  piety,  could  never  again  sit  down  at  the 
same  communion  table  with  him.  He  seemed  to  think  he  was 
perfectly  justifiable  in  his  course.  We  replied  by  asking  a 
single  question:  Do  you  consider  yourself  better  than  the 
Saviour  ?  He  sat  down  to  his  own  table  with  Judas,  who,  he 
knew,  in  a  few  hours  would  betray  him;  and  was  a  thief  from 
the  beginning.  . 

The  question  seemed  to  puzzle  him,  and  we  parted.  But, 
as  we  were  about  to  leave  the  next  day,  he  came  and  ex- 
pressed his  great  sorrow  for  having  acted  as  he  did.  We  then 
took  occasion  to  remark,  there  was  a  strong  probability  that 
he  had  harshly  judged  his  brother ;  but  if  he  had  not,  the  other 
having  done  wrong  could  never  justify  him  in  committing  an- 
other wrong,  in  refusing  to  remember  Christ.  The  command 
of  the  Master  was,  "  Do  this  in  remembrance  of  me."  The 
fact  that  another  had  defrauded  him  could  never  authorize  him 
to  defraud  his  Saviour  of  that  grateful  and  heartfelt  remem- 
brance of  him,  in  his  ordinance,  which  was  his  just  due.  He 
quoted  the  saying  of  the  Saviour,  "  If  thou  bring  thy  gift  to 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  537 

the  altar,  and  there  rememberest  that  thy  brother  has  aught 
against  thee,  leave  there  thy  gift  before  the  altar,  and  go  thy 
way,  first  be  reconciled  to  thy  brother,  and  then  come  and 
oiler  thy  gift."  We  replied,  that  that  passage  was  not  more 
applicable  to  the  Lord's  Supper  than  it  was  to  prayer,  or  any 
other  approach  to  God ;  that  if  his  interpretation  of  it  was 
correct,  he  ought  never  to  pray  any  more  until  he  had  settled 
his  difficulty  with  his  brother.  We  parted,  and  were  happy  to 
learn  from  him,  a  short  time  since,  that  the  train  of  thought 
then  started  in  his  mind,  had  led  him  to  seek  a  reconciliation, 
and  that  he  had  been  successful.  Perhaps  the  same  thoughts 
may  be  useful  to  some  of  our  readers  who  have  been  guilty  of 
similar  folly  with  this  good  brother. 

When  will  Christians  learn  that  they  should  partake  of  the 
Lord's  Supper  because  the  Saviour  commanded  them  thus  to 
do  ?  and  that  no  course  which  their  brethren  may  take  will 
justify  them  in  neglecting  that  blessed  institution? 


SPIRITUAL  GIFTS. 

Now,,  concerning  spiritual  gifts,  brethren,  I  would  not  have  you  ignorant.  — 
1  Cor.  12  :  1. 

THE  Holy  Spirit  is  able  to  make  the  word  as  successful  now 
as  in  the  days  of  the  apostles.  He  can  bring  in  by  hun- 
dreds 'and  thousands  as  easily  as  by  ones  and  twos.  The  rea- 
son why  we  are  not  more  prosperous  is,  that  we  have  not  the 
Holy  Spirit  with  us  in  might  and  in  power  as  in  early  times. 
If  we  had  the  Spirit  sealing  our  ministry  with  power,  it  would 
signify  very  little  about  our  talent.  Men  might  be  poor  and 
uneducated ;  their  words  might  be  broken  and  ungrammati- 
cal ;  there  might  be  none  of  the  polished  periods  of  Hall,  or 
the  glorious  thunders  of  Chalmers ;  but  if  the  might  of  the 
Spirit  attended  them,  the  humblest  evangelist  would  be  more 
successful  than  the  most  eloquent  preachers.  It  is  extraordi- 
nary grace,  not  talent,  that  wins  the  day.  It  is  extraordinary 
spiritual  power  that  we  need.  Mental  power  may,  for  a  time, 
draw  a  crowd  to  the  house  of  God  ;  but  it  is  moral  power  that 
68 


538  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

brings  them  to  the  foot  of  the  cross.  Mental  power  may  call 
forth  applause  to  man,  but  it  is  moral  power  that  brings  glory 
to  God. 

0,  we  know  some  before  whom  we  shrink  into  nothing  as  to 
talent,  but  who  have  no  spiritual  power,  and  when  they  speak 
they  have  not  the  Holy  Spirit  with  them ;  but  we  know 
others  —  simple-hearted,  worthy  men  —  who  speak  their  coun- 
try dialect,  and  who  stand  up  to  preach  in  their  country  place, 
and  the  Spirit  of  God  clothes  every  word  with  power.  Hearts 
are  broken,  souls  are  saved,  and  sinners  are  born  again.  0, 
Spirit  of  the  living  God,  we  want  thee  !  Thou  art  the  life,  the 
soul,  the  source  of  thy  people's  success.  Without  thee  they 
can  do  nothing,  with  thee  they  can  do  everything.  —  C.  H. 
Spurgeon. 


USE  YOUR  TALENTS. 

Now  there  are  diversities  of  gifts,  but  the  same  Spirit.  —  1  Cor.  12 :  4. 

"  A  ND  unto  one  he  gave  five  talents,  to  another  two,  and  to 
J\-  another  one.7'  There  are  many  warm  hearts  and  will- 
ing hands  in  the  world,  anxious,  eager  to  do  good,  yet  because 
they  have  not  the  ability  to  do  precisely  what  they  see  others 
perform  in  walks  of  usefulness,  they  are  often  discouraged,  and 
sometimes  idle.  That  each  person  is  gifted  with  power  to 
be  useful  in  some  way,  let  us  illustrate  by  a  story  which  is  a 
true  one. 

A  young  lady  was  heard  to  say,  "  I  wish  I  could  do  some- 
thing for  my  country  ;  I  would  willingly  become  a  nurse  in  a 
hospital,  but  I  have  not  the  physical  strength.  WHiat  can  I 
do?" 

A  friend  replied,  "  You  can  sing." 

"  Yes,  I  can  sing,  but  what  of  that  ?  " 

"  Go  to  one  of  the  hospitals  and  sing  for  the  soldiers." 

The  Idea  pleased  her.  She  accompanied  a  friend  who  was 
long  used  to  such  visits,  and  who  introduced  her  by  saying  to 
the  patients, — 

"  Here  is  a  young  lady  who  has  come  to  sing  for  you." 

At  the  mere  announcement  every  face  was  aglow  with  ani- 


.  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  539 

mation,  every  eye  was  riveted  upon  her  with  expectant  pleas- 
ure. She  sang  a  few  songs,  commencing  with  the  glorious 
"  Star-spangled  Banner."  As  the  thrilling  notes  of  that  song 
rang  through  the  apartment,  one  poor  man,  who  had  been  given 
up  by  the  physician  as  an  almost  hopeless  case,  half  raised  him- 
self in  his  cot,  leaned  his  head  upon  his  hand,  and  drank  in 
every  note  like  so  much  nectar.  The  effect  was  electrical. 
From  that  hour  he  began  to  amend,  and  finally  recovered. 


VARIETY  IN  GIFTS. 

For  to  one  is  given  by  the  Spirit  the  word  of  wisdom  ;  to  another,  the  word 
of  knowledge  by  the  same  Spirit ;  to  another,  faith  by  the  same  Spirit ;  to  an- 
other, the  gifts  of  healing  by  the  same  Spirit.  —  1  Cor.  12 :  8,  9. 

VHERE  the  notion  that  the  talent  employed  in  Christian 
teaching  ought  to  lie  within  limited  and  humble  range, 
without  any  high  flights,  any  deep  soundings,  any  glowing 
language,  any  metaphorical  illustrations,  or  any  masculine  ar- 
gument, can  have  originated,  one  would  be  at  a  loss  to  learn, 
were  the  Bible  alone  —  Old  Testament  and  New  —  the  source 
of  their  information.  There  we  see  the  power  of  the  Holy 
Spirit,  not  allying  itself  with  one  order  of  mind,  or  with  one 
stamp  of  composition,  tamed  down  to  a  standard  of  proper- 
ness,  consecrated  by  the  esthetics  of  some  small  and  proper 
men,  but  using  every  faculty  that  God  ever  gave  to  the  hu- 
man soul,  —  every  faculty  of  thought,  illustration,  and  speech, 

—  hallowing  by  its  fire  all  genius,  all  life,  and  all  nature,  touch- 
ing everything  and  illumining  everything ;  so  that  there  is  not 
one   scene  of  domestic  life,  and  not  one  object  of  God's  outer 
world,  to  ^  which  the  tongue   of  psalmist  or  prophet,  or  the 
Great  Teacher  himself  has  not  given  a  voice,  and  made  it 
speak  to  us  in  sacred  poetry.     From  the   grass  beneath  the 
mower's  scythe,  or  the  lily  that  a  child   has  plucked,  —  from 
the  bridegroom's  beaming  face,  or  the  nursing  mother's  bosom, 

—  up  to  the  lightning,  the  sun,  and   the  stars,  everything  is 
hallowed  by  a  ray  from  the  Bible,  and  is  hung  round  by  its 
sacred  associations. 

We  can  not  but  believe  that  this  is  the  intentional  model, 


540  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

and  that  men  of  all  orders,  with  talents  of  every  possible  shade, 
are  meant  to  be  employed  in  God's  holy  ministry  ;  and  that, 
therefore,  any  narrower  view,  founded  either  upon  the  ideal 
of  some  prominent  example  in  one  class  of  preaching,  on  the 
taste  of  a  given  age,  or  on~any  notion  whatever  of  classic  style 
and  propriety,  is  but  an  invention  to  cramp  and  trammel  that 
which  must  everlastingly  be  free  —  the  utterance  of  men  who 
come  to  speak  to  us  of  all  things  infinite.  —  Arthur  s  Tongue 
of  Fire. 


A  MORE  EXCELLENT  WAY. 

But  covet  earnestly  the  best  gifts ;  and  yet  shew  I  unto  you  a  more  excel- 
lent way.  —  1  Cor.  12  :  31. 

THE  Observer  relates  that,  in  a  recent  prayer-meeting  in 
Fulton  Street,  New  York,  a  gentleman  from  London 
stated  that  on  his  passage  homeward  they  encountered  a 
terrible  storm.  The  shaft  of  the  steamship  was  broken,  one 
wheel  was  disabled,  and  they  expected  every  moment  to  go 
down.  On  board  they  had  in  one  cabin  several  Catholic 
priests,  and  as  many  nuns,  or  Sisters  of  Charity.  They  had 
also  a  very  pious  Methodist  man.  In  the  midst  of  the  storm 
the  priests  were  about  to  administer  extreme  unction,  the  last 
rite  of  the  church,  by  which  all  sin  is  supposed  to  be  washed 
away.  This  Methodist  had  been  with  them,  and  to  him  one 
of  the  priests  said, — 

"  I  feel  it  my  duty  to  tell  you  that  we  are  about  to  administer 
extreme  unction  for  the  cleansing  away  of  all  sin.  I  must  tell 
you  that  you  are  out  of  the  true  church,  and  that  if  you  die  as 
you  are,  you  will  be  lost  forever  —  you  will  be  damned.  Will 
you  allow  me  to  administer  to  you  extreme  unction,  and  thus 
save  your  soul  ?  " 

"  Sir,"  said  the  Methodist,  "  I  have  been  down  to  my  state- 
room for  some  time  alone,  with  the  High  Priest  of  my  profes- 
sion. I  have  made  a  full  and  unreserved  confession  of  all  my 
sins.  He  has  pronounced  absolution  from  all  my  guilt.  He 
has  administered  to  me  extreme  unction.  He  has  assured  me 
that  he  is  ready  to  receive  me.  He  is  mighty  to  save,  and  he 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  541 

tells  me  he  can  save,  to  the  uttermost,  all  who  come  unto  God 
through  him.  He  has  prepared  me  for  death.  I  know  that 
my  Redeemer  liveth.  I  am  ready  to  have  this  vessel  go  down. 
I  ask  you  if  you  really  believe  I  need  any  preparation  at  your 
hands  ?  " 

The  priest  was  confounded,  and  said  no  more.  This,  the 
speaker  said,  evinced  the  power  of  prayer  to  calm  the  mind 
in  view  of  the  most  imminent  dangers  and  the  near  prospect 
of  death  itself. 


LOVE,  THE  TRUE  TEST. 

And  though  I  bestow  all  my  goods  to  feed  the  poor,  and  though  I  give 
my  body  to  be  burned,  and  have  not  charity,  it  profiteth  me  nothing.  — 
1  Cor.  13  :  3. 

/CHRIST  will  not  take  sermons,  prayers,  fastings,  —  no,  nor 
\J  giving  our  goods,  nor  the  burning  of  our  bodies,  — instead 
of  love.  And  do  we  love  him,  and  yet  care  not  how  long  we 
are  from  him?  Was  it  such  a  joy  to  Jacob  to  see  the  face  of 
Joseph  in  Egypt,  and  shall  we  be  contented  without  the  sight 
of  Christ  in  glory,  and  yet  say  we  love  him  ?  I  dare  not  con- 
clude that  we  have  no  love  at  all  when  we  are  so  loth  to  die  ; 
but  I  dare  say.  were  our  love  more,  we  should  die  more  will- 
ingly ;  by  our  unwillingness  to  die,  it  appears  we  are  little 
weary  of  sin.  Did  we  take  sin  for  the  greatest  evil,  we  should 
not  be  willing  to  haVe  its  company  so  long.  —  Baxter. 


KNOWLEDGE  SHALL  VANISH  AWAY. 

Charity  never  faileth;  but  whether  there  be  prophecies,  they  shall  fail; 
whether  there  be  tongues,  they  shall  cease ;  whether  there  be  knowledge,  it 
shall  vanish  away.  —  1  Cor.  13  :  8. 

TOHN  SELDEN  was  a  most  erudite  Englishman,  possessed 
U  much  antiquarian,  historical,  and  legal  knowledge ;  was 
master  of  many  languages,  and  author  of  works  which  have 
filled  Europe  with  his  fame ;  and  was  possessor  of  a  library 
of  eight  thousand  volumes.  When  he  lay  dying,  he  said  to  Arch- 


542  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

bishop  Usher,  "  I  •have  surveyed  most  of  the  learning  that  is 
amongst  the  sons  of  men,  and  my  study  is  filled  with  books 
and  manuscripts  on  various  subjects ;  but  at  present  I  can  not 
recollect  any  passage  out  of  all  my  books  and  papers  whereon 
I  can  rest  my  soul,  save  this  from  the  sacred  Scriptures  :  f  The 
grace  of  God  that  bringeth  salvation  hath  appeared  to  all 
men,  teaching  us  that,  denying  ungodliness  and  worldly  lusts, 
we  should  live  soberly,  righteously,  and  godly  in  this  present 
world,  looking  for  that  blessed  hope,  and  the  glorious  appear- 
ing of  the  great  God,  and  our  Saviour  Jesus  Christ,  who  gave 
himself  for  us,  that  he  might  redeem  us  from  all  iniquity, 
and  purify  unto  himself  a  peculiar  people,  zealous  of  good 
works.' " 

BE  CONTENT  TO  KNOW  WHAT  GOD  REVEALS. 

For  we  know  in  part,  and  we  prophesy  in  part.  —  1  Cor.  13  :  9. 

"VTOU  know  as  much  as  is  good  for  you.  For  it  is  with  the 
JL  mind  as  it  is  with  the  senses.  A  greater  degree  of 
hearing  would  terrify  us.  If  our  eyes  should  see  things  micro- 
scopically, we  should  be  afraid  to  move.  Thus  our  knowledge 
is  suited  to  situation  and  circumstances.  Were  we  informed 
beforehand  of  good  things  provided  for  us  by  Providence, 
from  that  moment  we  should  cease  to  enjoy  the  blessings 
we  possess,  become  indifferent  to  present  duties,  and  be 
filled  with  restless  impatience.  Or  suppose  the  things  fore- 
known were  gloomy,  and  adverse  ;  what  dismay  and  despon- 
dency would  be  the  consequence  of  the  discovery !  And  how 
many  times  should  we  suffer  in  imagination  what  we  now 
only  endure  in  reality  !  Who  would  wish  to  draw  back  a  vail 
which  saves  them  from  so  many  disquietudes  ?  If  some  of  you 
had  known  the  troubles  through  which  you  have  since  waded, 
you  would  have  fainted  under  the  prospect.  But  what  we 
"  know  not  now  we  shall  know  hereafter."-  — 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  543 

WE  KNOW  IN  PART. 

For  now  we  see  through  a  glass  darkly,  but  then  face  to  face  :  now  I  know 
in  part,' but  then  shall  I  know  even. as  also  I  am  known.  —  1  Cor.  13  :  12. 

MR.  WARD,  the  Indian  missionary,  used  to  tell  a  story  of  a 
Brahmin,  who  was  asked  if  the  various  views  of  Chris- 
tians about  their  own  religion  did  not  lead  him  to  doubt  its 
divine  origin.  He  replied,  "  Not  at  all.  Hear,  my  brother. 
There  was  once  a  city,  of  which  all  the  inhabitants  had  lost 
their  sight  —  they  were  blind.  It  was  one  day  rumored  that 
a  magnificent  elephant  was  to  pass  through  their  streets ;  and 
as  none  of  the  people  had  ever  seen  an  elephant,  all  rushod 
down  to  examine  it,  and  pressed  close  for  free  inquiry.  One 
felt  his  leg,  another  his  trunk,  another  his  tail,  one  his  ears, 
and  one  his  tusk;  till  they  were  satisfied.  The  elephant  went 
his  way,  and  they  returned  home.  Many  were  obliged  to  be 
content  with  the  reports  of  the  more  fortunate.  After  a  time, 
the  various  visitors  of  the  gigantic  animal  began  to  converse 
about  him,  and  to  describe  to  others  what  they  had  observed ; 
but  all  their  evidence  seemed  contradictory,  since  each  bore 
testimony  only  to  the  particular  member  with  which  he  had 
come  in  contact,  and  each  denied  what  his  brother  attested. 
Disputes  were  running  very  high,  when  a  wise  old  Brahmin 
interposed,  and  said,  '  My  dear  brothers,  forbear,  I  beseech 
you.  All  those  to  whom  you  have  listened  are  right,  and  all 
are  wrong.  You  each  know  a  little,  and  only  a  little,  of  the 
great  creature  concerning  which  you  would  be  informed. 
Now,  instead  of  disputing,  put  together  all  you  have  heard, 
combine  the  different  testimonies  you  have  received,  and  by 
so  doing  you  may  best  hope  to  gain  some  idea  of  the  whole. '  " 
—  Mrs.  Sckimmelpenriinck. 

OLDEST  CHRISTIAN  HYMN  IN  THE  WORLD. 

I  will  sing  with  the  spirit,  and  I  will  sing  with  the  understanding  also.  — 
1  Cor.  14  :  15. 

IN  Pged.,  Lib.  III.,  of  Clement  of  Alexandria,  is  given  (in 
Greek)  the   most  ancient  hymn  of  the   primitive  church. 
It  is  there  (one  hundred  and  fifty  years  after  the  apostles) 
asserted  to  be  of  much  earlier  origin.    It  may  have  been  sung  by 


544  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

the  "  beloved  disciple."  before  he  ascended  to  his  reward.    The 
following  version  will  give  some  imperfect  idea  of  its  spirit :  — 

"  Shepherd  of  tender  youth, 
Guiding  in  love  and  truth, 

Through  devious  ways, 
Christ,  our  triumphant  King, 
We  come  thy  name  to  sing, 
And  here  our  children  bring, 

To  shout  thy  praise. 

"  Thou  art  our  holy  Lord, 
The  all- subduing  Word, 

Healer  of  strife ! 
Thou  didst  thyself  abase, 
That  from  sin's  deep  disgrace 
Thou  mightest  save  our  race, 

And  give  us  life. 

"  Thou  art  wisdom's  High  Priest ; 
Thou  hast  prepared  the  feast 

Of  holy  love ; 
And  in  our  mortal  pain 
None  calls  on  thee  in  vain ; 
Help  thou  dost  not  disdain  — 

Help  from  above. 

"  Ever  be  thou  our  Guide, 
Our  Shepherd  and  our  pride,  - 

Our  staff  and  song. 
Jesus,  thou  Christ  of  God, 
By  the  perennial  word, 
Lead  us  where  thou  hast  trod, 
Make  our  faith  strong. 

"  So  now,  and  till  we  die, 
Sound  we  thy  praise  on  high, 

And  joyful  sing. 
Infants,  and  the  glad  throng 
Who  to  thy  church  belong, 
Unite  and  swell  the  song 

To  Christ  our  King  ! 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  545 

A  COMPLIMENT. 

Yet  in  the  church  I  had  rather  speak  five  words  with  my  understanding, 
that  by  my  voice  I  might  teach  others  also,  than  ten  thousand  words  in  an  un- 
known tongue.  —  1  Cor.  14  :  19. 

MANY  years  ago  there  was  a  preaching  station  some  dis- 
tance from  Princeton,  to  which  it  was  usual  to  send  the 
licentiates  of  the  Seminary  to  preach ;  and  they,  very  properly, 
performed  the  duty  assigned  them  with  a  due  regard  to  the 
great  importance  of  preaching  well-prepared  sermons.  One 
of  their  habitual  hearers  was  an  old  New  Jersey  slave,  known 
as  Uncle  Sam,  a  sincere,  humble  Christian  man,  but  of  course 
wholly  uneducated.  Always  when  he  came  home  from  the 
preaching  he  would  try  to  tell  his  mistress  what  he  could  re- 
member of  the  sermon,  and  he  always  came  with  the  same 
complaint.  He  was  a  poor,  ignorant  old  man,  he  would  say, 
and  he  could  not  understand  these  learned  men  at  all.  The 
little  he  did  comprehend  was  mingled  with  so  much  that  was 
deep  that  he  could  not  remember  it.  One  day,  however,  Uncle 
Sam  came  home  in  a  great  good  humor.  There  was  a  poor, 
ignorant  old  man,  just  like  himself,  he  said,  who  had  come  to 
preach  that  day.  It  was  plain  that  he  did  not  know  much ; 
indeed,  he  was  hardly  fit  to  preach  to  the  white  people ;  but 
Sam  was  glad  he  had  come  for  his  own  sake,  for  he  could  re- 
member everything  he  had  said.  .  On  inquiry  it  was  found 
that  Sam's  ignorant  old  preacher  was  Dr.  Archibald  Alexan- 
der ;  and  when  the  doctor  heard  the  criticism,  he  said  it  was 
the  highest  compliment  ever  paid  to  his  preaching. 


ATONEMENT  FOR  SIN  THE  FELT  WANT  OF  MAN. 

For  I  delivered  unto  you  first  of  all  that  which  I  also  received,  how  that 
Christ  died  for  our  sins,  according  to  the  Scriptures.  —  1  Cor.  15  :  3. 

A  DISTINGUISHED  minister  lately  remarked  in  a  sermon 
that  the   doctrine  of  the  atonement  was  eminently  de- 
signed to  arrest  the  attention  of  sinners ;  that  it  was  so  con- 
structed by  God,  who  best  knows  the  philosophy  of  the  human 
69 


546  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

mind,  as  to  make  itself  palpable  and  easily  understood,  while 
many  things  apparently  simple  fail  to  be  comprehended. 

Said  he,  a  Brahmin,  enlightened  by  that  light  which  lighteth 
every  man  that  cometh  into  the  world,  felt  the  weight  of  his 
sins  bearing  heavily  upon  him,  and  was  aroused,  by  that  dread- 
ful foreboding  acknowledged  in  every  man's  conscience!  to  do 
something  to  save  himself  from  the  wrath  to  come.  He  went 
to  a  distinguished  Brahmin  to  learn  what  would  give  his  mind 
relief.  A  long  journey  was  prescribed  for  him,  which  he  was 
to  accomplish  in  shoes  filled  with  sharp  points,  goading  his 
feet  at  every  cruel  step.  On  his  travels  he  saw  a  multitude 
gathered  around  a  man  who  was  earnestly  addressing  them ; 
he  drew  near  and  heard  Mr.  Thomas,  the  Baptist  missionary 
to  India,  preaching  Christ  and  his  blessed  salvation  from  sin. 
He  was  so  impressed  with  what  he  heard  that  he  cried  aloud, 
"  This  is  just  what  I  want."  Throwing  away  his  bloody 
shoes,  he  listened  to  further  instructions,  and  is  now  not  only  a 
believer  in  the  salvation  by  Christ,  but  a  teacher  of  this  blessed 
doctrine. 


"SO  WE  PREACH." 

Therefore,  whether  it  were  I  or  they,  so  we  preach,  and  so  ye  believed.  — 
1  Cor.  15  :  11. 

T)REACHING  the  gospel  is  the  greatest  institution  of  Chris- 
L  tianity  on  its  human  side.  Christ's  ministers  are  a  great 
power  considered  numerically,  intellectually,  and  socially  ;  but 
chiefly  because  appointed  and  attended  of  God.  Every  man 
called  of  God  to  preach  the  gospel  should  carefully  and  con- 
stantly study  to  make  the  most  of  his  commission,  not  for  him- 
self, but  for  Christ.  If  this  be  his  aim,  every  time  he  stands 
up  to  preach  he  will  have  some  distinct  thought  to  present 
concerning  Christ  or  his  kingdom.  His  text  will  not  be  for  a 
key  to  open  the  door  of  his  own  storehouse  of  knowledge,  that 
he  may  exhibit  the  numerous  collections  of  his  intellectual 
cabinet ;  nor  will  he  try  to  say  all  he  can  on  his  subject,  and 
so  overburden  his  text  and  his  hearers ;  but  he.  will  seek  to 
know  the  mind  of  God  in  that  passage  of  Scripture,  and  make 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  547 

that  divine  thought  the  center  and  front  of  the  sermon.  The 
skillful  artist  does  not  put  the  largest  possible  amount  of  paint 
on  the  canvas,  but  only  so  much,  and  in  such  proportions  and 
shades,  as  to  make  most  impressive  the  intent  of  the  design. 
Preaching  fails  of  the  effectiveness  it  might  have  when  the 
preacher  "  darkeneth  counsel  by  words  without  wisdom," 
which  is  always  the  case  when  no  one  great  truth  is  forcibly 
urged  upon  the  minds  of  the  hearers,  though  many  good  and 
beautiful  things  may  be  said.  Drive  home  some  one  truth, 
but  strike  no  blows  that  do  not  tend  to  that  object.  In  the 
Methodist  discipline,  under  the  Rules  for  a  Preacher,  is  this 
exceedingly  wise  advice  :  u  Take  care  not  to  ramble,  but  keep 
to  your  text,  and  make  out  what  you  take  in  hand."  Have  a 
central  thought.  See  that  it  stands  nearly  related  to  Christ 
as  a  Saviour,  or  to  the  soul  of  man  to  be  saved.  Be  deeply 
impressed  with  that  thought  before  and  while  preaching.  So 
present  that  thought  with  all  the  eloquence  and  power  you 
possess,  that  it  shall  go  deepest  into  the  minds  of  the  hearers, 
and  be  longest  remembered,  and,  if  possible,  never  forgotten. 


AWAKENED  BY  A  FATHER'S  DREAM. 

Awake  to  righteousness,  and  sin  not;  for  some  have  not  the  knowledge  of 
God.  I  speak  this  to  your  shame.  —  1  Cor.  15  :  34. 

A  PIOUS  man  once  related  the  following  dream,  which  we 
will  give  you  in  his  own  words :  — 

"  I  have  known  the  grace  of  God  for  nearly  thirty  years. 
But  in  spite  of  all  my  advice  to  my  five  sons  and  two  daugh- 
ters, all  running  on  in  the  broad  way  to  destruction,  they  cost 
me  many  prayers  and  tears,  and  yet  I  saw  no  fruit  of  my  labor. 
In  January  last  I  dreamed  that  the  day  of  judgment  was  come  ; 
I  saw  the  Judge  on  his  great  white  throne ;  the  holy  angels 
sat  around  him,  and  all  nations  were  gathered  before  him.  I 
and  my  wife  were  on  the  right  hand  of  the  Judge;  but  I  could 
not  see  my  children.  Said  I,  '  I  can  not  bear  this ;  I  must  go 
and  seek  them.'  So  I  went  to  the  left  hand ;  and  I  saw  them, 
all  seven,  standing  together,  tearing  their  breasts,  cursing  the 
day  that  ever  they  were  born.  As  soon  as  they  saw  me  they 


548  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

caught  me,  and  said,  '  0,  father,  we  will  part  no  more.'  I 
said,  '  My  children,  I  am  come  to  try  and  get  you  out  of  this 
dismal  situation.'  So  I  took  them  all  with  me ;  but  when  I 
came  within  a  short  distance  of  the  Judge,  I  thought  he  looked 
angry,  saying,  (  What  have  thy  children  to  do  with  thee  now  ? 
They  would  not  take  warning  when  upon  earth  ;  they  shall 
not  share  the  crown  with  thee  in  heaven.  Depart,  ye  cursed.' 

"  At  these  words  I  awoke,  bathed  in  perspiration  and  tears. 
Some  time  after  this  I  related  it  to  them,  as  we  were  all  to- 
gether on  a  Sunday  night.  And  no  sooner  had  I  begun  to 
speak  than  I  observed  an  apparent  change  upon  them,  first 
.one  and  then  another.  Four  of  these  are  now  rejoicing  in 
God  their  Saviour,  and  I  believe  that  he  is  at  work  in  the 
hearts  of  the  other  two,  so  that  I  doubt  not  but  God  will  also 
save  them  in  answer  to  my  prayer." 

They  have  since  been  converted  to  God. 


STARS  OF  THE  FIRST  MAGNITUDE. 

There  is  one  glory  of  the  sun,  and  another  glory  of  the  moon,  and  another 
glory  of  the  stars ;  for  one  star  differeth  from  another  star  in  glory.  — 
1  Cor.  15  :  41. 

AT  the  close  of  his  comments  on  1  Cor.  15,  Dr.  Adam  Clarke 
remarks  as  follows  :  — 

"  The  reader  is  probably  amazed  at  the  paucity  of  large  stars 
in  the  firmament  of  heaven  !  Will  he  permit  me  to  carry  his 
mind  a  little  further,  and  either  stand  astonished  at  or  deplore 
with  me  the  fact  that  out  of  the  millions  of  Christians  in  the 
vicinity  and  splendor  of  the  eternal  Sun  of  Righteousness,  how 
very  few  are  found  of  the  first  order?  How  very  few  can 
stand  examination  by  the  test  laid  down  in  the  thirteenth 
chapter  of  this  Epistle  !  How  very  few  love  God  with  all 
their  heart,  soul,  mind,  and  strength,  and  their  neighbor  as 
themselves-!  How  few  mature  Christians  are  found  in  the 
church  !  How  few  are  in  all  things  living  for  eternity  !  How 
little  light,  how  little  heat,  and  how  little  influence  and  activity 
are  to  be  found-  among  them  that  bear  the  name  of  Chris-t ! 
How  few  stars  of  the  first  magnitude  will  the  Son  of  God  have 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  549 

to  deck  the  crown  of  his  glory  !  Few  are  striving  to  excel  in 
righteousness  ;  and  it  seems  to  be  a  principal  concern  with 
many  to  find  out  how  little  grace  they  may  have  and  yet  get 
to  heaven.  In  the  fear  of  God  I  register  this  testimony,  that 
I  have  perceived  it  to  be  the  labor  of  many  to  lower  the 
standard  of  Christianity,  and  to  soften  down  or  explain  away 
those  promises  of  God  that  himself  has  linked  with  duties ; 
and  because  they  know  that  they  can  not  be  saved  by  their 
good  works,  they  are  contented  to  have  no  good  works  at  all ; 
and  thus  the  necessity  of  Christian  obedience  and  Christian 
holiness  makes  no  prominent  part  of  some  modern  creeds.  Let 
all  those  who  retain  the  apostolic  doctrine,  that  the  blood  of 
Christ  cleanseth  from  all  sin  in  this  life,  press  every  believer 
to  go  on  to  perfection,  and  expect  to  be  saved  while  here  be- 
low, into  the  fullness  of  the  blessing  of  the  gospel  of  Jesus. 
To  all  such  my  soul  says,  Labor  to  show  yourselves  approved 
unto  God ;  workmen  that  need  not  be  ashamed,  rightly  divid- 
ing the  word  of  truth ;  and  may  the  pleasure  of  the  Lord  pros- 
per in  your  hands  !  Amen." 


IDENTITY  NOT  LOST  IN  DEATH. 

So  also  is  the  resurrection  of  the  dead.  It  is  sown  in  corruption,  it  is 
raised  in  incorruption ;  it  is  sown  in  dishonor,  it  is  raised  in  glory ;  it  is  sown 
in  weakness,  it  is  raised  in  power.  —  1  Cor.  15 :  42,  43. 

OUR  mortal  body  is  the   seed,  our  immortal,  the  plant  that 
grows  out  of  that  seed,  transformed,  and  yet  its  identity  not 
lost ;  renewed,  and  yet  recognizable ;  raised  in  incorruption, 
glory,  and  power,  and  yet  the  same  as  that  which  was  sown 
in  corruption,  dishonor,  and  weakness. 

There  are  helpful  illustrations  in  nature,  which  are  often 
appealed  to,  such  as  the  apparent  death  of  winter  followed  by 
life  of  spring,  the  chrysalis  and  the  winged  moth ;  but  this 
divinely-chosen  analogy  of  the  seed  and  the  plant  is  to  me  of 
all  the  most  suggestive  regarding  our  spiritual  body  as  it  shall 
be  hereafter.  For.  take  the  bulb  of  a  hyacinth,  or  of  any  other 
flower,  submit  it  to  a  naturalist,  and  he  will  tell  you  by  aid  of 
the  microscope  what  the  perfected  flower  will  be ;  yet  who 
that  did  not  know  the  mysteries  of  vegetation  could  believe 


550  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

that  from  that  dull  and  dismal  bulb  would  spring  that  gor- 
geous flower  enveloped  in  its  sheltering  leaves  ?  Yet  such 
shall  be  our  body  then  compared  with  our  body  now  ;  that 
building  of  God,  not  made  with  hands,  eternal  in  the  heavens, 
compared  with  the  earthly  house  of  this  tabernacle,  which  is 
awaiting  its  dissolution.  —  Rev.  E.  H.  JBickersteth,  M.  A. 


THE  RESURRECTION. 

For  this  corruptible  must  put  on  incorruption,  and  this  mortal  must  put  on 
immortality.  —  1  Cor.  15  :  53. 

WHEN  Lord  Lindsey  was  traveling  in  Egypt,  he  found  a 
mummy,  the  inscription  on  which  showed  that  it  was 
two  thousand  years  old.  Unwrapping  it,  he  discovered  in  one 
of  its  hands  a  tiny  root.  He  brought  the  root  to  England, 
and  planted  it ;  when,  lo  !  it  bloomed,  and  produced  a  lovely 
flower. 

The  following  beautiful  stanzas,  by  Mrs.  S.  H.  Bradford, 
were  suggested  by  this  interesting  incident :  — 

Two  thousand  years  ago  a  flower 
Bloomed  lightly  in  a  far-off  land ; 

Two  thousand  years  ago  its  seed 

Was  placed  within  a  dead  man's  hand. 

Before  the  Saviour  came  to  earth 

That  man  had  lived,  and  loved,  and  died ; 

And  even  in  that  far-off  time 

The  flower  had  spread  its  perfume  wide. 

Suns  rose  and  set,  years  came  and  went ; 

The  dead  had  kept  its  treasure  well ; 
Nations  were  born  and  turned  to  dust 

While  life  was  hidden  in  that  shell. 

The  shriveled  hand  is  robbed  at  last, 

The  seed  is  buried  in  the  earth ; 
When,  lo  !  the  life  long  hidden  there 

Into  a  glorious  flower  bursts  forth. 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

Just  such  a  plant  as  that  which  grew 
From  such  a  seed  when  buried  low, 

Just  such  a  flower,  in  Egypt  bloomed 
And  died  two  thousand  years  ago. 

And  will  not  He  who  watched  the  seed, 
And  kept  the  life  within  the  shell, 

When  those  he  loved  are  laid  to  rest, 
Watch  o'er  their  buried  dust  as  well  ? 

And  will  he  not  from  'neath  the  sod 
Cause  something  glorious  to  arise  ? 

Ay,  though  it  sleep  two  thousand  years, 
Yet  all  that  buried  dust  shall  rise. 

Just  such  a  face  as  greets  you  now, 
Just  such  a  form  as  here  we  wear, 

Only  more  glorious  far,  will  rise 
To  meet  the  Saviour  in  the  air. 

Then  will  I  lay  me  down  in  peace, 

When  called  to  leave  this  vale  of  tears, 

For  "  in  my  flesh  shall  I  see  God," 

Even  though  I  sleep  two  thousand  years. 


551 


SO  IT  IS  WHEN  BELIEVERS  DIE. 

Death  is  swallowed  up  in  victory.  —  1  Cor.  15 :  54. 

AN  Alpine  hunter,  ascending  the  Mont  Blanc,  in  passing 
over  the  Mer  de  Glace,  lost  his  hold  and  slipped  into 
one  of  those  frightful  crevasses  by  which  the  sea  of  ice  is 
cleft  to  its  foundations.  By  catching  himself  in  his  swift  de- 
scent against  the  points  of  rocks  and  projecting  spurs  of  ice, 
he  broke  his  fall,  so  that  he  reached  the  bottom  alive,  but  only 
to  face  death  in  a  more  terrible  form.  On  either  hand  the  icy 
walls  rose  up  to  heaven,  above  which  he  saw  only  a  strip  of 
blue  sky.  At  his  feet  trickled  a  little  stream,  formed  from 


552  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

the  slowly  melting  glacier.  There  was  but  one  possible 
chance  of  escape  —  to  follow  this  rivulet,  which  might  lead 
to  some  unknown  crevice  or  passage.  In  silence  and  terror 
he  picked  his  way  down  the  mountain-side,  till  his  further 
advance  was  stopped  by  a  giant  cliff  that  rose  up  before  him, 
while  the  river  rolled  darkly  below.  He  heard  the  roaring 
of  the  waters,  which  seemed  to  wait  for  him.  What  should 
he  do?  Death  was  beside  him  and  behind  him,  and,  he  might 
fear,  before  him.  There  was  no  time  for  reflection  or  delay. 
He  paused  but  an  instant,  and  plunged  into  the  stream.  One 
minute  of  breathless  suspense  —  a  sense  of  darkness  and  cold- 
ness, and  yet  of  swift  motion,  as  if  he  were  gliding  through 
the  shades 'below  —  and  then  a  light  began  to  glimmer  faintly 
in  the  waters,  and  the  next  instant  he  was  amid  the  green 
fields,  and  the  showers,  and  the  summer  sunshine  of  the  Yale 
of  Chamouny. 

So  it  is  when  believers  die.  They  come  to  the  bank  of  the 
river,  and  it  is  cold  and  dark.  Nature  shrinks  from  the  fatal 
plunge.  Yet  one  chilling  moment,  and  all  fear  is  left  behind, 
and  the  Christian  is  amid  the  fields  of  the  Paradise  of  God. 


FALSE  PHILOSOPHY  CORRECTED  BY  CHRISTIANITY. 

The  sting  of  death  is  sin,  and  the  strength  of  sin  is  the  law.  But  thanks 
be  to  God,  which  giveth  us  the  victory  through  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ.  — 
1  Cor.  15  :  56,  57. 


eminent  philosophers  who  have  proved  to  their  own 
J_  satisfaction  that  they  are  descended  from  monkeys,  ba- 
boons, gorillas,  and  orang-outangs,  occasionally  meet  with 
some  perplexing  facts. 

One  of  these  was  referred  to  by  Mr.  Lawrie,  a  missionary 
from  the  South  Sea  region,  in  an  address  delivered  before  the 
British  and  Foreign  Missionary  Society,  at  one  of  its  anniver- 
saries. After  alluding  to  the  evil  influences  spread  by  disso- 
lute sailors  in  their  visits  to  heathen  countries,  Mr.  Lawrie 
remarked  that  he  wished  it  were  in  his  power  to  say  that 
English  sailors  were  the  only  persons  who  in  other  lands  sunk 
the  Christian  character.  He  had  met  with  a  great  number  of 


NEW   TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  553 

persons,  not  sailors,  who  acted  in  a  way  directly  calculated  to 
disgrace  the  name  by  which  they  were  called. 

Many  years  ago  he  was  dining  with  Sir  Thomas  Gisborne, 
who  was  a  truly  Christian  gentleman,  at  Paramatta.  An  Eng- 
lish philosopher  was  present,  who  had  visited  New  Holland 
with  a  view  of  ascertaining  what  kind  of  beings  the  aborigines 
were.  He  set  about  examining  the  craniums  of  the  blacks, 
and  having  examined  all  the  bumps  of  their  skulls,  he  pro- 
nounced them  to -be  of  the  orang-outang  species.  Mr.  Lawrie 
had  then  labored  among  this  people  two  or  three  years,  and  a 
young  man  who  had  become  the  subject  of  converting  grace 
was  then  dying  of  pulmonary  disease.  He  invited  the  doctor 
to  accompany  him  on  the  following  morning,  stating  that  he 
could  produce  an  argument  quite  new  to  him  in  his  investiga- 
tions. The  doctor  accepted  the  invitation,  and  they  visited 
the  poor  consumptive.  On  entering  the  room  where  the  young 
black  was  lying,  Mr.  Lawrie  said,  — 

"  Now,  Thomas,  relate  to  this  gentleman  what  you  were, 
what  Christianity  has  done  for  you,  and  what  are  your  hopes 
and  views  concerning  another  world." 

The  sick  man,  in  response  to  this  request,  gave  as  clear  an 
account  of  his  heathen,  wretched,  polluted  condition,  as  any 
man  could  do,  in  a  few  words.  He  then  detailed  the  opera- 
tions of  the  Spirit  of  Christ  upon  his  heart,  giving  him  to  feel 
that  he  was  a  sinner,  and  needed  a  Saviour.  He  next  spoke 
of  ejnbracing  Christ  by  faith,  and  finding  peace  with  God,  and 
concluded  in  the  language  of  the  apostle,  "  The  sting  of  death 
is  sin  ;  the  strength  of  sin  is  the  law  ;  but  thanks  be  unto  God, 
who  giveth  us  the  victory  through  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ." 
Mr.  Lawrie  then  thought  that  he  had  a  fair  opportunity  of 
coming  into  direct  contact  with  his  learned  antagonist,  and 
said  to  him,  — 

"  Did  you  ever  see  a  monkey  die  like  that  man  ?  " 

The  wise  man  was  at  a  loss  for  a  reply ;  he  was  in  a  new 
sphere  of  investigation,  and  found  that  there  were  more  things 
in  heaven  and  earth  than  he  had  dreamed  of  or  explored.  With 
some  delay  and  difficulty,  Mr.  Lawrie  managed  to  obtain  from 
him  this  answer  :  — 

"  Sir,  my  philosophy  stands  corrected  by  your  Christianity." 
70 


554  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

A  good  deal  of  man's  philosophy  will  bear  to  be  corrected 
by  Christianity  and  common  sense.  Will  some  of  the  wise 
make  a  little  investigation  into  the  matter  of  monkeys'  death- 
beds, and  report  to  the  world  the  results  ?  They  have  investi- 
gated the  origin  of  monkeys  and  men ;  let  them  now  examine 
their  end.  Let  them  note  whether  infidels  and  philosophers 
who  have  proved  themselves  the  descendants  of  monkeys 
sustain  the  monkey  character  in  the  closing  scene.  And 
when  they  have  satisfied  themselves  on  this  point,  let  them 
visit  the  death-beds  of  those  who  die  in  the  Lord,  whether  in 
kings'  palaces  or  in  beggars'  huts,  and  observe  the  facts,  and 
draw  their  own  conclusions.  Let  them  stand  by  the  dying 
Prince  Albert,  while  he  says,  "  I  have  had  wealth,  rank,  and 
power.  But  if  this  were  all  I  had,  how  wretched  should  I  be 
now  ! 

'  Rock  of  Ages,  cleft  for  me, 
Let  me  hide  myself  in  thee.'  " 


GIVING  SCULPTURALLY  AND  BY  RESOLUTION. 

Now,  concerning  the  collection  for  the  saints,  as  I  have  given  order  to  the 
churches  of  Galatia,  even  so  do  ye.  —  1  Cor.  1C :  1. 

AT  a  missionary  meeting  held  among  the  negroes  at  Jamaica, 
these  three  resolutions  were  agreed  upon  :  — 

1.  We  will  all  give  something. 

2.  We  will  all  give  as  God  has  enabled  us. 

3.  We  will  all  give  willingly. 

So  soon  as  the  meeting  was  over,  a  leading  negro  took  hi  a 
seat  at  the  table,  with  pen  and  ink,  to  put  down  what  eacli 
came  to  give.  Many  came  forward  and  gave,  some  more  and 
some  less.  Amongst  those  that  came  was  a  rich  old  negro, 
almost  as  rich  as  all  the  others  put  together,  and  threw  down 
upon  the  table  a  small  silver  coin. 

"  Take  dat  back  again,"  said  the  negro  that  received  the 
money.  "  Dat  not  be  according  to  do  second  resolution." 

The  rich  old  man  accordingly  took  it  up,  and  hobbled  back 
again  to  his  seat  in  a  rage.  One  after  another  came  forward, 
and  as  almost  all  gave  more  than  himself,  he  was  fairly  ashamed 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  555 

of  himself,  and  again  threw  down  a  piece  of  money  on  the  table, 
saying,  — 

"  Dare,  take  dat !  " 

It  was  a  valuable  piece  of  gold,  but  it  was  given  so  ill-tem- 
peredly  that  the  negro  answered  again,  — 

"  No  I  dat  won't  do  yet.  It  may  be  according  to  de  first 
and  second  resolutions,  but  not  according  to  de  last ;  "  and  he 
was  obliged  to  take  up  his  coin  again. 

Still  angry  at  himself  and  all  the  rest,  he  sat  a  long  time, 
till  nearly  all  had  gone,  and  then  came  up  to  the  table,  with  a 
smile  on  his  face,  and  very  willingly  gave  a  large  sum  to  the 
treasury. 

"  Very  well,"  said  the  negro  ;  "  dat  will  do.  Dat  according 
to  all  de  resolutions." 


SYSTEMATIC  GIVING. 

Upon  the  first  day  of  the  week  let  every  one  of  you  lay  by  him  in  store, 
as  "God  hath  prospered  him,  that  there  be  no  gatherings  when  I  come.  — 
1  Cor.  16  :  2. 

THERE  is  no  Christian  duty  which  is  performed  in  a  more 
slovenly  manner  by  many  good  people  than  the  duty  of 
giving  money  in  charity.  Some  give  lazily  to  whatever  and 
whoever  begs  the  most  lustily ;  they  are  quite  as  likely  to  en- 
courage impostors  as  deserving  objects,  for  they  are  too  care- 
less to  inquire  and  discriminate.  Some  give  money  fitfully, 
under  the  spasmodic  inspiration  of  an  eloquent  appeal ;  others 
give  only  when  their  digestive  organs  are  "  all  right,"  and  they 
are  in  good  humor.  A  third  class  give  for  ostentation,  like 
the  selfish  curmudgeon  who  bestowed  a  hundred  dollars  on  a 
town  clock  because  he  "  liked  to  give  his  money  where  he 
could  hear  it  tick" 

There  are  a  sensible  few  who  give  by  system,  and  give  on 
principle  —  and  give,  too,  with  discrimination.  This  is  the 
way  in  which  the  late  Arthur  Tappan  bestowed  his  liberal 
benefactions.  The  popularity  of  the  object  never  bribed  him, 
and  the  unpopularity  never  deterred  him.  He  held  his  wealth 
in  trust  for  Jesus  Christ,  and  lived  up  to  an  honest,  conscien- 
tious stewardship. 


556  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

James  Lennox,  Esq.,  of  New  York,  whose  benefactions  for 
the  last  thirty  years  have  amounted  to  a  larger  sum  than  Mr. 
Peabody's,  has  also  set  an  example  of  judicious  distribution,  as 
well  as  of  princely  liberality. 


DIVINE  ANATHEMA  EXPLAINED. 

If  any  man  love  not  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  let  him  be  Anathema  Maran- 
atha.  —  1  Cor.  16  :  22. 

MR.  LUKE  SHORT,  who  formerly  lived  under  the  ministry 
of  Mr.  Flavel,  but  afterward  lived  and  died  at  Middle  - 
boro',  in  New  England,  often  spoke  with  great  affection  of 
Mr.  Flavel's  powerful  and  successful  preaching  ;  and,  among 
other  instances,  gave  this  —  that  one  Lord's  day  Mr.  Flavel  be- 
gan his  sermon  with  an  introduction  of  this  importance  :  "  My 
dear  hearers,  you  know  I  have  been  long  endeavoring  to  set 
forth  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ  in  his  amiable  excellences  and  all- 
sufficiency  before  you,  that  if  possible  you  might  be  allured 
to  love  him  ;  and  I  have  used  all  the  powerful  arguments  and 
motives  I  could  think  of  to  persuade  you  to  come  to  him,  and 
heartily  embrace  him.  And  these  winning  methods  you  know 
are  most  agreeable  to  my  natural  temper  and  disposition ;  and 
I  desire  to  rejoice  in  the  hope,  that,  through  the  grace  of 
Christ,  there  are  some  among  you  who  have  been  allured  and 
persuaded  to  love  and  embrace  him.  But,  alas,  alas  !  I  have- 
sufficient  reason  to  fear  that  there  are  others  among  you  who 
have  not  yielded  to  all  my  alluring  representations  of  him, 
nor  all  the  cogent  arguments  and  motives  which  I  have  been 
so  long  using,  and  so  frequently  and  earnestly  pressed  upon 
you  ;  but,  0  !  after  all  I  can  say  and  do,  you  will  not  love  him  ! 
And  now,  alas  !  I  must  change  my  note  !  I  must  deliver  a 
message  to  you  that  I  am  loth  to  deliver;  but  my  Lord  and 
Master  requires  it  of  me,  in  order  to  deliver  the  whole  counsel 
of  God.  It  is  that  dreadful  message  in  1  Cor.  16:22:  'If 
any  man  love  not  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  let  him  be  Anathema 
Maranatha '  —  i.  e.,  let  him  be  accursed  of  God,  till  God  shall 
come  and  judge  him.  If  any  man,  or  any  one,  whether  male 
or  female,  high  or  low,  rich  or  poor,  old  or  young,  love  not  the 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  557 

Lord  Jesus  Christ  above  everything  in  the  world,  let  them, 
says  the  word  and  majesty  of  God,  be  Anathema  Maranatha  — 
accursed  of  God,  and  the  curse  of  God,  until  the  Lord  shall 
come  and  execute  the  fullness  of  his  wrath  upon  them  "  —  or 
words  to  this  purpose.  Upon  which  the  whole  assembly  was 
struck  into  a  very  great  and  visible  consternation ;  some  deeply 
affected  for  themselves,  and  some  for  their  children;  and 
among  the  rest  a  gentleman  of  wealth  and  figure  fell  down 
as  dead  in  his  pew,  though  he  revived,  in  great  distress  of 
soul. 


A  LESSON  OF  TRUST. 

But  we  had  the  sentence  of  death  in  ourselves,  that  we  should  not  trust  in 
ourselves,  but  in  God  which  raiseth  the  dead;  who  delivered  us  from  so  great 
a  death,  and  doth  deliver ;  in  whom  we  trust  that  he  will  yet  deliver  us.  — 
2  Cor.  1 :  9,  10. 

SOME  time  ago,  a  boy  was  discovered  in  the  street,  evidently 
bright  and  intelligent,  but  sick.  A  man,  who  had  the  feel- 
ing of  kindness  strongly  developed,  went  to  ask  him  what  he 
was  doing  there. 

"  Waiting  for  God  to  come  for  me,"  he  said. 

"  What  do  you  mean  ?  "  said  the  gentleman,  touched  by  the 
pathetic  tones  of  the  answer,  and  the  condition  of  the  boy,  in 
^whose  eyes  and  flushed  face  he  saw  the  evidences  of  fever. 

"  God  sent  for  mother,  and  father,  and  little  brother,"  said 
he,  "  and  took  them  away  to  his  home  up  in  the  sky ;  and 
mother  told  me,  when  she  was  sick,  that  God  would  take  care 
of  me.  I  have  no  home  ;  nobody  to  give  me  anything  j  and  so 
I  came  out  here,  and  have  been  looking  so  long  in  the  sky  for 
God  to  come  and  take  care  of  me,  as  mother  said  he  would. 
He  will  come  —  won't  he  ?  Mother  never  told  a  lie." 

"  Yes,  my  lad,"  said  the  gentleman,  overcome  with  emotion ; 
"  he  has  sent  me  to  take  care  of  you." 

You  should  have  seen  his  eye  flash,  and  the  smile  of  triumph 
break  over  his  face,  as  he  said,  — 

"  Mother  never  told  a  lie.  sir ;  but  you  have  been  so  long 
on  the  way  !  " 

What  a  lesson  of  trust !  and  how  this  incident  shows  the 
effect  of  never  deceiving  children  with  tales  ! 


558  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 


SIMPLICITY  OF  THE  GOSPEL. 

For  our  rejoicing  is  this,  the  testimony  of  our  conscience,  that  in  simplici- 
ty and  godly  sincerity,  not  with  fleshly  wisdom,  but  by  the  grace  of  God,  we 
have  had  our  conversation  in  the  world,  and  more  abundantly  to  you-ward.  — 
2  Cor.  1 :  12. 

THE  simplicity  of  the  Christian  life  is  often  overlooked.    Our 
nearness  to  an  almighty  and  willing  Saviour  is  not  suf- 
ficiently comprehended  by  the  masses  of  the  people.     Not  by 
works,  but  by  faith,  we  find  Christ  and  heaven. 

A  learned  divine  one  day  accosted  a  simple-hearted  Chris- 
tian, busy  in  his  daily  toil,  "  Well,  John,  it  is  a  long  and  hard 
way  to  heaven  —  is  it  not?"  "  0,  no,  sir,"  was  the  ready  an- 
swer ;  "  it  is  only  three  steps."  "  Three  steps  !  how  is  that, 
John  ?  "  "  Why,  sir,  nothing  is  plainer.  First,  step  out  of 
yourself;  second,  step  into  Christ;  third,  step  into  heaven." 
The  astonished  minister,  years  afterward,  acknowledged  his 
indebtedness  to  that  poor  rustic  for  one  of  his  profoundest 
and  most  comprehensive  lessons  in  experimental  theology. 


A  SUCCESSFUL  SUND.AY  SCHOOL  TEACHER. 

For  all  the  promises  of  God  in  him  are  yea,  and  in  him  Amen,  unto  the 
glory  of  God  by  us.  —  2  Cor.  1 :  20. 

MR.  WILLIAM  REYNOLDS,  of  Illinois,  related  the  follow- 
ing :  "  I  taught  a  class  once  without  results.  It  troubled 
me  sorely.  I  told  my  troubles  to  a  minister  of  Christ  who  was 
staying  with  me.  '  You  lack  faith,'  he  said.  '  Have  you  ever 
taken  your  scholars  one  by  one,  and  asked  them  personally 
why  they  were  not  Christians  ?'  '  No,  I  never  have.'  'Well, 
there  is  your  difficulty.  You  have  lacked  faith  in  the  virtue 
of  such  direct  labor  with  them.  Take  your  class  now,  and  ask 
each  one  of  them  personally,  "  What  keeps  you,  my  dear  -  — , 
from  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ  ?  "  Let  us  go  apart,  and  pray  for 
your  scholars.'  We  went  to  an  upper  room,  and  prayed  that 
God  would  give  me,  as  the  teacher,  each  one  of  my  scholars 


NEW   TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  559 

on  the  very  next  day.  The  next  day  was  the  Sabbath.  I 
resolved  that  I  would  honor  God  by  believing  his  promises. 
There  was  no  unusual  religious  interest  in  the  school.  As  I 
longed  and  prayed  for  my  class,  my  faith  increased.  I  pleaded, 
'  0  Lord,  for  thy  name's  sake,  for  Jesus'  sake,  for  these  dear 
souls'  sake,  give  me  all  my  scholars  for  thee  on  the  morrow  ! ' 
I  went  to  my  class  the  next  day  with  feelings  I  never  had  be- 
fore. I  taught  the  lesson.  I  applied  it.  '  Annie,  when  do 
you  expect  to  be  a  Christian  ? '  '  I  don't  know,  Mr.  Reynolds.' 
'  Don't  you  feel  that  you  ought  to  be  one  now  ?  Annie,  will 
you  not  surrender  your  heart  to  Jesus  ? '  She  burst  into  tears. 
I  faithfully  spoke  to  the  next,  and  the  next,  until  my  five 
scholars  were  in  tears ;  and  one  of  them  said  to  me,  '  Won't  you 
please  meet  us  in  a  prayer-meeting  at  our  house,  Mr.  Rey- 
nolds ?  '  '  With  pleasure.'  I  went  there.  We  knelt  in  prayer, 
and  every  one  of  them,  upon  their  knees,  gave  themselves 
away  to  Jesus  ;  and  they  are  earnest  Christians  to-day,  three 
of  them  in  my  Sabbath  school,  leading  others  to  the  same 
Saviour.  I  took  another  class,  and  pursued  the  same  course. 
All  but  one  were  converted  to  Christ." 


DIFFICULTIES  SETTLED  BY  FORGIVING  THEM. 

So  that  contrariwise  ye  ought  rather  to  forgive  him,  and  comfort  him, 
lest  perhaps  such  a  one  should  be  swallowed  up  with  overmuch  sorrow.  — 
2  Cor.  2  :  7. 

A  MEMBER  of  the  seminary  at  Bebek,  one  of  the  youngest 
-flL  in  the  school,  was  spending  his  vacation  in  Psamatia,  a 
quarter  of  the  city  of  Constantinople  on  the  Sea  of  Marmora, 
six  or  seven  miles  distant  from  Pera.  It  happened  one  even- 
ing, in  the  providence  of  God,  that  he  was  brought  into  a 
family,  the  parents  of  which  were  at  variance  with  each  other, 
and  both  openly  saying  that  they  wished  to  separate  for  life. 
Perceiving  the  state  of  things,  he  took  a  Testament  and  read 
to  them  Christ's  Liw  of  the  marriage  institution.  Then  he 
preached  the  gospel  to  them  so  faithfully,  that,  partly  in  amaze- 
ment afr  such  a  youthful  preacher,  and  partly  from  the  force  of 
truth,  they  relented,  and  proposed  that  he  should  judge  be- 


560  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

tween  them  and  settle  their  strifes,  after  having  heard  a  full 
statemeDt  from  each  of  them.  "  No,"  said  he,  "  this  is  not 
the  way ;  let  me  tell  you  Christ's  way.  Forgive !  make  all 
your  strifes  into  a  bundle,  and  throw  them  into  the  Marmora, 
and  forget  them ;  and  begin  from  this  evening  to  live  by  the 
gospel,  and  you  and  your  children  will  all  be  happy." 

The  effect  of  this  and  his  subsequent  visits  were  such  that 
a  relative  of  the  family,  who  was  equally  unfortunate  with  his 
wife,  seeing  the  change,  went  for  the  youthful  peace-maker 
and  brought  him  home.  He  kept  him  with  him  a  week  ;  and 
in  speaking  of  it  afterward  he  said  they  often  sat  till  morning 
light,  reading,  talking,  and  praying.  Both  these  families  are 
now  peaceful  and  happy,  and  say  that  they  have  just  begun  to 
live,  and  that  since  he  came  to  them,  neither  wine  nor  angry 
words  have  passed  their  lips.  Each  of  them  has  sent  a  son  to  the 
seminary  and  a  daughter  to  the  female  boarding-school.  What 
a  fine  instance  of  a  vacation  well  spent !  How  worthy  to 
awaken  an  emulation  among  the  students  of  our  land  in  doing 
good  ! 


DEVICES  OF  SATAN  FOR  PURPOSES  OF  ADVANTAGE 

OVER  MEN. 

Lest  Satan  should  got  an  -advantage  of  us ;  for  we  are  not  ignorant  of  his 
devices.  —  2  Cor.  2:11. 

GOD  has  not  left  us  in  ignorance  of  Satan's  devices.  The 
terms  by  which  this  enemy  is  known  are  descriptive  of 
his  nature  and  work.  Satan  signifies  adversary,  or  accuser. 
St.  Peter  says,  "  Your  adversary  the  devil,  as  a  roaring  lion, 
walketh  about  seeking  whom  he  may  devour."  (1  Peter  5  :  8.) 
Several  terms  are  used  in  the  Bible  to  describe  this  being, 
such  as  "  Satan,"  "  the  devil,"  "the  "old  serpent/'  "  the  angel 
of  the  bottomless  pit,"  "  the  prince  of  the  power  of  the  air," 
"  the  wicked  one,"  "  the  father  of  lies,"  and  "  the  god  of  this 
world,"  &c.  In  regard  to  his  origin,  we  learn  from  God's  word 
that  he  was  once  an  angel  in  heaven,  but  having  sinneM  there 
against  God,  he  was  cast  down  to  hell.  "  For  if  God  spared 


NEW   TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  561 

not  the  angels  that  sinned,  but  cast  them  down  to  hell,  and 
delivered  them  into  chains  of  darkness,  to  be  reserved  unto 
judgment."  (2  Peter  2  :  4.)  Our  Lord  also  speaks  of  Satan's 
fall  from  heaven :  "  And  he  said  unto  them,  I  beheld  Satan  as 
lightning  fall  from  heaven."  (St.  Luke  10  :  18.)  But  some 
may  say,  "  If  angels  fell  from  heaven,  then  heaven  is  mutable 
and  uncertain ;  and  how  do  we  know  if  ioe  get  there  we  shall 
not  fall  from  it?" 

To  this  it  may  be  answered,  The  angels  did  not  fall  from 
the  heaven  of  reward,  but  from  the  heaven  of  probation,  just 
as  man  fell  from  the  paradise  of  probation,  not  from  the  para- 
dise of  reward.  All  moral  beings  have  a  time  of  probation. 
During  the  probation  of  angels,  some  "  sinned,  and  were  cast 
down  to  hell,"  the  chief  and  -leader  of  whom  is  called  Satan. 
But  the  Scriptures  warn  us  of  "  his  devices ; "  that  is,  he 
invents  or  contrives  ways  and  means  by  which  he  may  blunt 
the  conscience,  corrupt  the  mind,  harden  the  heart,  induce  un- 
belief, prejudice  the  judgment,  excite  the  hatred,  or  encourage 
false  hopes ;  that  in  one  or  another  of  these  ways  he  may  lead 
the  soul  to  ruin.  He  assailed  our  Lord  with  three  successive 
temptations,  but  was  repulsed  by,  "  It  is  written." 

To  one,  his  device  may  be  to  induce  a  false  estimate  of 
natural  goodness,  denying  natural  depravity  and  the  need  of 
pardon  and  regeneration.  To  another,  who  feels  the  depravity 
of  sin,  and  is  deeply  convinced  of  the  need  of  conversion,  he 
persuades  to  put  off  the  work  for  the  present.  To  another,  he 
excites  the  fear  of  falling  away  if  the  person  did  begin,  thus 
discouraging  the  beginning  of  a  good  life.  To  another,  he 
contrives  to  fix  in  the  mind  the  false  idea  that  honesty  in 
dealing  with  man  is  a  substitute  for  piety  at  heart  toward  God. 
To  another,  he  holds  up  to  the  mind,  prominently,  the  faults 
of  professing  Christians.  To  another,  he  would»so  magnify  the 
goodness  and  mercy  of  God  as  to  induce  the  belief,  if  possible, 
that  God  is  too  good  to  be  true  to  his  word ;  that  though 
they  "  die  in  their  sins,"  they  shall  be  with  Christ. 

The  whole  theory  that  God  will  save  the  sinner  without 
repentance,  without  faith,  without  the  washing  of  regenera- 
tion, and  without  the  applied  "  blood  of  Christ,  which  cleanseth 
from  all  sin,"  or  that  what  grace  failed  to  do  in  this  life 
71 


562  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

in  preparing  the  soul  for  heaven,  limited  punishment  will 
do  in  the  future  state,  is  but  a  device  of  the  devil.  These 
numerous  devices,  and  many  others  that  are  constantly  in- 
vented, are  designed  by  the  devil  to  be  the  everlasting  ruin 
of  immortal  souls.  Our  hope  is  to  be  "  not  ignorant  of  his 
devices." 

PREACHING  THAT  TAKES  HOLD. 

For  we  are  unto  God  a  sweet  savor  of  Christ,  in  them  that  are  saved  and 
in  them  that  perish.  To  the  one  we  are  the  savor  of  death  unto  death,  and  to 
the  other  the  savor  of  life  unto  life.  And  who  is  sufficient  for  these  things?  — 
2  Cor.  2  :  15,  16. 

I"  IGHTS  and  colors,  and  censers,  will  not  convert  men. 
JJ  They  may  for  a  little  amuse  children.  Even  our  incom- 
parable Liturgy  will  not  attract  the  rude  multitude.  Our 
claims  to  apostolic  catholicity  are  to  them  utterly  unintelli- 
gible. They  will -follow  earnest  preachers  and  sympathetic 
pastors  wherever  they  may  be  found.  A  powerful  pulpit  will 
.command  a  listening  people.  A  ministry  to  the  masses  Avill 
always  control  the  masses.  Do  we  mourn  that  the  narrowness 
of  our  sphere  does  not  correspond  to  the  greatness  of  our 
claim  ?  Do  we  blush  that  with  the  primitive  order  we  have 
so  little  of  the  primitive  success  among  the  poor?  Do  we 
search  for  a  link  that  will  bind  us,  not  to  a  class,  but  to  mankind  ? 
We  will  find  it,  not  in  our  modern  expedients,  but  in  God's 
own  institution.  The  ordained  embassadors  of  heaven  are  the 
appointed  agencies  to  connect  the  people  and  the  church. 
Nor  need  they  pervert  their  divine  function  by  degrading 
themselves  into  charlatans.  A  gospel  properly  proclaimed  is 
its  own  attraction.  It  appeals  to  a  man's  deepest  wants.  It 
has  the  strongest  possible  hold  on  human  nature.  It  is  ex- 
haustless  in  it*  themes,  and  universal  in  its  application.  Pop- 
ular sky-rockets,  after  a  sudden  flash  and  noise,  leave  a  deeper 
darkness.  The  great  sun,  still,  and  bright,  and  bounteous, 
shines,  the  source  of  light  and  life,  forever.  What  the  church 
wants,  to  fulfill  her  entire  mission,  is  a  clergy  educated,  con- 
secrated, anointed  by  the  Holy  Ghost,  prepared  to  address 
all  classes  of  mankind,  qualified  to  instruct  and  to  convert,  and 
who  by  the  power  of  the  pulpit  shall  find  their  way  to  the 
hearts  and  homes  of  the  people.  — Prof.  Bartlett. 


NEW   TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  563 


A  LIVING  EPISTLE. 

Ye  are  our  epistle,  written  in  our  hearts,  known  and  read  of  all  men.  — 
2  Cor.  3  :  2. 

ONE  day,  in  my  travels,  says  Mr.  Jay,  I  heard  of  a  servant 
who  had  attended  a  Wesleyan  chapel.  This  offended  her 
master  and  mistress,  who  told  her  that  she  must  discontinue 
the  practice,  or  leave  their  service.  She  received  the  infor- 
mation with  modesty,  said  she  was  sorry,  but  so  it  must  be ; 
she  could  not  sacrifice  the  convictions  of  her  conscience  to 
keep  her  place.  So  they  gave  her  warning  ;  and  she  was  now 
determined,  if  possible,  to  be  more  circumspect  and  exemplary 
than  ever ;  determined  that,  if  she  suffered  for  her  religion, 
her  religion  should  not  suffer  for  her.  Some  time  after  this, 
the  master  said  to  the  mistress, — 

"  Why,  this  is  rather  a  hard  measure  with  regard  to  our 
servant :  has  she  not  a  right  to  worship  God  where  she  pleases, 
as  well  as  ourselves  ?  " 

"  0,  yes,"  said  the  mistress ;  "  and  we  never  had  so  good  a 
servant;  one  who  rose  so  early,  and  got  her  work  done  so 
well ;  was  so  clean,  and  was  so  economical,  never  answering 
again." 

And  so  they  intimated  that  she  might  remain.  Some  time 
after  this  the  wife  said  to  her  husband,  — 

"  I  think  Mary's  religion  does  her  a  great  deal  more  good 
than  our  religion  does  us ;  I  should  like  to  hear  her  minister." 

And  so  she  went,  and  was  impressed,  and  prevailed  upon 
her  husband  to  go,  and  he  was  impressed ;  and  now  they  are 
all  followers  of  God,  and  have  the  worship  of  God  in  their 
house. 

Matt.  5:16.  "  Let  your  light  so  "shine  before  men,  that  they 
may  see  your  good  works,  and  glorify  your  Father  which  is  in 
heaven." 


564  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 


EPISTLES  OF  CHRIST. 

Forasmuch  as  ye  are  manifestly  declared  to  be  the  epistle  of  Christ  minis- 
tered by  us,  written  not  with  ink,  but  with  the  Spirit  of  the  living  God ;  not 
in  tables  of  stone,  but  in  fleshly  tables  of  the  heart.  —  2  Cor.  3 :  3. 

EVERY  one's  life  is  an  open  letter.  Every  man,  whether  he 
is  a  Christian  or  not,  is  written  and  read.  Some  are  epis- 
tles of  Christ;  some  are  epistles  of  vanity;  some  are  epistles 
of  covetousness  ;  some  are  epistles  of  selfishness ;  some  are 
epistles  of  the  wicked  one.  The  main  features  of  the  father 
of  lies  are  written  largely  on  the  life  of  some  of  his  followers. 
The  spirit  that  reigns  within  is  more  or  less  visible  in  the 
outward  conduct.  In  some  countries  the  master's  name  is 
branded  in  the  flesh  of  the  slave,  so  that  if  the  slave  should 
run  away,  every  one  should  know  to  whom  he  belonged.  The 
captive  may  indeed  be  bought  with  a  price,  and  then  he  re- 
ceives the  mark  of  his  new  master.  Thus,  whether  we  like 
it  or  not,  people  may  read  in  our  lives,  with  a  considerable 
degree  of  accuracy,  whose  we  are  and  whom  we  serve.  The 
surest  way  to  appear  a  Christian,  in  all  places  and  at  all  times, 
is  to  be  one.  The  surest  way  to  make  people,  when  you  go 
out,  take  knowledge  that  you  have  been  with  «?esus,  is  really 
to  be  with  Jesus. 

Considering  how  defective  most  readers  are  either  in  will 
or  skill,  or  both,  the  living  epistles  should  be  written  in  char- 
acters both  large  and  fair.  Some  manuscripts,  though  they 
contain  a  profound  meaning,  are  so  defectively  written,  that 
none  but  experts  can  decipher  them.  Skilled  and  practiced 
men  can  piece  them  together,  and  gather  the  sense,  where,  to 
ordinary  eyes,  only  unconnected  scrawls  appear.  Sucli  should 
not  be  the  writing  on  a  disciple's  life.  If  it  be  such,  most  people 
will  fail  to  understand  it.  It  should  be  clear  and  bold  through- 
out, that  he  who  runs  may  read  it. 

Benevolent  ingenuity  in  our  day  has  produced  a  kind  of 
writing  that  even  the  blind  can  read.  The  letters,  instead  of 
merely  appealing  to  the  eye  by  their  color,  are  raised  from  the 
surface  so  as  to  be  sensible  to  touch.  Such,  methinks,  should 
be  the  writing  of  Christ's  mind  on  a  Christian's  conversation. 


NEW   TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  565 

It  should  be  raised  in  characters  so  large,  and  sharp,  and  high, 
that  even  the  blind,  who  can  not  see,  may  be  compelled,  by 
contact  with  Christians,  to  feel,  that  Christ  is  passing  by.  — 
Arnot. 


HOW  THE  DOCTOR  FOUND  JESUS. 

And  such  trust  hare  we  through  Christ  to  God-ward.  —  2  Cor.  3  :  4. 

A  DOCTOR,  who  was  once  visiting  a  Christian  patient,  had 
1JL  himself  been  anxious  to  feel  that  he  was  at  peace  with 
God.  The  Spirit  of  God  had  convinced  him  of  sin  and  need, 
and  he  longed  to  possess  "  that  peace  which  -the  world  can  not 
give."  On  this  occasion,  addressing  himself  to  the  sick  one, 
he  said, — 

"  I  want  you  just  to  tell  me  what  it  is,  this  believing  and 
getting  happiness  —  faith  in  Jesus,  and  all  that  sort  of  thing, 
that  brings  peace." 

His  patient  replied,  "  Doctor,  I  have  felt  that  I  could  do 
nothing,  and  I  have  put  my  case  in  your  hands.  I  am  trusting 
in  you.  This  is  exactly  what  every  poor  sinner  must  do  in 
the  Lord  Jesus." 

This  reply  greatly  awakened  the  doctor's  surprise,  and  a 
new  light  broke  in  on  his  soul. 

"  Is  that  all  ?  "  he  exclaimed  ;  "  simply  trusting  in  the  Lord 
Jesus?  I  see  it  as  I  never  did  before.  He  has  done  the 
work." 

Yes,  Jesus  said  on  the  cross,  "  It  is  finished."  And  "  whoso- 
ever believeth  in  him  shall  not  perish,  but  have  everlasting 
life."  From  that  sick  bed  the  doctor  went  a  happy  man,  re- 
joicing that  his  sins  were  washed  away  in  the  blood  of  the 
Lamb. 


AN 'ABLE  MINISTRY. 

Who  also  hath  made  us  able  ministers  of  the  new  testament;  not  of 
the  letter,  but  of  the  spirit ;  for  the  letter  killeth,  but  the  spirit  giveth  life.  — 
2  Cor.  3  :  6. 


I 


N  a  late  number  of  the  London  Watchman,  the  following 
very  sensible   remarks  are  found  on  what  constitutes  an 


566  NEW   TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATFONS. 

able  ministry.     May  the  Lord  vacate  inefficient  pulpits,  by 
removing  the  occupants,  and  fill  them  with  able  ministers. 

"  But  mere  study,  however  ardent,  mere  learning,  however 
profound,  can  never  make  a  man  an  able  and  useful  minister. 
They  may  make  him  an  agreeable  companion,  an  influential 
member  of  the  community,  but  the}7  can  not  make  him  a  true 
minister  of  the  gospel.  The  work  is  a  spiritual  work,  and  can 
only  be  done  by  a  spiritual  power.  Fastidious  hearers  may 
clamor  for  deep  research  and  polished  style,  but  dying  sinners 
want  men  who  have  power  in  prayer,  men  full  of  faith  and  of 
the  Holy  Ghost.  Men  who  shock  no  prejudice,  and  who  offend 
no  taste,  who  never  misplace  an  aspirate,  and  who  never  wound 
a  conscience,  are  not  wanted  in  the  Christian  ministry.  And  the 
sooner  they  get  out  of  it  the  better,  even  though  they  left  it  by 
hundreds,  and  left  vacant  pulpits  and  expectant  congregations 
by  hundreds  too.  Better  for  the  people,  who  have  too  long 
seen  religion  made  into  a  prosperous  trade.  Better  for  them- 
selves, for  how  dread  the  account  which  awaits  the  <  fisher  of 
men '  who  never,  never  catches  any !  Better  for  the  in- 
terests of  religion,  now  and  in  future  ages,  for  all  treachery 
to  the  kingdom  of  the  Redeemer,  that  which  betrays  his  living 
church  into  feebleness  and  failure,  is  the  most  deadly.  We 
want  ministers,  not  to  keep  up  the  standard  of  respectability, 
but  to  save  souls.  It  may  be  that  '  not  many  wise,  not  many 
mighty,  not  many  noble  '  are  among  God's  chosen  instruments 
for  this  work ;  but  let  us  have  Gideon's  three  hundred  men 
that  conquer,  rather  than  the  great  army  that  Heaven  does  not 
commission." 

INTERNAL  GLORY  OF  THE  BELIEVER. 

For  if  the  ministration  of  condemnation  be  glory,  much  more  doth  the 
ministration  of  righteousness  exceed  in  glory.  —  2  Cor.  3  :  9. 

HIS  glory  is  from  within.  It  is  a  radiation.  Put  him  where 
you  will,  he  shines,  and  can  not  but  shine.  God  made 
him  to  shine.  For  instance :  Imprison  Joseph,  and  he  will 
shine  out  on  all  Egypt,  cloudless  as  the  sky  where  the  rain 
never  falls.  Imprison  Daniel,  and  the  dazzled  lions  will  retire 
to  their  lairs,  and  the  king  comes  forth  to  worship  at  his  rising, 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  567 

and  all  Babylon  blesses  the  beauty  of  the  brighter  and  better 
day.  Imprison  Peter,  and,  with  an  angel  for  a  harbinger  star, 
he  will  swell  his  aurora  from  the  fountains  of  Jordan  to  the 
walls  of  Beersheba,  and  break  like  the  morning  over  mountain 
and  sea.  Imprison  Paul,  and  there  will  be  a  high  noon  over 
all  the  Roman  empire.  Imprison  John,  and  the  isles  of  the 
JEgean  and  all  the  coasts  around  will  kindle  with  sunset  vis- 
ions too  gorgeous  to  be  described,  but  never  to  be  forgotten, 
a  boundless  panorama  of  prophecy,  gliding  from  sky  to  sky,  and 
enchanting  the  nations  with  openings  of  heaven,  transits  of 
saints  and  angels,  and  the  ultimate  glory  of  the  city  and  king- 
dom of  God.  Not  only  so,  for  modern  times  have  similar 
examples  —  examples  in  the  church,  and  examples  in  the  state. 
For  instance,  bury  Luther  in  the  depths  of  the  Black  Forest, 
and  the  "  angel  that  dwelt  in  the  bush  "  will  honor  him  there  ; 
the  trees  around  him  will  turn  like  shafts  of  ruby,  and  his 
glowing  orbs  loom  up  again,  round  and  clear  as  the  light  of  all 
Europe.  Thrust  Bunyan  into  the  gloom  of  Bedford  jail,  and 
as  he  leans  his  head  on  his  hand,  the  murky  horizon  of  Britain 
will  flame  with  fiery  symbols  —  "Delectable  Mountains"  and 
celestial  mansions,  with  holy  pilgrims  grouped  on  the  golden 
hills,  and  bands  of  bliss,  from  the  gates  of  pearl,  hastening  to 
welcome  him  home.  —  Rev.  Dr.  T.  H.  Stockton. 


CHRISTMAS  EVANS'S  POLISHED  ARROW. 

Seeing,  then,  that  we  have  such  hope,  we  use  great  plainness  of  speech.  — 
2  Cor.  3  :  12. 

THE  Rev.  Christmas  Evans,  a  distinguished  preacher  in 
Wales,  met  with  much  trouble  in  his  temperance  efforts 
from  his  brother  ministers,  who  were  not  willing  to  make 
the  entire  sacrifice.  One  in  particular,  Mr.  W.,  of  A.,  was 
constantly  opposed.  Evans  prepared  to  meet  him.  He  pol- 
ished an  arrow,  and  put  it  in  his  quiver.  On  one  occasion,  he 
was  appointed  to  preach,  and,  as  usual,  there  were  gatherings 
from  far  and  near  to  hear  him.  Mr.  W.,  of  A.,  was  there 
also ;  but,  as  in  anticipation  of  an  attack,  he  at  first  said  he 


568  KEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

should  not  be  present  while  Evans  preached  ;  yet  such  was  the 
fascination  that  he  could  not  stay  away.  By  and  by  he  crept 
up  into  the  gallery,  where  the  preacher's  eye  —  for  he  had  but 
one  —  which  had  long  been  searching  for  him,  at  length  dis- 
covered him.  All  went  on  as  usual,  until  the  time  came  when 
the  arrow  might  be  drawn,  which  was  done  slyly  and  unper- 
.ceived.  "  I  had  a  strange  dream  the  other  night/'  said  the 
preacher ;  "  I  dreamed  that  I  was  in  Pandemonium,  the  council- 
chamber  of  Hades.  How  I  got  there  I  know  not,  but  there  I 
was.  I  had  not  been  there  long  before  there  came,  a  thunder- 
ing rap  at  the  gate.  '  Beelzebub,  Beelzebub,  you  must  come 
to  earth  directly.'  '  Why,  what  is  the  matter  now  ? '  l  They 
are  sending  out  missionaries  to  preach  to  the  heathen.'  '  Are 
they  ?  Bad  news  this.  I'll  be  there  presently.'  Beelzebub 
came,  and  hastened  to  the  place  of  embarkation,  where  he  saw 
the  missionaries,  their  wives,  and  a  few  boxes  of  Bibles  and 
tracts ;  but,  on  turning  round,  he  saw  rows  of  casks  piled  up, 
and  labeled  <  Gin,'  <  Rum,'  <  Brandy,'  &c.  '  That  will  do,'  said 
he ;  '  no  fear  yet.  These  casks  Avill  do  more  harm  than  the 
boxes  can  do  good.'  So  saying,  he  stretched  his  wings  for 
hell  again.  After  a  time  came  another  loud  call :  '  Beelzebub, 
they  are  forming  Bible  Societies.'  '  Are  they  ?  Then  I  must 
go.'  He  went,  and  found  two  ladies  going  from  house  to  house, 
distributing  the  word  of  God.  '  This  won't  do,'  thought  he  ; 
'  but  I  will  watch  the  result.'  The  ladies  visited  an  aged  fe- 
male, who  received  a  Bible  with  much  reverence  and  many 
thanks.  Satan  loitered  about,  and,  when  the  ladies  were,  gone, 
saw  the  old  woman  come  to  the  door  and  look  around,  to  as- 
sure herself  that  she  was  unobserved.  She  then  put  on  her 
bonnet,  and,  with  a  small  parcel  under  her  apron,  hastened  to 
the  public  house,  where  she  pawned  the  new  Bible  for  a  bottle 
of  gin.  l  That  will  do,'  said  Beelzebub  ;  <  no  fear  yet ; '  and 
back  again  he  flew  to  his  own  place.  Again  came  a  loud  and 
hasty  summons.  '  They  are  forming  Temperance  Societies.' 
'Temperance  Societies!  What's  that?  Ill  come  and  see.' 
'  He  came  and  saw,  and  flew  back,  muttering,  "  This  won't  do 
much  harm  to  me  or  my  people  ;  they  are  forbidden  the  use 
of  ardent  spirits  ;  but  they  have  left  my  poor  people  all  the  ale 
and  porter,  and  the  rich  all  the  wines ;  no  fear  yet."  Again 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  5G9 

came  a  loud  rap,  and  a  more  and  more  urgent  call.  l  Beelzebub  ! 
you  must  come  now,  or  all  is  lost ;  they  are  forming  Teetotal 
Societies.'  '  Teetotal !  What  in  the  name  of  all  my  imps  is 
that  ? '  'To  drink  no  intoxicating  liquors  whatever.  The  sole 
beverage  is  water.7  l  Indeed ;  that  is  bad  news  !  I  must  see 
after  this/  And  he  did,  but  went  back  again,  to  satisfy  the 
anxious  inquirers  of  his  legions,  who  were  all  qui  vive  about 
the  matter.  '  0,'  said  he,  *  don't  be  alarmed.  True,  it's  an 
awkward  affair,  but  it  won't  spread  much  yet,  for  all  the  par- 
sons are  against  it,  and  Mr.  W.,  of  A.  (sending  up  an  eagle 
glance  of  his  eye  at  him),  is  at  the  head  of  them.' "  "  But 
I  won't  be  at  the  head  of  them  any  longer,"  cried  out  Mr. 
W.,  and,  walking  calmly  down  to  the  table  pew,  signed  the 
pledge.  (Loud  cheers.)  Now,  my  friends,  the  moral  of  the 
anecdote  is  easily  pointed  out.  I  shall  simply  say,  "  Go  ye 
and  do  likewise." 


A  PUPIL  OF  FENELON. 

But  have  renounced  the  hidden  things  of  dishonesty,  not  walking  in  crafti- 
ness, nor  handling  the  word  of  God  deceitfully,  but,  by  manifestation  of  the 
truth,  commending  ourselves  to  every  man's  conscience  in  the  sight  of  God.  — 
2  Cor.  4  :  2. 

DR.  WAYLAND,  in  his  admirable  illustrations  of  the  laws 
of  veracity,  refers  to  a  beautiful  story  of  the  Duke  of 
Burgundy,  a  pupil  of  Fenelon,  which  is  wdHhy  of  being  had 
in  continual  remembrance.  Shortly  before  his  death,  he  was 
present  at  a  cabinet  council,  in  which  it  was  proposed  to 
violate  a  treaty,  in  order  to  secure  important  advantages  to 
France.  Reasons  of  state  were  offered  in  abundance  to  justify 
the  deed  of  perfidy.  The  Duke  of  Burgundy  heard  them  all 
in  silence.  When  they  had  finished,  he  -closed  the  conference 
by  laying  his  hand  upon  the  instrument,  and  saying,  with  em- 
phasis, "  Gentlemen,  there  is  a  treaty."  This  single  senti- 
ment is  a  more  glorious  monument  to  his  fame,  than  a  column 
inscribed  with  the  record  of  a  hundred  victories. 
72. 


570  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

AN  AWFUL  CONFESSION  -"FM  LOST." 

But  if  our  gospel  be  hid,  it  is  hid  to  them  that  are  lost.  —  2  Cor.  4  :  3. 


following  sad  account  of  a  young  man  who,  for  a  time, 
attended  the  ministry  of  the  Rev.  Baptist  Noel,  of  London, 
illustrates  the  fearful  consequences  of  breaking  away  from  the 
influence  of  the  gospel  :  — 

The  young  man  was  the  son  of  pious  parents,  and  for  sev- 
eral years  was  regular  in  his  attendance  at  the  house  of  God. 
At  'length  he  became  acquainted  with  some  young  men  of 
infidel  principles.  The  more  he  associated  with  them,  the  less 
pleasant  he  found  it  to  listen  to  the  gospel.  Ere  long  he  ab- 
sented himself  wholly  from  the  sanctuary.  He  then  began  to 
indulge  in  the  pleasures  of  sin,  and  went  to  such  length  in 
'.criminal  indulgence,  that  he  soon  laid  the  foundation  of  a  fatal 
illness.  Three  months  after  he  had  abandoned  the  house  of 
God,  he  was  on  the  verge  of  the  grave.  Mr.  Noel  was  then 
called  to  visit  him.  The  dying  youth  refused  to  converse  with 
the  man  of  God,  but  covered  his  head  with  the  bed-clothes. 
After  several  vain  attempts  to  enter  into  conversation,  Mr. 
Noel  offered  a  prayer  for  him,  and  was  about  to  quit  the 
apartment.  Just  as  his  hand  was  upon  the  latch  of  the  door, 
the  young  man  made  an  effort  to  sit  up  in  bed,  and  asked  Mr. 
Noel  to  stay  a  minute.  Mr.  Noel  returned  to  the  bedside. 
The  sufferer's  strength  was  well  nigh  exhausted.  He  whis- 
pered in  the  ear  of  Mr.  Noel  the  appalling  words,  "  I'm  lost  !  " 
He  sunk  down  in  the  bed,  drew  the  clothes  over  his  head,  and 
never  spoke  again. 

LIGHT  SHINING  INTO  DARK  HEARTS. 

For  God,  who  commanded  the  light  to  shine  out  of  darkness,  hath  shined 
in  our  hearts,  to  give  the  light  of  the  knowledge  of  the  glory  of  God  in  the 
face  of  Jesus  Christ.  —  2  Cor.  4:6. 

A  YOUNG  girl  was  sweeping  a  room  one  day,  when  she 
went  to  the  window-  shade  and  hastily  drew  it  down. 
"  It  makes  the  room  so  dusty,"  she  said,  "  to  have  the  sun- 
shine coming  in  !  " 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  571 

The  atoms  of  dust  which  shone  golden  in  the  sunbeams  were 
unseen  in  the  dimmer  light.  The  untaught  girl  imagined  it 
was  the  sunshine  which  made  the  dust. 

Now,  many  persons  imagine  themselves  very  good  people. 
One  poor  old  man,  who  had  lived  all  his  life  without  a  thought 
of  love  to  God,  said  he  was  all  ready  to  die.  "  He  didn't  owe 
any  man  a  cent."  If  the  Spirit  of  God  should  shine  brightly 
into  such  a  heart,  how  would  it  look  ?  It  would  show  them 
sins  enough  to  crush  them  ! 

This  light  of  the  Spirit  is  like  the  sunshine  in  the  dusty 
room.  It  reveals  what  was  before  hidden.  When  we  begin 
to  feel  unhappy  about  our  sins,  let  us  never  try  to  put  away 
the  feeling.  Don't  let  us  put  down  the  curtain,  and  fancy 
there  is  no  dust.  It  is  the  Holy  Spirit's  voice  in  our  hearts. 
He  is  showing  us  ourselves ;  and  better  still,  he  will  show  us 
the  true  way  of  happiness. 


"PERSECUTED,  BUT  NOT  FORSAKEN." 

Persecuted,  but  not  forsaken ;  cast  down,  but  not  destroyed.  —  2  Cor.  4  :  9. 

HHHE  day  of  the  wonder-working  power  of  the  gospel  and 
_L  grace  of  Christ  is  not  passed.  The  same  overmastering 
love  which  could  change  the  imperious  and  cruel  persecutor 
into  the  humble,  toiling  apostle,  cheerfully  enduring  labors, 
perils,  stripes,  prisons,  and  death,  "  taking  pleasure  in  infirmi- 
ties, in  reproaches,  in  persecutions,  in  distresses  for  Christ's 
sake,"  still  manifests  its  renewing,  transforming  influence  over 
the  heart  and  life.  Rev.  Mr.  Baldwin,  of  the  Methodist  mis- 
sion at  Foochow,  China,  relates  a  striking  instance  of  its  power 
over  one  seemingly  hopeless  and  unpromising. 

He  was  a  sorcerer  and  opium- smoker,  but  having  heard  the 
gospel  in  one  of  the  chapels,  was  arrested  by  the  truth,  and 
became  truly  converted,  and  commenced  at  once  to  work  for 
Christ.  Going  among  his  own  people  and  telling  them  of  the 
change  he  had  experienced,  he  was  stoned.  Not  at  all  dis- 
couraged, he  went  to  the  next  village,  and  while  preaching 
was  arrested  and  thrown  into  prison ;  but  even  there,  while 
the  crowd  had  gathered  to  see  a  man  who  dared  to  believe 


572  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

and  teach  a  foreign  doctrine,  he  preached  Jesus.  The  magis- 
trate sentenced  him  to  receive  two  thousand  lashes  from  the 
Chinese  whip,  having  three  hard  leathern  thongs,  making  six 
thousand  blows.  This  cruel  punishment  was  inflicted ;  but 
while  groaning  with  intense  agony  from  the  severe  bruises, 
he  testified  his  love  to  Jesus,  and  urged  those  who  stood  by 
to  seek  the  Saviour. 

As  soon  as  he  could  walk,  he  went  back  to  the  place  where 
he  had  been  so  barbarously  treated,  to  preach  again  the 
tidings  of  salvation.  Four  hundred  souls  in  that  "district  now 
look  to  him  as  the  instrument  of  their  conversion.  When  he 
had  fully  preached  the  gospel  there,  he  went  to  another  dis- 
trict, where  he  was  successful  in  bringing  many  to  Christ. 
He  then  went  to  the  Island  of  Laxayit,  where  Dr.  Medhurst 
had  scattered  Christian  books  thirty  years  before.  This  good 
seed  was  ready  to  bear  its  precious  fruit,  only  needing  Chang 
Ting  to  put  in  the  sickle  and  harvest  it.  In  six  months  after 
he  began  his  labors,  sixty  united  with  the  church,  which  now 
numbers  one  hundred  and  thirty.  Among  the  pirates  on  that 
island,  the  truth,  as  preached  by  this  zealous  convert,  had 
powerful  effect,  bringing  from  among  these  desperate  charac- 
ters strong  and  faithful  Christian  men  into  the  church. 

The  gospel  of  Christ  is  still  "  the  power  of  God  unto  salva- 
tion to  every  one  that  believeth." 


GLORY  AWAITING  US. 

For  our  light  affliction,  which  is  but  for  a  moment,  worketh  for  us  a  far 
more  exceeding  and  eternal  weight  of  glory.  —  2  Cor.  4  :  17. 

ALL  that  awaits  us  is  glorious.  There  is  "  a  rest,"  a  Sab- 
bath-keeping in  store  for  us  (Heb.  4:6);  and  this  "  rest 
shall  be  glorious."  (Isa.  11  :  10.)  The  kingdom  that  we  claim 
is  a  glorious  kingdom,  the  crown  which  we  are  to  wear  is  a 
glorious"  crown.  The  city  of  our  habitation  is  a  glorious  city. 
The  garments  which  shall  clothe  us  are  garments  "  for  glory 
and  beauty."  Our  bodies  shall  be  glorious  bodies,  fashioned 
after  the  likeness  of  Christ's  "  glorious  body."  (Phil.  3  :  21.) 
Our  society  shall  be  that  of  the  glorified.  Our  songs  shall  be 


NEW   TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  573 

songs  of  glory.  And  of  the  region  which  we  are  to  inhabit  it 
is  said,  the  glory  of  God  doth  lighten  it,  and  the  Lamb  is  the 
light  thereof.  (Rev.  21 :  23.) 

"  That  they  may  behold  my  glory,"  the  Lord  pleaded  for 
his  own.  This  is  the  sum  of  all.  Other  glories  there  will  be, 
as  we  shall  see ;  but  this  is  the  sum  of  all.  It  is  the  very 
utmost  that  even  "  the  Lord  of  glory  "  could  ask  for  them. 
Having  sought  this,  he  could  seek  no  more  ;  he  could  go  no 
further.  And  our  response  to  this  is,  "  Let  me  see  thy  glory ; " 
yes,  and  the  glad  confidence  which  we  rest  in  is  this  :  "  As 
for  me,  I  will  behold  thy  face  in  righteousness ;  I  shall  be 
satisfied  when  I  wake  with  thy  likeness."  This  is  our  ambi- 
tion. Divine  and  blessed  ambition,  in  which  there  is  no  pride, 
no  presumption,  and  no  excess  !  Nothing  less  can  satisfy  than 
.the  directest,  fullest  vision  of  incarnate  glory.  Self-emptied, 
before  the  infinite  Majesty,  and  conscious  of  being  wholly 
unworthy  even  of  a  servant's  place,  we  yet  feel  as  if  drawn 
irresistibly  into  the  innermost  circle  and  center,  satisfied  with 
nothing  less  than  the  "  fullness  of  Him  that  filleth  all  in  all." 
Rev,  H.  Bonar,  D.  D. 


CYRIL  OP  C^ISAREA. 

For  we  know  that  if  our  earthly  house  of  this  tabernacle  were  dissolved, 
we  have  a  building  of  God,  a  house  not  made  with  hands,  eternal  in  the 
heavens.  —  2  Cor.  5:1. 

IN  the  persecution  of  the  Christians  by  the  Emperor  Vale- 
rian, a  child  named  Cyril,  of  Csesarea  in  Cappadocia,  showed 
uncommon  courage.  He  caUed  on  the  name  of  the  Lord  Jesus 
Christ  without  ceasing,  nor  could  blows  or  threats  prevent 
him  from  owning  himself  a  Christian.  Several  children  of  his 
own  age  persecuted  him,  and  his  father  drove  him  out  of  his 
house.  The  judge  had  him  brought  before  him,  and  said,— 

"  My  child,  I  will  pardon  you,  and  your  father  will  receive 
you  again.  It  is  in  your  power  to  enjoy  your  father's  estate, 
if  you  will  only  be  wise." 

"  I  rejoice  to  bear  your  reproaches,"  said  the  child ;  "  God 
will  receive  me.  I  am  not  sorry  that  I  am  turned  out  of  our 


574  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

house  ;  I  shall  have  a  better  mansion.  I  fear  not  death  ;  it  will 
bring  me  to  a  better  life." 

The  judge  then  ordered  him  to  be  bound,  and  led,  as  it  were, 
to  execution,  but  gave  strict  orders  to  bring  him  back,  hoping 
that  he  would  yield  at  the  sight  of  the  fire.  But  Cyril  remained 
unmoved,  and  only  replied  to  their  entreaties,  — 

"  Your  fire  and  wood  do  not  alarm  me.  I  go  to  a  better 
house  ;  I  go  to  more  excellent  riches  ;  dispatch  me  presently, 
that  I  may  enjoy  them."  The  bystanders  wept  with  compas- 
sion. "  You  ought  to  rejoice  for  me,"  said  he.  "  Ye  know  not 
what  a  city  I  am  going  to  inhabit,  nor  what  is  my  hope." 

Then  the  young  martyr  went  to  his  death,  and  was  the 
wonder  of  the  whole  city.  Such  an  example  illustrates  the 
scripture,  "  Out  of  the  mouths  of  babes  and  sucklings  thou 
hast  ordained  strength." 


FEAR  OF  JUDGMENT. 

For  we  must  all  appear  before  the  judgment-seat  of  Christ,  that  every  one 
may  receive  the  things  done  in  his  body  according  to  that  he  hath  done,  whether 
it  be  good  or  bad.  —  2  Cor.  5  :  10. 

JEKOME  used  to  say  that  it  seemed  to  him  as  if  the  trumpet 
of  the  last  day  was  always  sounding  in  his  ear,  saying, 
"  Arise,  ye  dead,  and  come  to  judgment."  The  generality, 
however,  think  but  little  of  this  awful  and  important  period. 
A  Christian  king  of  Hungary  being  very  sad  and  pensive,  his 
brother,  who  was  a  gay  courtier,  was  desirous  of  knowing  the 
cause  of  his  sadness. 

"  0  brother,"  said  the  king,  "  I  have  been  a  great  sinner 
against  God,  and  I  know  not  how  to  die,  or  how  to  appear  be- 
fore him  in  judgment." 

His  brother,  making  a  jest  of  it,  said,  "  These  are  but  melan- 
choly thoughts." 

The  king  made  no  reply ;  but  it  was  the  custom  of  the 
country,  that  if  the  executioner  was  to  sound  the  trumpet 
before  any  man's  door,  he  was  presently  led  to  execution. 
The  king,  in  the  dead  hour  of  the  night,  sent  the  executioner 
to  sound  the  trumpet  before  his  brother's  door,  who,  hearing 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  575 

it,  and  seeing  the  messenger  of  death,  sprang  into  the  king's 
presence,  beseeching  to.  know  in  what  he  had  offended. 

"  Alas  !  brother,"  said  the  king,  "  you  have  never  offended 
me.  And  is  the  sight  of  my  executioner  so  dreadful,  and  shall 
not  I,  who  have  greatly  offended,  fear  to  be  brought  before  the 
judgment-seat  of  Christ  ?  " 


LIVE  TO  BE  USEFUL. 

And  that  he  died  for  all,  that  they  which  live  should  not  henceforth  live  unto 
themselves,  but  unto  him  which  died  for  them,  and  rose  again.  —  2  Cor.  5:15. 

T)  IVERS  of  themselves  would  run  the  straightest  and  di- 
ll rectest  way  to  the  sea,  as  being  greedy  to  pay  tribute 
unto  their  great  master,  the  ocean  ;  but  God,  in  his  wise  dis- 
posal of  all  things,  hath  set  here  a  mountain  and  there  a  hill 
in  the  way,  that  so  by  turning  and  winding  —  now  this  way, 
now  that  way,  and  going  further  about  —  they  might  enrich 
the  earth,  as  they  pass  along,  with  fertility  and  abundance. 
Thus  a  good  man,  and  a  good  Christian  man,  having  but  once 
tasted  of  God's  love,  0,  how  he  desires  to  be  dissolved,  and  to  be 
with  Christ !  He  prays  (but  still  with  reference  to  God's  will) 
that  his  hope  may  be  turned  into  fruition,  his  faith  into  vision, 
and  his  love  into  perfect  comprehension  ;  but  God,  in  his  provi- 
dence, hath  resolved  upon  the  negative,  that  his  days  shall  be 
prolonged  to  do  good  unto  others,  that  he  may  be  serviceable 
in  his  place  to  him  and  his  country.  —  Joh.  Donne's  Sermon  at 
St.  Paul's,  1626. 

ANECDOTE  OF  JOHN  SUNDAY. 

Therefore  if  any  man  be  in  Christ,  he  is  a  new  creature ;  old  things  are 
passed  away;  behold,  all  things  are  become  new.  —  2  Cor.  5  :  17. 

"  T  UNDERSTAND,"  said  John  Sunday,  the  converted  Indian 
_L  chief,  to  a  congregation  which  he  was  called  to  address 
at  Plymouth,  England,  in  the  year.  1837,  "  that  many  of  you 
are  disappointed  because  I  have  not  brought  my  Indian  dress 
with  me.  Perhaps,  if  I  had  it  on,  you  would  be  afraid  of  me. 
Do  you  wish  to  know  how  I  dressed  when  I  was  a  pagan 


576  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

Indian  ?  I  will  tell  you.  My  face  was  covered  with  red 
paint.  I  stuck  feathers  in  my  hair.  I  wore  a  blanket  and 
leggings.  I  had  silver  ornaments  on  my  breast,  a  rifle  on 
my  shoulder,  a  tomahawk  and  scalping-knife  in  my  belt.  That 
was  my  dress  then.  Now,  do  you  wish  to  know  why  I  wear 
it  no  longer  ?  You  will  find  the  cause  in  2  Cor.  5:17  — l  There- 
fore if  any  man  be  in  Christ,  he  is  a  new  creature  ;  old  things 
are  passed  away  j  behold,  all  things  are  become  new.7  When 
I  became  a  Christian,  feathers  and  paint  l  passed  away.'  I 
gave  my  silver  ornaments  to  the  mission  cause.  Scalping- 
knife  f  done  away.'  That  my  tomahawk  now,"  said  he,  hold- 
ing up  at  the  same  time  a  copy  of  the  Ten  Commandments  in 
the  Ojibwa  language.  "  Blanket  l  done  away.'  Behold,"  he 
exclaimed,  in  a  manner  in  which  simplicity  and  dignity  of 
character  were  combined,  —  "  behold;  all  things  are  become 
new  !  " 


GOD  WAS  IN  CHRIST. 

To  wit,  that  God  was  in  Christ,  reconciling  the  world  unto  himself,  not  im- 
puting their  trespasses  unto  them ;  and  hath  committed  unto  us  the  word  of 
reconciliation.  —  2  Cor.  5  :  19. 

C\  OD  was  in  Christ  —  sublime,  delightful  thought ! 
vT    My  soul  in  solemn  awe  the  truth  receives  : 
God  was  in  Christ  —  the  Father,  Son,  inwrought ; 
My  soul,  no  more  with  fear  oppressed,  believes. 

God  was  in  Christ  —  a  Father  reconciled ; 

My  soul  basks  in  the  sunshine  of  his  love : 
God  was  in  Christ  —  no  more  with  sin  defiled, 

My  soul  spreads  forth  its  -wings  and  soars  above. 

God  was  in  Christ  —  when  on  the  cross  he  died, 
The  earthquake's  voice  and  opening  graves  attest: 

God  was  in  Christ  —  though  Jews  and  Greeks  deride, 
Sinners  awake,  repent,  believe,  are  blessed. 

God  was  in  Christ  —  the  world,  by  sin  oppressed, 
From  Satan's  iron  bondage  is  set  free : 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

God  was  in  Christ  —  the  nations  now  have  rest, 
And  earth's  unnumbered  tribes  keep  jubilee. 

God  was  in  Christ  —  death's  gloomy  shadows  flee, 
And  heaven  its  pearly  gates  throws  open  wide  ; 

God  was  in  Christ  —  eternal  mystery ; 
The  world's  redeemed,  Jesus  is  satisfied. 


577 


"BE  YE  RECONCILED  TO  GOD." 

Now,  then,  we  are  embassadors  for  Christ,  as  though  God  did  beseech  you 
by  us  :  we  pray  you  in  Christ's  stead,  be  ye  reconciled  to  God.  —  2  Cor.  5  :  20. 

THE  whole  scheme  of  redemption  by  Christ  supposes  a 
state  of  hostility,  mutual  hostility,  previously  to  exist  be- 
tween God  and  man.  I  say  mutual,  for  if  God  is  not  offended, 
but  is,  on  the  contrary,  well  pleased  with  us,  what  propriety 
in  urging  us  to  a  reconciliation  ?  That  the  fittest  terms  have 
not  always  been  employed  to  express  this  hostility  or  variance, 
may  be  admitted.  Thus  the  term  "  enmity  "  is  often  used  in  a 
bad  sense,  to  express  a  malignant  or  revengeful  feeling,  which 
can  not  be  supposed  to  exist  in  the  mind  of  a  holy  God.  But 
it  should  be  borne  in  mind  that  this  is  not  a  personal,  but 
a  legal  relation  —  that  of  a  sovereign  in  his  high  judicial  ca- 
pacity, and  a  criminal  who  has  violated  his  law, "  and  risen  up 
against  his  authority.  And  though  the  nature  of  the  case  re- 
quire that  God  should  regard  man  as  an  enemy,  it  is,  never- 
theless, with  a  feeling  of  compassion,  of  extreme  pity.  As  the 
judge  upon  the  bench  is  supposed  not  to  entertain  any  feeling 
of  enmity  or  ill-will  toward  the  prisoner  at  the  bar,  but,  on  the 
contrary,  to  be  actuated  by  a  feeling  of  compassion,  of  real 
sympathy  toward  him,  yet  his  official  position  as  the  exponent 
of  the  law  places  him  in  an  attitude  of  hostility.  So  God,  in 
his  character  of  Supreme  Ruler  of  the  universe,  sustains  an 
attitude  of  hostility  toward  man,  who  has  rebelled  against  his 
government. 

Enmity  may  exist  in  the  heart  of  man  "in  the  sense  of  hatred 
or  revenge,  but  it  constitutes  no  part. of  the  relation  itself:  it 
is  but  a  manifestation,  an  outbreaking  of  that  corrupt  nature 
73 


578  NEW   TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

which  had  previously  rendered  him  obnoxious  to  the  dis- 
pleasure of  God  and  the  penalty  of  his  law,  and  placed  him  in 
the  attitude  of  an  enemy.  It  is  to  this  judicial  variance  that 
reference  is  had  by  the  term  "  reconciliation,"  and  kindred 
expressions  in  the  Bible. 

"NOW  IS  THE  ACCEPTED  TIME." 

For  he  saith,  I  have  heard  thee  in  a  time  accepted,  and  in  the  day  of  salva- 
tion have  I  succored  thee.  Behold,  now  is  the  accepted  time :  behold,  now  is 
the  day  of  salvation.  —  2  Cor.  6  :  2. 

DURING  the  closing  services  one  Sabbath,  my  eyes  rested 
on  a  lovely  youth.  I  approached  him,  and  exhorted  him 
to  repentance  and  faith  on  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ.  He  replied, 
"  I  am  not  ready  now,  but  in  two  weeks  I  am  resolved  to  seek 
the  salvation  of  my  soul."  A  few  days  after,  this  minister  was 
summoned  to  visit  him  upon  a  bed  of  sickness.  He  said  to 
the  minister,  "  I  was  invited  to  the  Saviour  at  the  meeting  on 
the  Sabbath,  but  replied  that  I  was  not  ready  then,  and  now  I 
am  not  ready  to  die."  On  a  subsequent  visit,  the  dying  youth 
exclaimed,  "  I  was  not  ready  to  seek  God  at  the  meeting ;  I 
was  not  ready  to  die  when  the  message  came ;  and  now  I  am 
not  ready  to  lie  down  in  hell !  My  two  weeks  have  not  yet 
elapsed  when  I  hope'd  to  have  made  my  peace  with  God,  and 
sickness,  death,  and  hell  have  overtaken  me,  and  I  am  for 
ever  lost." 

I  conversed  with  a  young  lady  on  the  necessity  of  securing 
Mary's  portion.  She  attended  to  my  instruction'with  serious- 
ness and  attention.  I  left  her,  and  in  a  few  days  was  informed 
of  her  sudden  and  awful  death,  having  fallen  down  dead  while 
dancing  at  a  ball.  How  strikingly  the  text  is  exemplified  : 
"  He  that,  being  often  reproved,  hardeneth  his  neck,  shall 
suddenly  be  destroyed."  —  E.  P.  Hill,  Georgia. 


JUSTLY  REBUKED. 

Giving  no  offense  in  anything,  that  the  ministry  be  not  blamed.  —  2  Cor.  6  :  3. 

AT  a  temperance  meeting,  some  years  ago,  a  learned  clergy- 
man spoke  in  favor  of  wine  as  a  drink,  demonstrating  its 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.    .  579 

• 

use,  quite  to  his  own  satisfaction,  to  be  scriptural,  gentlemanly, 
and  healthful.  When  he  sat  down,  a  plain,  elderly  man  rose, 
and  asked  leave  to  say  a  few  words.  "  A  young  friend  of 
mine,"  said  he,  "  who  had  long  been  intemperate,  was  at  length 
prevailed  upon,  to  the  great  joy  of  his  friends,  to  take  the 
pledge  of  entire  abstinence  from  all  that  could  intoxicate.  He 
kept  the  pledge  faithfully  for  some  time,  struggling  with  his 
habit  fearfully ;  till,  one  evening,  in  a  social  party,  glasses  of 
wine  were  handed  around.  They  came  to  a  clergyman  pres- 
ent, who  took  a  glass,  saying  a  few  words  in  vindication  of 
the  practice.  { Well,'  thought  the  young  man,  l  if  a  clergy- 
man can  take  wine,  and  justify  it  so  well,  why  not  I  ? '  So  he 
took  a  glass.  It  instantly  kindled  his  fiery  and  slumbering 
appetite,  and  after  a  rapid  downward  course,  he  died  of  deliri- 
um tremens  —  died  a  raving  maniac. " 

The  old  man  paused  for  utterance,  and  was  just  able  to 
add,  "  That  young  man  was  my  son,  and  the  clergyman  was 
the  person  who  has  just  addressed  the  assembly." 


"POSSESSING  ALL  THINGS." 

As  sorrowful,  yet  alway  rejoicing;  as  poor,  yet  making  many  rich ;  as  hav- 
ing nothing,  and  yet  possessing  all  things.  —  2  Cor.  6  :  10. 

THE  Lord's  family  are  generally  poor;  men  may  look  at 
them  as  having  nothing  valuable,  important,  or  calculated 
to  make  them  happy  ;  but,  in  reality,  they  possess  all  things, 
because  God  is  theirs.  Our  God  has  said,  "  I  am  their  in- 
heritance," and  we  say,  "  Thou  art  my  portion,  0  Lord."  His 
eternity  is  the  date  of  our  happiness  —  his  unchangeableness 
the  rock  of  oar  rest  —  his  omnipotence  our  constant  guard  — 
his  faithfulness  our  daily  security — his  mercies  our  overflow- 
ing .  store —  his  omniscience  our  careful  overseer  —  his  wis- 
dom our  judicious  counselor  —  his  justice  our  stern  avenger 
—  his  omnipresence  our  sweet  company  —  his  holiness  the 
fountain  from  which  we  receive  sanctifying  grace  —  his  all- 
sufficiency  the  lot  of  our  inheritance  —  and  his  infinity  the 
extent  of  our  glorious  portion.  This  is  the  blessedness  of  the 
people  of  the  Lord  ;  they  have  God  for  their  Lord,  and  all  his 


580  .    NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

perfections  engaged  to  make  them  blessed.  0,  love  the  Lord  ! 
Live  upon  the  Lord  !  Glorify  God  in  the  day  of  visitation  ! 
Make  him  your  portion  and  everlasting  all  1 


STRAITENED  IN  THEMSELVES. 

Ye  are  not  straitened  in  us,  but  ye  are  straitened  in  your  own  bowels.  — 
2  Cor.  6 :  12. 

BE  no  more  straitened  in  your  own  bowels ;  stretch  yourself 
to  the  measure  of  the  stature  of  the  fullness  of  Christ. 
Expect  to  be  all  that  he  will  make  you.-  And  that  you  may 
be,  open  your  whole  heart  to  him  broad  as.^the  sea.  Give  him 
all  the  widest  spaces  of  your  feeling  —  guest-chambers  opened 
by  your  loving  hospitality.  Challenge  for  him  his  right  to  be 
now  received  by  his  disciples  as  he  has  never  yet  been.  Tell 
what  changes  and  wondrous  new  creations  will  appear  when 
lie  finally  breaks  full-orbed  on  human  experience  —  his  true 
second  coming  in  power  and  great  glory.  For  this  great  con- 
summation everything  is  preparing ;  and  if  there  be  voices 
and  calls  chiming  through  the  spaces  round  us,  which,  for 
deafness,  we  have  all  these  ages  failed  to  hear,  what  is  their 
burden  but  this  ?  "  Lift  up  your  heads,  0  ye  gates,  and  be  ye 
lifted  up,  ye  everlasting  doors,  and  the  King  of  Glory  shall 
come  in."  —  Dr.  Bushnell. 


ENLARGEMENT  A  GREAT  BLESSING. 

Now,  for  a  recompense  in  the  same  (I  speak  as  unto  my  children),  be  ye 
also  enlarged.  —  2  Cor.  6  :  13. 

/CONTRACTION  is  a  great  evil,  enlargement  is  a  great  bless- 
\J  ing.  We  need  to  be  enlarged  in  our  knowledge,  love, 
hope,  liberality,  faith,  and  every  grace.  Our  God  disapproves 
of  contraction.  The  apostles  set  a  different  example.  Pro- 
vision is  made  in  the  covenant  to  gratify  enlarged  desires. 
The  promises  warrant  enlarged  expectations.  Jesus  bids  us 
ask  largely.  The  gospel  calls  for  enlargement  in  prayer,  be- 
nevolence, pity,  and  compassion,  and  in  our  efforts  for  God's 


NEW   TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.      .         581 

glory.  Let  us  beware  of  narrow  views  or  feelings,  for  the 
heart  of  God  is  large  ;  the  love  of  Christ  is  large  ;  the  provis- 
ion of  mercy  is  large  ;  the  gospel  commission  is  large  ;  and  the 
mansions  of  glory  are  large.  We  are  not  straitened  in  God, 
nor  in  his  gospel,  but  we  are  straitened  in  our  own  bowels. 
O,  Jesus,  enlarge  our  narrow  hearts ;  expand  our  contracted 
souls  !  Fill  us  with  all  joy  and  peace  in  believing,  that  we 
may  abound  in  hope,  by  the  power  of  the  Holy  Ghost.  May 
we  be  full  of  goodness,  able  also  to  admonish  one  another.  0, 
to  be  filled  with  the  Holy  Ghost  and  with  power  ! 


THE  DIVIDING  LINE. 

And  what  concord  hath  Christ  with  Belial?  —  2  Cor.  6  :  15. 

0 

WHERE  does  the  dividing  line  run  between  true  religion 
and  the  world  ?  We  answer,  that  it  runs  just  where 
God's  word  puts  it ;  and  a  conscience  which  is  enlightened  by 
the  word  and  by  prayer  does  not  commonly  fail  to  discover  it. 
Where  Christ  would  be  likely  to  go  if  he  were  on  earth,  is  the 
right  side ;  bat  where  a  Christian  would  be  ashamed  to  have 
his  Master  find  him,  there  he  ought  never  to  find  himself. 
Wherever  a  Christian  can  go,  and  conscientiously  ask  God's 
blessing  on  what  he  is  doing,  there  let  that  Christian  go.  He 
is  not  likely  to  wander  over  the  line.  And  when  a  church 
member  can  enter  a  play-house,  or  into  a  dancing  frolic,  and 
honestly  ask  God's  blessing  on  the  amusements  and  come 
away  a  better  Christian  for  it,  then  let  him  go  ;  but  not  before. 

But  should  not  every  good  man  be  a  "  friend  of  the  world  "  ? 
Was  not  the  divine  Jesus  a  friend  of  the  world  when  he  so 
loved  it  that  he  gave  himself  for  its  redemption?  Did  not 
Paul  love  the  world  when  he  endured  hardship,  humiliations, 
and  martyrdom  to  lead  sinners  to  the  cross  ?  Ah,  yes  —  very 
true  ;  but  what  the  Redeemer  and  his  apostles  were  after  was 
not  sinners'  sins,  but  sinners'  souls.  And  they  sought  to  save 
the  world,  not  by  conformity  to  it,  but  by  transforming  it  to  a 
higher  and  holier  ideal  of  life. 

Nor  is  it  by  going  over  to  the  world  that  we  can  save  the 


582  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

worldling.  If  we  are  to  impress  the  world,  we  must  live 
above  the  world ;  if  we  would  save  sinners,  we  must,  in  the 
same  sense  that  Jesus  was,  be  "  separate  from  sinners."  The 
moment  we  go  over  the  line  to  "  curry  favor  "  with  the  vota- 
ries of  sin,  we  never  reach  them,  and  only  run  the  risk  of 
ruining  ourselves.  Would  to  God  that,  in  trying  to  .draw  the 
world  into  conformity  to  Christ,  we  did  not  allow  the  world  to 
drag  us  down  into  conformity  with  itself! 


AN  OLD  SEA  CAPTAIN'S  ADVICE. 

Wherefore  come  out  from  among  them,  and  be  ye  separate,  saith  the  Lord, 
and  touch  not  the  unclean  thing,  and  I  will  receive  you.  —  2  Cor.  6  :  17. 

T)  RESIDENT  ALLYN,  in  closing  a  discourse  in  a  western  city 
JL  recently,  urged  upon  persons  who  might  be  changing  their 
residence  the  necessity  of  handing  in  with  promptness  their 
certificates  of  church  membership.  "  Many  years  ago  I  was 
on  my  way  to  Philadelphia/'  said  he,  "  to  fill  a  situation.  In  the 
car,  same  seat  with  myself,  was  a  veteran  Massachusetts  man, 
who  inquired  of  me  my  destination,  my  home,  occupation,  <fec. 
Rather  suddenly  changing  the  subject,  he  remarked,  — 

"  '  And  your  certificates  —  have  you  any  ?  ' 

"  '  Yes,  sir  j '  and  I  handed  him  one  in  the  handwriting  of 
Wilbur  Fisk. 

"  '  Very  good  —  very  good  ;  have  you  any  other  ? ' 

" i  Yes,  sir ; '  and  I  handed  him  one  made  out  by  Dr. 
Holdich. 

" l  Excellent  —  but  have  you  no  other  ? ' 

"  l  No  more,  sir.' 

"  '  None  from  your  preacher  ?  ' 

"  '  0,  yes,  I  have  one  of  that  sort,'  said  I,  drawing  it  out 
instantly. 

"  <  Well,  sir,  that  is  what  I  wished  to  see.  Now  let  me  give 
you  a  little  advice.  I  am  an  old  sea  captain,  and  have  seen  a 
good  deal  of  society,  a  good  deal  of  the  world,  and  a  good 
deal  of  the  church.  I  have  found  it  good  policy,  in  coming  into 
port,  always  to  tie  my  vessel  up  at  once,  fore  and  aft,  to  the 
spiles  on  the  wharf,  although  it  may  cost  me  something  for 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  583 

wharfage,  instead  of  anchoring  her  in  the  stream,  and  letting 
her  swing  with  the  tide.  You  understand  me,  I  see.  Hand 
in  your  certificate,  then,  as  soon  as  you  reach  Philadelphia ; 
you  will  find  it  the  best  and  safest  policy,  though  the  stewards 
may  possibly  desire  your  co-operation  on  a  question  which 
is  somewhat  intimately  related  to  the  flour  barrel  of  the 
preacher.' '; 


.    GOD'S  PROMISES. 

Having  therefore  these  promises,  dearly  beloved,  let  us  cleanse  ourselves 
from  all  filthiness  of  the  flesh  and  spirit,  perfecting  holiness  in  the.  fear  of 
God.  —  2  Cor.  7  :  1. 

THE  promises  derive  preciousness  from  the  root  and  princi- 
ple from  which  they  spring.  They  are  so  many  beams  of 
Christ,  the  Sun  of  Righteousness,  and  impart  a  light  which 
discovers  his  excellency.  They  are  the  crystal  streams  of  that 
river  of  life,  which  proceeded  out  of  the  throne  of  God  and  of 
the  Lamb  (Rev.  22  :  1),  whose  waters  in  time  of  drouth  never 
fail,  but  with  their  overflowing  plenty  satisfy  the  thirsty,  with 
their  cooling  virtue  allay  the  heat  of  the  wearied,  and  with 
their  sweetness  cheer  and  revive  the  drooping  and  dejected 
spirits. 

They  are  the  precious  objects  of  "  precious  "  faith,  as  the 
apostle  styles  it.  (2  Peter  1:1.)  True  it  is,  that  the  quickening 
influence  and  virtue  of  the  promises  reach  every  grace  of  the 
Spirit.  By  them  hope  is  kept  alive  in  its  expectation  of  good, 
patience  is  supported  under  difficulties,  holiness  is  perfected, 
love  is  inflamed,  and  a  blessed  fear  of  God  is  preserved. 


"HOW  CAN  I  MEET  IT?" 

For  godly  sorrow  worketh  repentance  to  salvation  not  to  be  repented  of, 
but  the  sorrow  of  the  world  worketh  death.  —  2  Cor.  7 :  10. 

"  HHHE  trial-balance,"  said  the  book-keeper,  passing  the  mer- 

-L   chant,  his  employer,  a  sheet. 

"  The  trial-balance,"  repeated  Mr.  H.,  as  he  took  it,  with  a 
nervous  motion  of  his  body. 


584  NEW   TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

"  Yes,"  responded  the  clerk,  turning  away  to  his  desk. 

The  foct  is,  it  had  been  a  very  unprofitable  year,  and  Mr. 
H.  almost  feared  to  see  his  trial-balance,  while  yet  he  wanted 
to  know  how  he  stood.  It  was  on  this  account  that  his  hand 
shook  with  a  nervous  tremor  when  he  took  it. 

A  single  glance  told  the  whole  story,  and  a  deathly  pallor 
spread  over  his  face.  It  was  even  worse  than  he  anticipated. 
The  clerk  saw  it,  nor  wondered.  He  made  no  remark,  how- 
ever. 

It  was  too  much  for  Mr.  H.  A  long,  dangerous  fever  was 
the  result.  Hour  after  hour  the  burning  patient  tossed  upon 
his  bed  with  delirium,  and  ever  and  anon  he  would  say,  "  The 
trial-balance,  the  trial-balance." 

He  went  down  to  the  verge  of  the  grave,  and  anxious 
friends  waited  to  -see  him  close  his  eyes  in  death ;  but  he 
rallied. 

When  reason  resumed  its  throne,  and  his  mental  powers 
grew  vigorous  again,  his  thoughts  passed  from  the  trial- 
balance  of  earth  to  that  of  the  judgment. 

"  How  can  I  meet  it  ?  "  he  inquired  within  himself. 

"  God's  trial-balance  !  "  said  conscience. 

"  I  know  it,"  replied  the  merchant.  "  0,  shall  I  be  an  ever- 
lasting bankrupt  ?  " 

He  wept  over  his  sins ;  and  he  who  could  not  look  upon 
the  trial-balance  of  his  business  without  turning  deadly  pale, 
was  not  afraid  to  see  God's  trial-balance  in  the  day  of  retri- 
bution. 


PROPORTIONATE  GIVING. 

Therefore,  as  ye  abound  in  everything,  in  faith,  and  utterance,  and  knowl- 
edge, and  in  all  diligence,  and  in  your  love  to  us,  see  that  ye  abound  in  this 
grace  also.  —  2  Cor.  8  :  7. 

THERE   are   some   remarkable   instances   of   proportionate 
giving,  or  acts  of  beneficence,  by  persons,  to  moral  and 
religious  objects,  in  proportion  as  God  has  prospered  them. 
Mr.  Wilkes,  a  member  of  the  Methodist  connection  in  Eng- 
land, is  a  worthy  example.     He  not  only  made  money  rapidly, 


NEW   TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 


585 


but  consecrated  a  portion  of  it  as  faithfully  to  the  Lord  as  it 
came  into  his  hands.  When  a  journeyman  mechanic,  he  in- 
vented an  improvement  in  the  machinery  for  the  manufactur- 
ing of  cotton  ;  but  being  without  capital  to  avail  himself  of 
the  advantages  of  his  patent,  he  made  it  a  subject  of  prayer, 
that  he  might  be  directed  to  some  one  able  and  willing  to  help 
him.  Soon  after  he  fell  in  with  an  elderly  Quaker,  though  a 
perfect  stranger,  who  accosted  him  with  the  inquiry,  "  Friend", 
I  would  like  to  know  if  a  little  money  would  be  of  any  service 
to  thee  ?  "  Upon  learning  of  Mr.  Wilkes  that  he  could  profitably 
use  some,  the  Quaker  at  once  advanced  him  all  he  needed. 
Mr.  Wilkes  started  in  business  on  his  own  account,  and  as  he 
prospered  he  did  not  forget  his  vow  to  devote  a  fair  propor- 
tion of  his  income  to  the  Lord.  His  missionary  subscription 
for  the  year  1853  was  seven  guineas  per  day,  or  upwards  or 
ten  thousand  dollars  for  the  year.  Another  item  of  his  benefi- 
cence, for  the  same  year,  was  one  thousand  guineas  to  the 
fund  for  the  payment  of  the  denominational  debt.  His  sub- 
scriptions increased  with  the  increase  of  his  business,  so  that 
in  the  following  year  he  was  reported  to  have  promised,  if  God 
spared  his  life  through  the  year,  to  give  to  the  missionary 
society  fifty  guineas  per  day  throughout  the  entire  year,  — 
about  ninety  thousand  dollars. 

The  well-known  beneficence  of  the  Remington  Brothers,  of 
Ilion,  N.  Y.,  is  worthy  of  grateful  recognition,  who,  during  a  few 
years,  in  a  quiet  way,  have  given  hundreds  of  thousands  of 
dollars  to  worthy  objects,  as  offerings  made  unto  the  Lord. 
To  Syracuse  University,  to  church  building  in  Syracuse,  N.  Y., 
to  the  Church  Extension  Society,  of  the  Methodist  Episco- 
pal church,  to  private  applications  in  aid  of  weak  societies  for 
church  building  purposes,  to  individuals  for  personal  help  in 
want,  their  munificence  is  wide-spread  and  generous,  calling 
back  upon  them  the  blessings  of  grateful  recipients  and  the 
favor  of  Almighty  God.  In  their  prosperity  in  business,  they 
have  not  forgotten  they  are  "  stewards  of  the  manifold  grace 
cff  God; "  but  as  stewards,  and  knowing  they  must  give  account 
to  God  for  the  use  of  the  wealth  put  into  their  keeping,  they 
do  constantly  "  honor  God  with  their  substance."  They  do 
truly  "  abound  in  the  grace  of  Christian  liberality." 
74 


586  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

The  following  example  of  a  farmer,  who-  practiced  propor- 
tionate giving-,  is  thus  described  by  a  Bible  collector  who 
asked  the  farmer  for  a  contribution  to  the  Bible  cause.  He 
said,  "  When  I  was  in  Caledonia,  Racine  County,  this  summer, 
I  called  upon  a  man  for  his  contribution  to  the  Bible  cause. 
He  is  not  a  wealthy  man.  He  does  his  own  work  on  the  farm. 
He  looked  over  his  books,  and  said  his  contribution  would  be 
seventy  dollars.  I  asked  him,  '  Why  this  remarkable  benev- 
olence ? '  He  said,  '  Six  years  ago  I  felt  I  was  not  giving 
enough  to  the  Lord ;  so  I  resolved  to  give  in  proportion  to  his 
blessings,  and  I  hit  upon  this  plan :  I  will  give  five  cents  for 
every  bushel  of  wheat  I  raise,  three  cents  for  every  bushel  of 
oats,  barley,  <fec.,  ten  per  cent,  for  the  wool,  butter,  &c.,  that  I 
sell.  The  first  year  I  gave  twenty  dollars,  the  second  thirty- 
five,  the  third  forty-seven,  the  fourth  forty-nine,  the  fifth  fifty- 
nine,  and  this  year  my  Bible  contribution  is  seventy  dollars. 
For  twenty  years  previous/  he  continued,  '  my  doctor's  bills 
had  not  been  less  than  twenty  dollars  a  year,  but  for  the  last 
six  years  they  have  not  exceeded  two  dollars  a  year.  I  tell 
you,  "  There  is  that  scattereth  and  yet  increaseth,"  and  "  The 
liberal  soul  shall  be  made  fat/'  '  "  How  many  will  follow  this 
man's  example  ? 


HOARDING  AND  GIVING. 

But  by  an  equality,  that  now  at  this  time  your  abundance  may  be  a  supply 
for  their  want,  that  their  abundance  also  may  be  a  supply  for  your  want ;  that 
there  may  be  equality.  —  2  Cor.  8  :  14. 

MOST  men  are  better  at  the  rake  than  at  the  pitchfork ; 
readier  to  pull  in  than  to  give  out.  Men  by  their  con- 
duct generally  say,  "Let  religion  wait  upon  the  world ;" 
but  we  say,  "  Let  the  world  wait  upon  religion."  But  although 
a  wise  man  will  lay  out  his  wealth  for  God's  sake,  too  many 
are  found  who  will  rather  worship  God  for  their  wealth's  sake. 
There  are  four  terms,  descriptive  of  quality,  which  are  here 
worthy  of  note :  "  little,  nothing,  too  much,  enough."  The 
poor  hath  little,  the  beggar  nothing,  the  rich  too  much ;  but 
who  hath  enough  ?  Let  us  not  only  receive,  but  communicate. 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  587 

If  the  Lord  has  sown  plentiful  seed,  he  expects  plentiful  har- 
vest. If  God  has  made  the  bushel  great,  make  not  you  the 
peck  small.  Deal  not  the  bounty  of  heaven  according  to  the 
mean  practices  of  earth.  To  disperse  abroad  is "  to  make  safe 
the  "rest  afc  home.  As  God  has  laid  up  for  you  in  this  world, 
so  lay  ye  up  for  yourselves  in  the  world  to  come.  You  shall 
find  God  the  best  creditor.  He  will  pay  great  usury,  not  ten 
for  a  hundred,  but  a  hundred,  a  thousand,  for  ten.  The  happy 
solace  of  a  well-pleased  conscience  shall  then  rejoice  you,  and 
the  never-failing  promises  of  God  shall  satisfy  you.  No  man 
is  the  poorer  for  that  which  he  gives  to  the  poor,  but,  summing 
up  his  books,  he  shall  ever  find  himself  the  richer.  The  pray- 
ers of  the  po»r,  whom  he  helps,  shall-  prevail  with  God  for 
blessings  upon  him. 

"  Freely  ye  have  received,  freely  give."  (Matt.  10  :  8.)  "  To 
do  good  and  to  communicate  forget  not,  for  with  such  sacri- 
fices God  is  well  pleased."  (Heb.  13  :  16.) 


THOLUCK'S  SEEKING  AND  FOLLOWING. 

But  thanks  be  to  God,  which  put  the  same  earnest  care  into  the  heart  of 
Titus  for  you.  —  2  Cor.  8  :  16. 

PROFESSOR  THOLUCK,  of  the  University  of  Halle,  was  so 
JL  devoted  to  the  moral  interests  of  his  students,  and  sought 
after  the  erring  with  so  much  tenderness  and  care,  that  he 
was  called  the  student-professor.  He-  not  only  sought,  but 
followed  up  his  seeking.  A  single  instance  of  this  blessed 
working  must  here  suffice.  •  There  was  a  student  brought  near 
to  his  heart  by  a  godly  mother.  He  was  led  away  into  evil ; 
contrition  and  return  followed  ;  then  came  another  fall.  "  When 
he  could  be  found  at  home  at  no  other  time,  I  sought  him  more 
than  once  at  six  o'clock  in  the  morning.  I  visited  him  in 
prison,  that  I  might  remind  him  of  what  he  well  knew,  but 
always  forgoft."  He  now  promised  again  to  abandon  his  asso- 
ciates and  enter  upon  a  new  life.  Four  or  five  days  after, 
late  in  the  evening,  came  a  card  from  him :  "  Tholuck  sighs, 
Tholuck  prays,  but  we  will  have  our  drunk  out."  Still  the 
student-professor  perseveres  in  the  love  that  seeks  and  follows. 


588  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

And  that  youth  is  now  a  preacher  of  the  gospel  of  Jesus  in  the 
imperial  city  of  Berlin.  Hundreds  and  thousands  of  youthful 
hearts  have  thus  been  won  by  this  man  of  God ;  won  from 
rationalism  and  infidelity  to  Christ  and  the  church.  How  much 
has  this  good  man  been  enabled  to  do  by  his  teaching,  his 
preaching,  and  his  written  works  !  His  praise  is  in  all  the 
churches  !  Hear  him  as  he  says,  "  What  I  have  done  in  this 
way  is  known  to  the  world ;  but  all  this  I  value  less  than  that 
I  have  been  permitted,  though  in  weakness  and  imperfection, 
to  exercise  that  love  which  seeks  and  follows.  This  is  a  work 
of  which  the  world  knows  little,  but  of  which  the  Lord  God 
knows  much."  —  Eev.  G.  Draper. 


EVIDENCE  OF  GENUINE  CONVERSION. 

Wherefore  shew  ye  to  them,  and  before  the  churches,  the  proof  of  your 
love,  and  of  our  boasting  on  your  behalf.  —  2  Cor.  8  :  24. 

ONE  of  the  strongest  and  most  infallible  evidences  of  true 
conversion  to  Christ  is  that  charity  which  prompts  to 
efforts  for  the  removal  of  poverty  and  the  mitigation  of  sorrow 
among  men.  Jesus  Christ  and  his  disciples  carried  one  com- 
mon purse,  from  which  they  moderately  supplied  their  own 
necessities,  and  doubtless  contributed  according  to  their  ability 
to  the  necessities  of  the  suffering.  The  precepts  of  Christ 
breathe  the  spirit  of  kindness  and  love.  The  practice  of  con- 
tributing to  the  support  of  the  needy  continued  among  the 
Christians,  and  the  business  of  receiving  and  disbursing  the 
funds  became  so  onerous  to  the  apostles,  and  so  beset  with 
difficulties,  that  they  could  not  attend  to  it  without  interfering 
with  their  call  to  preach  the  gospel ;  wherefore  the  church  at 
Jerusalem  appointed  seven  men  to  act  as  deacons,  whom  the 
apostles  ordained  for  this  peculiar  office  ;  and  this  practice  was 
probably  imitated  in  other  churches  ;  for  allusion  is  made  to 
it  by  Paul  in  his  Epistles  both  to  the  church  at  Corinth  and  to 
the  church  at  Galatia.  (2  Cor.  9:12;  Gal.  2 :  10.)  Indeed,  he 
exhorts  the  members  of  the  church  at  Corinth  to  lay  aside,  on 
every  Sunday,  what  they  could  consistently  contribute  for  this 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 


589 


purpose  (1  Cor.  16:1);  and  in  some  of  his  journeyings  he  had  a 
traveling  companion  to  distribute  properly  these  funds.  (2  Cor. 
8  :  19.)  —  Bev.  E.  0.  Haven. 

CHRISTIAN  LIBERALITY. 

But  this  I  say,  He  which  soweth  sparingly  shall  reap  also  sparingly,  and  he 
which  soweth  bountifully  shall  reap  also  bountifully.  —  2  Cor.  9:6.  0 

THE  time  will  come,  says  the  venerable  Dr.  Alexander,  and 
I  can  not  but  hope  that  it  is  near  at  hand,  when  all  the  dif- 
ficulty about  funds  for  the  spread  of  the  gospel  will  be  done 
away ;  when  Christians  will  learn  a  lesson  which  hitherto  they 
have  been  very  slow  to  learn,  that  the  richest  enjoyment  of 
wealth  is  to  give  its  increase  to  the  treasury  of  the  .Lord,  and 
that  the  sweetest  of  incentives  to  labor  is  the  hope  of  gaining 
something  that  may  aid  in  furthering  the  cause  of  God.  The 
excuses  for  our  want  of  liberality  are  utterly  futile  ;  they  are 
worse  —  they  are  often  impious.  If  we  are  Christians,  let  us 
act  like  Christians,  and  not  dishonor  that  sacred  name  by  a 
base,  selfish,  avaricious  spirit,  which  keeps  back  from  the  Lord 
what  is  due.  If  we  are  Christians  indeed,  we  owe  not  only 
our  wealth,  but  ourselves,  to  the  Redeemer,  who  has  bought  us 
with  a  price.  Was  he  willing  to  purchase  our  salvation  by 
pouring  out  his  blood,  and  shall  we  be  unwilling  to  give  liber- 
ally of  what  he  has  given  us  ?  The  very  heathen  will  rise  up 
in  judgment  against  narrow-hearted  Christians  ;  for  they  ex- 
pend ten  times  as  much  on  their  idols  as  these  tlo  in  supporting 
and  propagating  a  religion  which  is  truly  divine,  and  which  is 
the  only  hope  of  salvation.  0  that  mgn  would  remember  that 
they -are  but  stewards,  and  that  God  will  require  a  strict  ac- 
count of  the  manner  in  which  they  dispense  what  has  been 
committed  to  them ! 


STINGY  CHRISTIANS. 

Every  man  according  as  he  purposeth  in  his  heart,  so  let  him  give ;  not 
grudgingly,  or  of  necessity,  for  God  loveth  a  cheerful  giver.  —  2  Cor.  9  :  7. 

THE  Christian  Advocate  and  Journal  makes  the  following 
very  sensible  remarks  in  reference  to  a  class  of  Christians 
very  frequently  met  with :  — 


590  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

11  We  confess,  however,  that  we  have  often  questioned  the 
Christian  character  of  some  loud  professors  whom  we  have 
known,  on  account  of  their  stingy  contributions  to  the  support 
of  the  gospel  and  the  relief  of  the  poor.  We  have  known  some 
who  would  visit  the  sick  poor,  and  pray  with  them  as  long  and 
as  loud  as  anybody,  but  you  could  no  more  get  a  dollar  from 
them  for  the  relief  of  the  sufferers,  than  you  could  one  of  their 
teeth ;  and  it  was  evident  that  if  they  could  sell  their  prayers 
for  a  dollar  apiece,  they  would  not  have  given  one  away. 
The  minister  and  his  family  might  have  starved  if  their  breth- 
ren, less  able  to  give,  had  not  felt  their  Christian  obligations 
differently.  Such  people  have  always  by  them  that '  neat  little 
pocket  edition  of  selfishness/  as  Watson  calls  it,  '  Charity  be- 
gins at  home ; '  and,  verily,  their  charity  leaves  off  where  it 
begins.  They  add  annually  to  their  gains,  and  their  love  of 
gain  feeds  and  grows  on  the  accumulation,  until  it  hardens  the 
heart,  and  seal's  the  conscience  against  all  the  claims  which 
the  gospel  has  upon  them,  and  all  the  calls  of  mercy  and  be- 
nevolence in  favor  of  suffering  humanity.  But  the  strangest 
thing  of  all  is,  that  such  people  really  persuade  themselves 
they  are  pious  Christians,  because  they  can,  now  and  then, 
work  themselves  up  to  some  pious  feelings  and  emotions. 
Thus  they  deceive  themselves,  until  at  length  they  hear,  <  Thou 
fool,  this  night  shall  thy  soul  be  required  of  thee  ;  then  whose 
shall  these  things  be  which  thou  hast  provided  ?  ' 


HE  DID  NOT  KEEP  HIS  VOW. 

And  God  is  able  to  make  aft  grace  abound  toward  you,  that  ye,  always  hav- 
ing all  sufficiency  in  all  things,  may  abound  to  every  good  work.  —2  Coi*  9  :  8. 

SOME  years  ago  a  poor  lad  went  to  London,  in  search  of  a 
situation  as  errand-boy  ;  he  made  many  unsuccessful  appli- 
cations, and  was  on  the  eve  of  returning  to  his  parents,  when 
a  gentleman,  prepossessed  by  his  appearance,  took  him  into  his 
employment,  and,  after  a  few  months,  bound  him  apprentice. 
He  so  conducted  himself  during  his  apprenticeship  as  to  gain 
the  esteem  of  every  one  who  knew  him ;  and  after  he  had 
served  his  time,  his  master  advanced  a  capital  for  him  to  com- 


NEW   TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  591 

mence  business.  He  retired  to  his  closet  with  a  heart  glow- 
ing with  gratitude  to  his  Maker  for  his  goodness,  and  there 
solemnly  vowed  that  he  would  devote  a  ten£h  part  of  his  an- 
nual income  to  the  service  of  God.  The  first  year  his  donation 
amounted  to  ten  pounds,  which  he  gave  cheerfully,  and  con- 
tinued to  do  so  till  it  amounted  to  five  hundred  pounds.  He 
then  thought  that  was  a  great  deal  of  money  to  give,  and  that 
he  need  not  be  so  particular  as  to  the  exact  amount;  that 
year  he  lost  a  ship  and  cargo,  to  the  value  of  fifteen  thousand 
pounds,  by  a  storm.  This  caused  him  to  repent,  and  he  again 
commenced  his  contributions,  with  a  resolution  never  to 
retract.  He  was  more  successful  every  year,  and  at  length  re- 
tired. He  then  devoted  a -tenth  part  of  his  annual  income 
for  several  j^ears,  till  he  became  acquainted  with  a  party  of 
worldly  men,  who,  by  degrees,  drew  him  aside  from  God ;  he 
discontinued  his  donations,  made  large  speculations,  lost  every- 
thing, and  became  almost  as  poor  as  when  he  first  arrived  in 
London  as  an  errand-boy. 


HE  GAVE  MORE  AND  FELT- BETTER. 

As  it  is  written,  He  hath  dispersed  abroad,  he  hath  given  to  the  poor;  his 
righteousness  remaineth  for  ever.  —  2  Cor.  9  :  9. 

THE  Rev.  Robert  Newton,  in  an  address  at  a  missionary 
meeting  in  England,  related  the  following  incident :  — 

"  I  will  tell"  you  what  I  witnessed  the  other  day  at  a  meet- 
ing in  the  country.  We  had  a  very  interesting  meeting  during 
the  day,  and  it  fell  to  my  lot  to  occupy  the  pulpit  in  the  even- 
ing. After  the  meeting  dispersed,  I  stepped  into  a  neigh- 
boring house.  I  was  sitting  there  quite  alone,  until  a  man, 
without  ceremony,  opened  the  door,  and  looked  at  me  steadily, 
and  with  an  expression  of  so  much  solicitude,  that  I  became 
quite  alarmed.  At  last  I  said  — 

"  '  What  is  the  matter  ?  ' 

"  l  Matter  !  matter  !     I  am  not  satisfied  about  this.' 

"  '  About  what  ? ' 

"  '  Why,  about  this  business.' 

"'What  business?' 


592  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

11  (  Why,  the  condition  of  those  poor  creatures,  those  poor 
heathen.  I  have  been  a  mile  on  the  road ;  it  is  very  dark, 
and  very  dirty ;  f  was  thinking  about  all  you  and  the  others 
had  been  telling  us  —  and  surely  you  would  not  tell  us  what 
was  not  true.' 

"  '  God  forbid  that  we  should.  The  whole  that  we  told  you 
was  truth,  and  we  might  have  told  you  much  more.' 

" l  Well,  I  gave  a  shilling ;  and  I  thought  that  was  pretty 
well  for  a  man  in  my  situation.  I  left  the  meeting,  and  got  a 
mile  on  the  road  ;  but  thinking  on  these  things,  I  thought  that 
if  I  went  home  having  given  only  my  shilling,  I  might  have  no 
peace ;  I  was,  therefore,  like  to  come  back  again.' 

"  Taking  a  sovereign  out  of  his'  pocket,  and  laying  it  before 
me,  the  man's  countenance  brightened  up,  and  IQG  began  to 
smile,  and  said,  l  Ye're  like  to  take  ; '  and  then,  shaking  me  by 
the  hand,  as  if  he  felt  he  was  at  peace  with  his  own  conscience, 
away  he  walked,  caring  nothing  about  the  dark  night,  and  the 
dirty  road  which  he  had  to  travel  over  again." 


WEAPONS  THAT  ARE  MIGHTY  THROUGH  GOD. 

For  the  weapons  of  our  warfare  are  not  carnal,  but  mighty,  through  God, 
to  the  pulling  down  of  strongholds.  —  2  Cor.  10  :  4. 


preaching  of  the  late  Rev.  J.  Scott  having  been  made 
JL  effectual  to  the  production  of  a  great  change  in  a  young 
lady,  the  daughter  of  a  country  gentleman,  so  that  she  could 
no  longer  join  the  family  in  their  usual  dissipations,  arid  ap- 
peared to  them  as  melancholy,  or  approaching  to  it,  —  her 
father,  who  was  a  very  gay  man,  looking  upon  Mr.  Scott  as 
the  sole  cause  of  what  he  deemed  his  daughter's  misfortune, 
became  exceedingly  enraged  at  him  ;  so  much  so  that  he 
actually  lay  in  wait,  in  order  to  shoot  him.  Mr.  Scott,  being 
providentially  apprized  of  it,  was  enabled  to  escape  the  dan- 
ger. The  diabolical  design  of  the  gentleman  being  thus  de- 
feated, he  sent  Mr.  Scott  a  challenge.  Mr.  Scott  might  have 
availed  himself  of  the  law,  and  prosecuted  him  ;  but  he  took 
another  method.  He  waited  upon  him  at  his  house,  was  intro- 
duced to  him  in  his  parlor,  and,  with  his  characteristic  bold- 


NEW   TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  593 

ness  and  intrepidity,  thus  addressed  him  :  "  Sir,  I  hear  you 
have  designed  to  shoot  me,  —  by  which  you  would  have  been 
guilty  of  murder ;  failing  in  this,  you  sent  me  a  challenge  j  and 
what  a  coward  you  must  be,  sir,  to  wish  to  engage  with  a  blind 
man!  (alluding  to  his  being  short-sighted).  As  you  have  given 
me  a  challenge,  it  is  now  my  right  to  choose  the  time,  the 
place,  and  the  weapon ;  I  therefore  appoint  the  present  mo- 
ment, sir,  the  place  where  we  now  are,  and  the  sword  for  the 
weapon  to  which  I  have  been  most  accustomed."  The  gentle- 
man was  evidently  greatly  terrified  •  when  Mr.  Scott,  having 
attained  his  end,  produced  a  pocket  Bible,  and  exclaimed, 
"  This  is  my  sword,  sir  —  the  only  weapon  I  wish  to  engage 
with."  "  Never,"  said  Mr.  Scott  to  a  friend)  to  whom  he  re- 
lated this  anecdote,  "  never  was  a  poor  careless  sinner  so  de- 
lighted with  the  sight  of  a  Bible  before."  Mr.  Scott  reasoned 
with  the  gentleman  on  the  impropriety  of  his  conduct  in  treat- 
ing him  as  he  had  done,  for  no  other  reason  than  because  he 
had  preached  the  everlasting  gospel.  The  result  was,  the 
gentleman  took  him  by  the  hand,  begged  his  pardon,  ex- 
pressed his  sorrow  for  his  conduct,  and  became  afterward 
very  friendly  to  him. 

REMARKABLE  DESCRIPTION  OF  ST.  PAUL'S  PERSON. 

For  his  letters,  say  they,  are  weighty  and  powerful ;  but  his  bodily  pres- 
ence is  weak,  and  his  speech  contemptible.  —  2  Cor.  10  :  10. 

HOW  little  stress  is  to  be  laid  on  external  appearance  !  This 
prince  of  apostles  seems  to  hint  concerning  himself,  that 
his  bodily  presence  was  not  calculated  to  command  respect  at 
first  sight.  (2  Cor.  10:10.)  St.  Chrysostoni  terms  him  "a 
little  man,  about  three  cubits  [or  four  feet  and  a  half]  in 
height." 

Lucian,  or  whoever  is  the  author  of  the  Philopatris,  is  sup- 
posed to  have  had  St.  Paul  in  view,  when  he  introduces  "  a 
Galilean  "  (for  so  the  Christians  were  contemptuously  styled), 
"  rather  bald-headed,  with  an  aquiline  nose,  who  traveled 
through  the  air  into  the  third  heaven." 

But,  of  all  other  writers,  Nicephorus  Callistus  has  given  us 
the  most  circumstantial  account  of  St.  Paul's  person.     "  St. 
75 


594 


NEW   TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 


Paul  was  small  of  stature,  stooping,  and  rather  inclined  to 
crookedness ;  pale-faced,  of  an  elderly  look,  bald  on  the  head  ; 
his  eyes  lively,  keen,  and  cheerful,-  shaded,  in  part,  by  his 
eyebrows,  which  hung  a  little  over ;  his  nose  rather  long, 
and  not  ungracefully  bent ;  his  head  pretty  thick  of  hair, 
and  of  a  sufficient  length,  and,  like  his  locks,  interspersed  with 
gray." 


VARIETY  IN  EXPERIENCES. 

For  we  dare  not  make  ourselves  of  the  number,  or  compare  ourselves 
with  some  that  commend  themselves ;  but  they,  measuring  themselves  by 
themselves,  and  comparing  themselves  among  themselves,  are  not  wise.  — 
2  Cor.  10  :  12. 

IT  is  very  important  that  young  persons,  and  persons  who 
are  just  entering  upon  a  Christian  life,  should  be  taught 
not  to  try  themselves  by  other  people's  evidences.  It  is  sup- 
posed that  if  religion  is  of  God,  it  will,  of  course,  be  just  the 
same  in  all  men.  But,  in  fact,  religion  is  the  right  using  of 
the  whole  mind  and  life.  Men  are  different  one  from  another. 
They  were  meant  to  be.  The  strength  of  some  lies  in  their 
feelings,  of  others  in  their  intellect,  of  others  in  their  stability 
and  will.  Some  men  are  calm,  others  excitable.  Some  are  im- 
aginative, and  others  literal  and  practical.  Some  are  nervous 
and  quick,  others  phlegmatic  and  slow.  Besides  these  constitu- 
tional differences,  men  have  had  widely  different  teaching  and 
training,  and  all  these  circumstances  conspire  to  make  their 
religious  developments  personal  and  peculiar.  God  leads 
every  soul  according  to  what  that  soul  is  ;  and  although  love 
is  the  one  central  experience,  in  all,  and  is  that  grand  and 
characteristic  element  which  makes  all  men  alike  Christians, 
yet  love  develops  itself  in  different  men  —  in  some  gradually, 
in  others  suddenly  ;  in  some  it  is  transfused  with  the  imagina- 
tion, in  others  it  is  a  very  plain  and  homely  emotion.  It  rushes 
like  a  mountain  torrent  from  some  hearts  ;  in  others  it  is  like 
a  >ilver  spring  in  a  meadow  —  silent,  gentle,  and  almost  in- 
visible. 

No  man  should  try  to  produce  in  himself  another  man's  ex- 
perience, unless  he  first  becomes  that  other  man.  In  an  orches- 


'NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  595 

tra,  the  flute,  the  violin,  the  clarinet,  the  horns,  all  give  forth 
music.  But  music  is  not  the  same  sound  nor  of  the  same 
quality  in  each  of  them  as  in  the  other.  Love  God  and  love 
men  with  your  nature.  And  do  not  lose  comfort  and  growth 
in  grace  by  waiting  to  feel  like  some  other  Christian.  Be  a 
Christian.  Consecrate  your  heart  and  your  life  to  Christ's 
service,  and  then  the  greater  the  difference  between  you  and 
other  Christians  the  better ;  just  as  in  a  flower-garden,  the 
summer  is  rich,  not  by  having  all  flowers  just  like  each  other, 
but  by  having  as  many  different  varieties  as  is  possible. 


BEGUILING  SOULS  BY  CORRUPTING 

But  I  fear  lest  by  any  means,  as  the  serpent  beguiled 
subtlety,  so  your  minds  should  be  corrupted  from  the  simplic 
Christ. —  2  Cor.  11:  3. 

IT  has  been  the  work  of  Satan,  since  the  creation  of  man,  to 
accomplish  the  ruin  of  souls  by  deception.  He  has  no 
power  to  destroy,  directly  of  himself.  But  by  deceiving,  be- 
guiling, imposing  upon  by  artifice,  he  leads  on  to  acts  which 
effect  the  ruin  of  souls.  "  The  serpent  beguiled  me,  and  I 
did  eat,"  is  the  testimony  of  the  first  woman  to  the  deceiving 
power  of  the  devil.  The  history  following  that  act  is  a  sad 
one.  The  eagle  of  the  Alpine  mountains  can  not  kill  the 
chamois  by  a  fair  fight,  but  by  filling  her  feathers  with  sand, 
then  by  flying  into  the  face  of  the  chamois,  and  flapping  her 
wings,  and  shaking  her  feathers,  can,  by  fright  and  purblinding 
the  animal,  make  it  leap  the  precipice,  to  be  dashed  in  pieces 
among  the  rocks,  where  it  can  be  devoured  at  will.  So  Satan 
beguiles  souls  by  corrupting  the  mind  with  unbelief,  or  indu- 
cing to  wicked  deeds,  either  of  which  will  lead  to  destruction. 
But  the  saddest  thought  of  all  is,  Satan  uses  one  human  soul 
to  beguile  others.  He  approached  Eve  embodied  in  the  ser- 
pent, for  then  there  were  no  depraved  souls  to  be  used  as  his 
agents.  The  trick  was  successful,  and  Eve  listened  to  its 
voice,  that  spoke  to  her  in  her  own  language.  But  sin^e  man 
has  become  separated  from  God  by  wicked  works,  Satan  no 
longer  uses  serpents,  or  other  creatures  of  the  field,  by  which 


596  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

to  approach  man  and  effect  his  ruin.  But  now  he  passes 
among  men  embodied  in  men,  by  whom  he  deceives,  beguiles, 
and  destroys  by  unbelief,  by  false  doctrine,  by  inducing  preju- 
dice to  the  truths  of.  God,  by  leading  man  to  array  himself 
against  God's  law,  and  by  inducing  a  state  of  impenitence  that 
refuses  to  seek  forgiveness  through  Jesus  Christ.  It  is  won- 
derful how  he  sticks  to  his  old  text,  which  was  once  so  sadly 
successful.  "  Yo  shall  not  surely  die,"  is  the  key-stone  of 
the  arch  which  bears  up  all  the  Universalism,  Unitarianism, 
Rationalism,  and  Deism,  that  now  hold  thousands  of  souls 
within  their  bands  of  unbelief.  What  a  sad  reflection  will 
they  have  who  lead  astray,  as  they  remember  that  in  this 
world  they  were  made  the  cat's  paw  for  the  devil  to  drag 
souls  away  from  the  truth  as  it  is  in  Jesus  !  St.  Paul  says,  "  I 
fear  lest  by  any  means,  as  the  serpent  beguiled  Eve  through 
his  subtlety,  so  your  minds  should  be  corrupted  from  the  sim- 
plicity that  is  in  Christ." 


HALF  A  CENTURY'S  LABORS. 

Are  they  ministers  of  Christ?  (I  speak  as  a  fool) ;  I  am  more ;  in  labors 
more  abundant.  —  2  Cor.  11 :  23. 

THE   following  summary  of  the   ministerial   labors  of  the 
venerable  Bishop  Morris  is  published  in  the  Ladies'  Re- 
pository.   It  is  the  subject  of  a  note  from  him  to  the  editor  of 
that  periodical :  — 

"  I  was  licensed  to  preach  April  2,  1814,  by  Elder  David 
Young,  and  by  him  employed  on  a  circuit  in  1815  ;  admitted 
on  trial  by  the  Ohio  Conference  in  1816,  and  in  full  connec- 
tion and  ordained  deacon  in  1818,  and  ordained  elder  in  1820, 
and  bishop  in  1836. 

During  the  four  years  and  a  half  that  I  was  a  licen- 
tiate I  preached  sermons,  over  .     .     .    • 1,000 

As  deacon  two  years, 500 

As  elder  sixteen  years,    ..." 3,000 

As  bisnop  twenty-eight  years,. about 3,000 

In  all,  say 7,500 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  597 

I  traveled  as  a  preacher  before  I  was  bishop,  mostly  on 

horseback,  miles £0,000 

As  bishop,  mostly  by  public  conveyance,    ....      140,000 

In  all,  say,  miles,       200,000 

During  twenty-eight  years'  episcopal  service  I  presided 

in  annual  conferences,  say 0 

Ordained  preachers, 5,000 

Appointed  preachers  to  their  work,  about       ....  20,000 

"  The  above  figures  are  taken  from  the  best  data  in  my  pos- 
session, and  are  believed  to  be  reliable." 


ST.  PAUL  IN  PARADISE. 

How  that  he  was  caught  up  into  paradise,  and  heard  unspeakable  words, 
which  it  is  not  lawful  for  a  man  to  utter.  —  2  Cor.  12  :  4. 

"  T)ARADISE,"  says  Rev.  Joseph  Benson,  in  his  Commen- 
JL  tary,  "  is  the  seat  of  happy  spirits  in  their  separate  state 
between  death  and  the  resurrection.  Holy  souls  enter  this 
place  or  state  immediately  upon  death."  (Luke  23  :  43.)  Con- 
cerning St.  Paul's  transportation  to  paradise,  Dr.  Macknight 
observes,  "  Since  the  things  which  he  saw  and  heard  in  para- 
dise could  not,  or  might  not,  be  expressed  in  human  language, 
it  is  plain  that  the  purpose  for  which  he  was  caught  up  was 
not  to  receive  any  revelation  of  the  gospel  doctrine,  because 
that  could  have  served  no  purpose,  if  the  apostle  could  not 
communicate  what  he  heard ;  but  it  was  to  encourage  him 
in  the  difficult  and  dangerous  work  in  which  he  was  engaged. 
Accordingly,  by  taking  him  up  into  paradise,  and  showing 
him  the  glories  of  the  invisible  world,  and  making  him  a  wit- 
ness of  the  happiness  which  the  righteous  enjoy  with  Christ, 
even  before  their  resurrection,  his  faith  in  the  promises  of  the 
gospel  must  have  been  so  exceedingly  strengthened,  and  his 
hope  so  raised,  as  to  enable  <him  to  bear  with  alacrity  that 
heavy  load  of  complicated'  evils  to  which  he  was  exposed  in 
the  course  of  his  ministry.  Not  to  mention  this  confirmation 
of  the  apostle's  faith,  is  no  small  confirmation  of  ours  also. 


598  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

Some  suppose  that  it  was  here  the  apostle  was  made  ac- 
quainted with  the  mystery  of  the  future  state  of  the  church, 
and  received  his  orders  to  turn  from  the  Jews,  and  go  to  the 
Gentiles." 


GOD'S  WAY  THE  BEST  WAT. 

For  this  thing  I  besought  the  Lord  thrice,  that  it  might  depart  from  me. 
And  he  said  unto  me,  My  grace  is  sufficient  for  thee,  for  my  strength  is  made 
perfect  in  weakness.  Most  gladly,  therefore,  will  I  rather  glory  in  my  infirmi- 
ties, that  the  power  of  Christ  may  rest  upon  me.  —  2  Cor.  12 :  8,  9. 

GOD  did  not  take  up  the  three  Hebrews  out  of  the  furnace 
of  fire  ;  but  he  came  down  and  walked  with  them  in  it. 
He  did  not  remove  Daniel  from  the  den  of  lions  j  he  sent  his 
angels  to  close  the  mouths  of  the  beasts.  He  did  not,  in  an- 
swer to  the  prayer  of  Paul,  remove  the  thorn  in  the  flesh,  but 
he  gave  him  a  sufficiency  of  grace  to  sustain  him.  Our  prayers 
should  not  be  so  much  to  be  delivered  from  trials,  as  for  grace 
to  bear  them.  Our  trials  make  occasion  for  God's  presence 
and  grace  to  be  manifested  in  us  and  by  us.  God's  power  to 
divide  the  Red  Sea  would  never  have  been  manifested3  had 
not  Israel  been  called  to  pass  over  on  their  way  to  Canaan. 


CHRISTIAN  BURDEN  A  BLESSING. 

For  what  is  it  wherein  ye  were  inferior  to  other  churches,  except  it  be  that 
I  myself  was  not  burdensome  to  you?  forgive  me  this  wrong.  —  2  Cor.  12  :  13. 

A  LIBERAL  Christian  merchant,  when  asked  how  he  could 
JLJL  give  so  liberally  to  every  good  object,  replied,— 

"  Before  I  was  converted  I  spent  liberally  for  self  and  the 
world,  and  at  my  conversion  I  solemnly  promised  to  give  a 
fixed  proportion  of  all  my  income  to  doing  good  ;  and  every 
year  my  business  has  steadily  increased,  so  that  now  I  can 
steadily  give  more  to  Him  who  gives  me  all." 

And  to  another,  who  had  suffered  heavy  losses,  his  pastor 
said, — 

"  You  have  lost  so  much  this  year  that  I  did  not  think  of 
calling  on  you." 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  599 

"  Yes/'  he  replied,  "  I  have  suffered  great  losses,  and  must 
begin  to  retrench ;  but  retrenchment  must  not  begin  at  the 
house  of  God." 

And  Thornton,  the  rich  and  liberal  friend  of  Cowper  and 
John  Newton,  in  similar  circumstances,  said,  — 

"  The  wealth  is  not  mine,  but  the  Lord's,  and  may  be  he  is 
going  to  take  it  out  of  my  hands,  and  give  it  to  another  who 
will  be  more  faithful ;  and  if  so,  I  ought  to  be  making  good  use 
of  what  is  left."  And  he  doubled  his  usual  subscription. 

In  a  similar  spirit  Richard  Baxter  writes,  — 

"  I  never  prospered  more  in  my  small  estate  than  when  I 
gave  away  most.  My  rule  has  been  to  study  to  need  as 
little  as  possible  for  myself;  to  lay  out  nothing  on  need-nots  ; 
to  live  frugally  on  little  ;  to  serve  God  on  what  he  allowed 
me.  so  that  what  I  took  for  self  might  be  as  good  work  for  the 
common  good  as  that  which  I  gave  for  others ;  and  then  to  do 
all  the  good  I  could  with  the  rest.  And  the  more  I  have  had 
to  do  with  (for  to  the  glory  of  God's  grace  he  will  be  no  man's 
debtor),  and  when  I  gave  away  almost  all,  the  more  came  in, 
I  scarce  know  how,  when  unexpected  and  unplanned  for  ;  and 
when,  by  improvidence,  I  was  led  to  use  too  much  on  myself, 
or  on  things  of  little  importance,  then  I  prospered  less  than 
when  I  did  otherwise.  If  I  had  planned  to  give  only  after  my 
death,  then  all  might  have  been  lost ;  whereas,  when  I  gave 
away  at  present,  and  trusted  God  for  the  future,  then  I  wanted 
nothing  and  lost  nothing." 

It  reminds  one  of  the  epitaph  on  the  old  tombstone  in 
Italy  :  — 

"  What  I  spent,  I  had  ;  what  I  gave,  I  saved  ;  what  I  kept, 
I  lost." 

Or,  as  Mark  Antony  said,  when  in  distress,  and  at  the  ebb 
of  fortune, — • 

"  I  have  lost  everything  except  what  I  have  given  away." 

Good  old  John  Bunyan  writes,  — 

"  A  man  there  was,  and  they  called  him  mad; 
The  more  he  gave  the  more  he  had." 

"  And  giving  to  the  Lord,"  says  another,  "  is  but  transport- 
ing our  goods  to  a  higher  floor." 

When  a  poor  heathen  came  to  one  of  our  missionaries,  giv- 


600  NEW   TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

ing  firkt  for  himself,  then  for  his  wife,  and  then  for  each  one  of 
his  children,  on  being  asked  if  he  was  not  giving  too  much, 
his  touching  and  memorable  reply  was,  "  God's  work  must  be 
done,  and  I  may  be  dead  ! "  The  lesson  is  one  that  all  may 
well  remember ;  and,  in  giving  as  well  as  doing,  God's  provi- 
dence, as  well  as  his  word,  continually  teaches  that  we  do  with 
our  might  what  our  hands  find  to  do,  and  that  in  endeavoring 
to  be  faithful  we  shall  be  blessed. 


"WHAT  IS  THE  STATE  OF  YOUR  SOUL,  MY  FRIEND?" 

Examine  yourselves,  whether  ye  be  in  the  faith ;  prove  your  own  selves.  — 
2  Cor.  13  :  5. 

ONE  day,  as  Felix  Neff  was  walking  in  a  street  in  the  city 
of  Lausanne,  he  saw,  at  a  distance,  a  man  whom  he  took 
for  one  of  his  friends.  He  ran  up  behind  him,  tapped  him  on 
the  shoulder  before  looking  in  his  face,  and  asked  him, "  What 
is  the  state  of  your  soul,  my  friend  ?  "  The  stranger  turned : 
Neff'  perceived  his  error,  apologized,  and  went  his  way. 
About  three  or  four  years  after,  a  person  came  to  Neff,  and 
accosted  him,  saying  he  was  indebted  to  him  for  his  inestima- 
ble kindness.  Neff  did  not  recognize  the  man,  and  begged  lie 
would  explain.  The  stranger  replied,  "  Have  you  forgotten 
an  unknown  person  whose  shoulder  you  touched  in  a  street  in 
Lausanne,  and  asked  him,  <  How  do  you  find  your  soul  ? '  It 
was  I :  your  question  led  me  to  serious  reflection,  and  now  I 
find  it  is  well  with  my  soul."  This  proves  what  apparently 
small  means  may  be  blessed  of  God  for  the  conversion  of  sin- 
gers, and  how  many  opportunities  for  doing  good  we  are  con- 
tinually letting  slip,  and  which  .thus  pass  irrecoverably  beyond 
our  reach.  One  of  the  questions  which  every  Christian  should 
propose  to  himself  on  setting  out  on  a  journey  is,  "  What  op- 
portunities shall  I  have  to  do  good?  "  And  one  of  the  points 
on  which  he  should  examine  himself  on  his  return  is,  "  What 
opportunities  have  I  lost  ?  "  —  James. 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  G01 

"HE  KNOWS  NOT  WHAT  HE  SAITH." 

Now  I  pray  to  God  that  yc  do  no  evil.  —  2  Cor.  13  :  7. 

A  WEALTHY  merchant  once  gave  the  following  account : 
J\.  As  he  wa^  standing  at  his  door  one  day  a  venerable,  gray- 
headed  man  approached  him  and  asked  alms.  He  answered 
him  with  severity,  and  demanded  why  he  lived  so  useless  a 
life.  The  beggar  answered  that  age  disabled  him  for  labor, 
and  he  had  committed  himself  to  the  providence  of  God  and 
kindness  of  good  people.  The  rich  man  was  at  this  time  an 
infidel.  He  ordered  the  old  man  to  depart,  at  the  same  time 
casting  some  reflections  on  the  providence  of  God.  The  ven- 
erable beggar  descended  the  steps,  and  kneeling  at  the  bottom, 
offered  up  the  following  prayer  :  "  0  my  gracious  God,  I  thank 
thee  that  my  bread  and  water  are  sure,  but  pray  thee,  for  thy 
dear  Son's  sake,  to  remember  this  man ;  he  hath  reflected  on 
thy  providence.  Father,  forgive  him ;  he  knows  not  what  he 
saith !  " 

Thus  the  present  scene  ended.  The  words,  "  Father,  for- 
give him  ;  he  knows  not  what  he  saith !  "  constantly  rang  in 
the  ears  of  the  rich  man.  He  was  much  disconcerted  the 
following  night.  The  next  day,  being  called  on  business  to  a 
neighboring  town,  he  overtook  the  old  man  on  the  road.  As 
he  afterward  confessed,  the  sight  almost  petrified  him  with 
guilt  and  fear.  He  dismounted,  when  an  interesting  conver- 
sation ensued.  At  the  close  of  it  the  old  man  remarked, 
"  Yesterday  I  was  hungry,  and  called  at  the  door  of  a  rich 
man.  He  was  angry,  and  told  me  he  did  not  believe  in  the 
providence  of  God,  and  bade  me  depart ;  but  at  the  next  house 
I  had  a  plentiful  meal.  And  this,  mark  ye,  was  at  the  house 
of  a  poor  woman." 

The  wealthy  man  confessed  that  at  this  moment  he  was 
pierced  with  a  sense  of  guilt.  He  then  gave  some  money  to 
the  poor  man,  of  whom  he  never  could  hear  afterward ;  yet  the 
sound  of  these  words,  being  impressed  upon  his  mind  by  the 
last  interview,  —  "  He  knows  not  what  he  saith,"  —  never  left 
him  till  he  was  brought  to  Christian  repentance. 

76 


602  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 


HE  DIED  FOR  US. 

"Who  gave  himself  for  our  sins,  that  he  might  deliver  us  from  this  present 
evil  world,  according  to  the  will  of  God  and  our  Father.  —  Gal.  1 :  4. 

A  SAILING  ship  started  from  England  many  years  ago ;  it 
JLJL  was  loaded  with  passengers,  who  were  seeking  a  home  in 
America.  Among  them  were  two  brothers :  one  was  married  ; 
his  wife  and  two  children  were  already  in  America,  and  ex- 
pecting his  arrival ;  the  other  was  single.  The  ship  sprung 
a-ieak  near  the  Banks,  and  had  to  be  abandoned  ;  the  ship's 
boats  were  sufficient  to  take  two  thirds  of  the  passengers,  and 
no  more.  It  was  determined  by  lot  who  should  go  into  the 
boats,  and  who  should  stay  on  the  sinking  ship.  In  casting 
the  lot,  the  single  brother  was  chosen  to  go,  and  the  married 
one  elected  to  stay  on  the  ship.  They  looked  at  each  other, 
but  did  not  speak ;  after  a  few  breathless  moments  the  single 
man  stepped  out  of  line  and  beckoned  the  brother  to  take  his 
place.  Said  he,  "  You  have  a  wife  arid  two  children  depend- 
ing upon  you  ;  1  have  none  to  care  for  but  mother,  and  I  never 
expect  to  see  her."  The  married  brother  hesitated,  and  the 
other  as  much  insisted  on  his  going,  until  the  time  had  arrived 
for  one  or  the  other  to  go.  The  married  man  jumped  into  the 
boat,  and  in  a  few  minutes  all  was  over  with  those  that  re- 
mained. He  met  his  wife  and  children ;  their  hearts  were 
made  glad  together.  The  joy  of  that  meeting,  with  new  scenes, 
banished  for  a  while  the  lost  brother  from  the  husband's  mem- 
ory, until  his  wife  asked  where  James  was  (meaning  the  single 
brother).  Then  the  scene  on  shipboard  flashed  before  his 
mind,  and,  overwhelmed  with  grief,  he  wept,  but  did  not  speak. 
When  he  did  speak,  does  any  one  suppose  he  said,  I  remember 
James  as  I  do  a  bird  I  once  had,  or  as  the  flowers  that  grew 
in  our  garden,  or  as  I  do  a  summer's  day  ?  No,  hardly.  He 
spoke,  and  it  was  this:  "James  gave  his  life  for  my  life  and 
yours ;  "  then  the  whole  story  was  told.  The  wife  wept ;  they 
both  wept  and  prayed  together ;  and  ever  After,  the  mention 
of  that  brother's  name  brought  tears  to  the  eyes  of  those 
parents. 

We  were  chosen  to  die ;  Jesus   took  our  place,  and  we  live 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  603 

to  enjoy  salvation.  What  shall  I  say  of  him?  he  is  a  good 
man  ?  No,  hardly  that.  The  lawyer  called  him  good  ;  infidels 
call  him  good.  No  more  virulent  epithet  could  be  chosen  or 
invented  than  to  apply  the  term  "  good  "  to  my  Saviour.  He 
gave  his  life  for  my  life  and  yours.  Let  tears  tell  the  rest.  — 
Rev.  Wilson  Gray. 


DR.  CHANNING  AS  A  PREACHER. 

But  though  we,  or  an  angel  from  heaven,  preach  any  other  gospel  unto 
you  than  that  which  we  have  preached  unto  you,  let  him  be  accursed.  — 
Gal.  1 :  8. 

REV.  DR.  JOHN  M.  MASON,  of  New  York,  having  heard 
the  celebrated  Unitarian  minister,  Rev.  Dr.  Charming, 
preach,  was  asked  what  he  thought  of  his  sermon.  "  I  ad- 
mired," said  he,  "  the  beauty  of  its  style,  the  splendor  of  its 
imagery,  the  correctness  of  its  sentiments,  and  the  point  of 
its  arguments ;  but  it  lacked  one  thing :  it  needed  to  be  bap- 
tized in  the  name  of  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  to  entitle  it  to  the 
name  of  a  Christian  sermon." 

A  beautifully- written  essay  may  be  very  fine  as  an  essay ; 
but  to  read  it  from  the  pulpit  on  the  Sabbath  day,  as  a  gospel 
sermon,  would  be  a  failure  to  the  reader,  and  robbery  to  the 
people.  The  people  want  —  bread. 


.  NO  LONGER  A  PERSECUTOR. 

But  they  had  heard  only,  That  he  which  persecuted  us  in  times  past,  now 
preacheth  the  faith  which  once  he  destroyed.  —  Gal.  1 :  23. 

CjEVERAL  years  ago,  a  charity  sermon  was  preached  in  a 
U  dissenting  chapel  in  the  west  of  England  ;  and  when  the 
preacher  ascended  the  pulpit,  he  thus  addressed  his  hearers  : 
"  My  brethren,  before  I  proceed  to  the  duties  of  this  evening, 
allow  me  to  relate  a  short  anecdote.  Many  years  have  elapsed 
since  I  was  within  the  walls  of  this  house.  Upon  that  very 
evening  there  came  three  young  men,  with  the  intention  not 
only  of  scoffing  at  the  minister,  but  with  their  pockets  filled 
with  stones,  for  the  purpose  of  assaulting  him.  After  a  few 


694  NEW   TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

words,  one  of  them  said,  with  an  oath,  l  Let  us  be  at  him  now  ; ' 
but  the  second  replied,  <  No,  stop  till  we  hear  what  he  makes 
of  this  point.'  The  minister  went  on,  when  the  second  said, 
*  We  have  heard  enough ;  now  throw  ! '  But  the  third  inter- 
fered, saying,  *  He  is  not  so  foolish  as  I  expected  ;  let  us  hear 
him  out.'  The  preacher  concluded  without  having  been  in- 
terrupted. Now,  mark  me,  brethren :  of  those  three  young 
men,  one  was  executed  a  few  months  ago,  at  Newgate,  for 
forgery ;  the  second  lies  under  sentence  of  death,  at  this  mo- 
ment in  the  jail  of  this  city,  for  murder  j  the  other,"  con- 
cluded the  minister,  with  great  emotion,  "  the  third,  through 
the  infinite  grace  of  God,  is  even  now  about  to  address  you  ; 
listen  to  him." 


DISSIMULATION. 

And  the  other  Jews  dissembled  likewise  with  him,  insomuch  that  Barnabas 
also  was  carried  away  with  their  dissimulation.  — Gal.  2  :  13. 

"TTTHEN  Bishop  Chase  was  bishop  of  Ohio,  he  encountered, 

VV     on  one  occasion,  the  Hon. ,  then  chief  judge  of  the 

same  state,  and  whom  he  had  not  met  for  many  years.  They 
had  been  schoolmates,  and  the  bishop  reminded  his  friend  of 
old  times,  and,  with  a  comfortable  air  of  self-satisfaction,  con- 
gratulated him  upon  their  success  in  life,  and  the  honorable 
position  in  which  they  found  each  other  after  their  long  sepa- 
ration, concluding,  "  And,  better  than  all,  judge,  I  find  you  are 
a  member  of  our  church."  "  Well,"  said  the  judge,  "  that's  more 
a  matter  of  chance  than  anything  else.  You  see,  when  I  was 
getting  established  in  my  profession,  wife  and  I  thought  we 
ought  to  join  some  church  ;  'twas  more  respectable.  So,  after 
mature  deliberation,  we  settled  down  with  the  Baptists,  and 
got  on  very  well  for  a  time ;  but  they  kept  harping  on  '  faith,' 
1  faith,'  till  we  pretty  soon  discovered  that  they  required 
more  '  faith  '  than  we  had ;  so  itjbecame  necessary  to  make  a 
change.  We  turned  the  matter  over  considerably,  and 'at  last, 
from  various  reasons,  made  up  our  minds  to  join  the  Method- 
ists. Here  we  found  the  demand  was,  <  work,'  <  work,'  inces- 
santly ;  and  it  was  presently  apparent  that  they  demanded  more 


NEW   TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  605 

1  work  '  than  we  were  able  to  perform.  It  was  with  great  re- 
luctance that  we  concluded  that  we*  must  change  again,  and 
cast  about  with  much  caution,  that  this  move  might  be  final. 
At  last  we  decided  to  connect  ourselves  with  your  church, 
bishop,  and  have  got  along  famously  ever  since,  without  either 
faith  or  works." 


JUSTIFIED  THROUGH  FAITH  IN  -CHRIST. 

Knowing  that  a  man  is  not  justified  by  the  works  of  the  law,  but  by  the 
faith  of  Jesus  Christ,  even  we  have  believed  in  Jesus  Christ,  that  we  might 
be  justified  by  the  faith  of  Christ,  and  not  by  the  works  of  the  law;  for  by  the 
works  of  the  law  shall  no  flesh  be  justifi«  — Gal.  2  :  16. 

WHEN  a  person  has  been  brought  to  trial,  and  found  guilty, 
if  he  is  able  to  mako  a  sufficient  satisfaction  for  his 
offense,  either  through  his  own  ability  or  that  of  his  friends, 
and  the  law  accepts  such  an  indemnification,  the  criminal  would 
depart  from  the  trial  justified.  The  accepted  satisfaction 
would  not,  indeed,  render  him  an  innocent  man ;  but  he  would 
be  so  regarded  by  the  law ;  and,  though  guilty,  he  would  be 
no  more  liable  to  prosecution  and  punishment  for  that  offense 
than  a  person  who  had  never  committed  it.  Now,  this  is  the 
way  in  which  we  are  justified  in  the  sight  of  God.  We  are 
found  guilty  by  this  just  Judge ;  and  at  any  moment  his  jus- 
tice may  inflict  upon  us  the  deserved  sentence  of  eternal 
death.  We  have  no  ability  of  our  own  to  make  satisfaction ; 
but  an  Almighty  Friend  and  Saviour  has  died  to  make  "an 
atonement  for  our  sins;  and  he  permits  us  to  offer  the 
merits  of  his  most  precious  blood-shedding  to  •  God  for  the 
remission  of  those  sins.  God  accepts  this  satisfaction  from  all 
who  have  a  right  to  offer  it,  and,  in  consideration  of  it,  releases 
them  from  the  penalty  of  eternal  death,  to  which  they  stood 
exposed.  A  person  pleading  this  satisfaction  is  not,  indeed, 
rendered  innocent  through  what  his  Saviour  has  done  for  him, 
but  he  is  treated  as  such ;  he  is  no  longer  liable  to  punish- 
ment ;  and  we  may  say  that  an  angel  in  heaven  is  in  as  much 
danger  of  eternal  torment  as  is  a  person  who  is  found  in  Christ, 
having  the  infinite  merits  of  his  Saviour  to  plead  for  his  own 
justification.  —  Lewis. 


606  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 


INTELLECTUAL  CULTURE  NOT  THE  HIGHEST  GOOD. 

I  am  crucified  with  Christ;  nevertheless  I  live;  yet  not  I,  but  Christ  liv- 
eth  in  me ;  and  the  life  which  I  now  live  in  the  flesh  I  live  by  the  faith  of  the 
Son  of  God,  who  loved  me,  and  gave  himself  for  me.  —  Gal.  2 :  20. 

I  WOULD  by  no  means  represent  intellectual  culture  as 
the  highest  good.  We  have  a  better  part,  a  nobler  en- 
dowment, than  the  faculties  of  the  intellect  —  a  higher  destiny 
than  to  be  well  educated.  To  be  virtuous  is  better  than  to  be 
intelligent,  and  to  be  good  is  the  highest  wisdom.  Science 
does  not  unfold  the  faith  by  which  the  Christian  walks  the 
troubled  seas  of  life  ;  learning  gives  not  that  hope  which  over 
the  wreck  of  earthly  joys  sustains  the  sinking  heart ;  knowl- 
edge can  not  save  the  soul  from  sin,  nor  redeem  it  from  the 
consequences  of  transgression  ;  but  for  the  hope  of  salvation, 
for  the  gift  of  eternal  life,  the  learned  and  the  ignorant  must 
alike  come  to  Jesus.  Not  on  the  mighty  intellect,  not  on  the 
tutored  mind,  but  on  the'meek,  the  merciful,  the  pure  in  heart, 
did  the  Saviour  pronounce  the  blessing.  The  way  to  holiness, 
and  hope,  and  heaven  is  lighted  from  above,  not  from  the 
human  understanding.  Jesus  is  himself  the  way,  the  truth, 
and  the  light.  The  glad  tidings  of  his  love  and  mercy  are  to 
all  —  to  those  sunk  in  ignorance  as  well  as  to  the  learned.  His 
offer  of  pardon,  of  salvation,  of  restoration  to  unity  with  the 
eternal  Father,  is  freely  made  to  all  the  children  of  a  fallen 
race,  repentance  and  faith  in  Christ  being  the  only  condition 
of*  acceptance  with  him. 

But  the  goodness  of  our  heavenly  Father  has  so  framed 
our  mental  constitution,  that  there  is  no  antagonism  between 
the  intellect  and  the  heart ;  but  each  is  developed  best  when 
both  are  developed  conjointly.  Moses,  the  lawgiver,  and  Paul, 
the  apostle,  are  examples  where  the  highest  intellectual  train- 
ing has  been  dedicated  to  the  service  of  God  —  examples 
sufficient  to  show  us  that  learning  is  not  incompatible  with 
humility  and  holiness,  and  that  he  who  has  reached  its  highest 
attainments  may  yet  "  do  justly,  love  mercy,  and  walk  humbly 
with  his  God."  —  Mahcdah  Fay. 


NEW   TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  607 

NOT  FEELING,  BUT  FAITH. 

But  that  no  man  is  justified  by  the  law  in  the  sight  of  God,  it  is  evident ; 
for,  The  just  shall  live  by  faith.  —  Gal.  3  :  11. 

THE  Bible  makes  little  or  no  account  of  our  feelings,  but 
great  account  of  faith.  Predominance  of  faith  over  feel- 
ing is  a  very  decisive  mark  of  maturity  of  grace.  In  times 
when  our  experience  is  put  to  the  proof,  and  we  are  required 
to  give  a  reason  for  the  hope  that  is  in  us,  the  babe  in  Christ 
looks  to  himself;  the  man  in  Christ  instinctively  and  instantly 
•looks  to  God.  The  one  looks  after  his  experience,  the  other 
looks  after  his  Saviour.  Can  not  many  attest  what  is  here 
stated  ?  Does  not  the  weak  believer,  when  sore  temptations 
press  upon  him,  or  severe  sickness  startles  him,  look  back  upon 
the  past,  and,  while  he  deplores  his  sins,,  draw  his  comfort  from 
the  memory  of  his  conversion  and  of  the  other  Bethels  where 
he  has  set  up  Ebenezer  stones?  And  does  not  the  confirmed 
believer,  in  such  cases,  look  right  up  to  God  ?  It  is  well  to 
have  lively  emotions,  but  it  is  not  well  to  trust  in  them,  for 
the  dyspepsia  can  cloud  them,  and  Satan  may  be  permitted  to 
destroy  them.  That  Christian  only  is  in  an  impregnable  for- 
tress, bomb-prooF  against  hell's  artillery,  who  can  say  with 
faith,  "  Who  is  he  that  condemneth?  It  is  Christ  that  died." 


THE  FULLNESS  IN  CHRIST. 

Christ  hath  redeemed  us  from  the  curse  of  the  law,  being  made  a  curse  for 
us ;  for  it  is  written,  Cursed  is  every  one  that  hangeth  on  atree.  — Gal.  3  :  13. 

HOW  difficult  it  would  be  to  name  a  noble  figure,  a  sweet 
simile,  a  tender  or  attractive  relationship,  in  which  Jesus 
is  not  set  forth  to  woo  a  reluctant  sinner  and  cheer  a  despond- 
ing saint !  Am  I  wounded  ?  He  is  balm.  Am  I  sick  ?  He  is 
medicine.  Am  I  naked?  He  is  clothing.  Am  I  poor?  He 
is  wealth.  Am  I  hungry?  Ho  is  bread.  Am  I  thirsty?  He 
is  water.  Am  I  in  debt?  He  is  a  surety.  Am  I  in  darkness  ? 
He  is  a  sun.  Have  I  a  house  to  build  ?  He  is  a  rock.  Must 
I  face  that  black  and  gathering  storm?  He  is  an  anchor,  sure 


608  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

and  steadfast.     Am  I  to  be  tried?     He  is  an  advocate.     Is 
sentenced  passed,  and  am  I  to  be  condemned  ?     He  is  pardon. 

To  deck  him  out  and  set  him  forth,  Nature  culls  her  finest 
flowers,  brings  her  choicest  ornaments,  and  lays  these  treasures 
at  his  feet.  The  skies  contribute  their  stars.  The  sea  gives 
up  its  pearls.  From  fields,  and  rivers,  and  mountains,  Earth 
brings  the  tribute  of  her  gold,  and  gems,  and  myrrh,  and 
frankincense,  the  lily  of  the  valley,  the  clustered  vine,  and  the 
fragrant  rose  of  Sharon.  He  is  "  the  chiefs st  among  ten 
thousand,  and  the  One  altogether  lovely."  "  In  him  dwelleth 
all  the  fullness  of  the  Godhead  bodily."  I  offer  him  to  you  — 
make  a  free  offer  of  him ;  and,  doing  so,  will  challenge  you  to* 
name  a  want  for  which  I  shall  not  find  a  full  supply  in  Christ 
—  something  that  fits  your  wants  as  accurately  as  the  works 
of  a  key  the  wards  of  its  lock. 

Tertullian  saith,  "  If  thou  endurest  wrong  for  Christ's  sake, 
he  is  a  Revenger  ;  if  sorrow,  he  is  a  Comforter  ;  if  sickness, 
he  is  a  Physician ;  if  loss,  he  is  a  Restorer ;  if  life,  he  is  a 
Reviver. 


DR.  MASON  AND  THE  DYING  UNITARIAN. 

Now,  a  mediator  is  not  a  mediator  of  one,  but  God  is  one.  — Gal.  3  :  20. 

THE  Rev.  Dr.  Mason,  of  New  York,  was  once  requested  to 
visit  a  lady  in  dying  circumstances,  who,  together  with  her 
husband,  openly  avowed  infidel  principles,  though  they  at- 
tended on  his  ministry.  On  approaching  her  bedside,  he 
asked  her  if  she  felt  herself  a  sinner,  and  perceived  the  need 
of  a  Saviour.  She  frankly  told  him  she  did  not ;  and  that  she 
wholly  disbelieved  the  doctrine  of  a  Mediator.  "  Then/'  said 
the  doctor,  "  I  have  no  consolation  for  you  ;  not  one  word  of 
comfort.  There  is  not  a  single  passage  in  the  Bible  that  war- 
rants me  to  speak  peace  to  any  one  who  rejects  the  Mediator 
provided  for  lost  sinners.  You  must  abide  the  consequences 
of  your  infidelity."  Saying  that,  ho  was  on  the  point  of  leav- 
ing the  room,  when  some  one  said,  "  Well,  but,  doctor,  if  you 
can  not  speak  consolation  to  her,  you  can  pray  for  her."  To 
this  he  assented,  and  kneeling  down  by  the  bedside,  prayed 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  609 

for  her  as  a  guilty  sinner,  just  sinking  into  hell  j  and  then 
arising  from  his  knees,  he  left  the  house.  A  day  or  two  after, 
he  received  a  letter  from  the  lady  herself,  earnestly  desiring 
that  he  would  come  and  see  her  without  delay.  He  immedi- 
ately obeyed  the  summons ;  but  what  was  his  amazement, 
when,  on  entering  the  room,  she  held  out  her  hand  to  him,  and 
said,  with  a  benignant  smile,  "  It  is  all  true  ;  all  that  you  said 
on  Sunday  is  true.  I  have  seen  myself  the  wretched  sinner 
which  you  described  me  to  be  in  your  prayer.  I  have  seen 
Christ,  that  all-sufficient  Saviour  you  said  he  was ;  and  God 
has  mercifully  snatched  me  from  the  abyss  of  infidelity  in 
which  I  was  sunk,  and  placed  me  on  the  Rock  of  Ages.  There 
I  am  secure ;  there  I  shall  remain.  I  know  in  whom  I  have 
believed  !  "  All  this  was  like  a  dream  to  him  ;  but  she  pro- 
ceeded, and  displayed  as  accurate  a  knowledge  of  the  way  of 
salvation  revealed  in  the  gospel,  and  as  firm  a  reliance  on  it, 
as  if  she  had  been  a  disciple  of  Christ  for  many  years.  Yet 
there  was  nothing  like  boasting  or  presumption ;  all  was  hu- 
mility, resignation,  and  confidence.  She  charged  her  husband 
to  educate  their  daughter  in  the  fear  of  God,  and,  above  all, 
to  keep  from  her  those  novels  and  books  of  infidel  sentimen- 
tality by  which  she  had  been  nearly  brought  to  ruin.  On  the 
evening  of  the  same  day  she  expired  in  fullness  of  joy  and 
peace  in  believing.  —  Arvine's  Cydopcedia. 


OUR  RELATION  TO  GOD. 

And,  because  ye  are  sons,  God  hath  sent  forth  the  Spirit  of  his  Son  into 
your  hearts,  crying,  Abba,  Father. — Gal.  4:6. 

"  T)ECAUSE  ye  are  sons,  God  hath  sent  forth  the  spirit  of 
JJ  his  Son  into  your  hearts,  crying,  Abba,  Father  !  '•'  This 
is  the  common  privilege  of  believers  in  Christ ;  and  by  means 
of  this  they  are  delivered  from  the  carnal  mind,  which  is  enmity 
against  God  ;  they  are  endowed  with  power  from  on  high  ;  they 
are  renewed  in  the  spirit  of  their  mind  ;  and  thenceforth,  "  as 
obedient  children,"  it  is  their  inestimable  privilege,  not  to 
fashion  themselves  according  to  the  former  lusts  in  their  igno- 
rance, but  as  He  who  hath  called  them  is  holy,  to  be  also 
77 


610  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

"  holy  in  all  manner  of  conversation."  Thus,  it  will  be  seen, 
the  order  of  the  events  in  a  scriptural  conversion  are  obvious 
and  instructive.  The  sinner  is  called  to  repent  and  believe 
the  gospel.  By  the  gracious  influence  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  ac- 
companying his  own  truth,  he  is  enabled  to  do  so.  *  Some 
obey  the  call.  They  mourn  over  past  sin,  and  grieve  to  find 
that  still,  when  they  would  do  good,  evil  is  present  with  them. 
Broken  in  heart,  and  calling  for  the  mercy  of  God,  they  submit 
to  be  saved  by  grace,  and  therefore  believe  on  the  Lord  Jesus 
Christ.  For  the  sake  of  his  well-beloved  Son,  in  whom  all 
their  trust  is  reposed,  God  at  once  acts  the  Sovereign's  part  in 
pardoning  their  transgressions,  the  Judge's  in  justifying  them, 
and  the  Father's  in  adopting  them.  That  instant  he  also  be- 
stows upon  them  the  gift  of  the  Holy  Ghost.  The  Spirit  im- 
mediately bears  his  testimony  to  the  fact  of  their  adoption, 
and  by  so  doing  he  produces  love  to  that  God  who  first  loved 
them.  "  And  every  one  that  loveth  is  born  of  God,  and  know- 
eth  God." 


,    SONS  IN  THE  FAMILY  OF  GOD. 

Wherefore  thou  art  no  more  a  servant,  but  a  son ;  and  if  a  son,  then  an 
heir  of  God  through  Christ.  —  Gal  4  :  7. 

IT  would  have  been  a  great  mercy  if  God  had  made  us  his 
servants,  after  we  had  proved  his  enemies;  "but  he  has 
adopted  us  as  his  sons,  and  taken  us  to  the  bosom  of  his  love. 
He  is  now  our  Father,  and  wishes  us  to  call  him  so ;  we  are 
his  children,  and  he  wishes  us  to  walk  and  act  as  such.  "NVe 
are  not  mere  servants,  therefore  we  should  not  be  servile ;  we 
are  sons,  therefore  we  should  love,  obey,  and  delight  in  God 
as  our  Father.  "  Beloved,  now  are  we  the  sons  of  God."  V\V 
are  delivered  from  bondage,  introduced  into  favor,  have  the 
promise  of  eternal  life,  and  should  rejoice  with  joy  unspeak- 
able and  full  of  glory.  It  was  free  grace  which  adopted  us  ; 
the  Holy  Spirit,  by  the  word,  begot  us  to  a  lively  hope  ;  and 
the  gospel  proclaims,  our  privileges,  and  invites  us  to  enjoy 
them.  Let  us  to-day  think,  "I  am  a  son  of  God.  My  Father 
is  holy,  his  children  are  holy,  his  word  is  holy :  he  loves  holi- 


NEW   TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  611 

ness,  and  commands  me  to  be  holy ;  I  will  therefore  lift  up  my 
heart  to  him,  seek  grace  from  him,  and  in  all  things  aim  to 
glorify  him." 


IF  UNTRUE  TO  GOD,  WHY  NOT  UNTRUE  TO  MAN? 

But  now,  after  that  ye  have  known  God,  or  rather  arc  known  of  God,  how 
turn  ye  again  to  the  weak  and  beggarly  elements  whereunto  ye  desire  again  to 
be  in  bondage? — &al.  4:  9. 

VHILE  preaching  in  Watertown,  N.  Y.,  Rev.  Ebenezer 
Arnold  illustrated  the  importance  of  faithfulness  to  God, 
on  the  part  of  all  professing  Christians,  by  the  following  inci- 
dent :  — 

"  A  Christian  lady  was  engaged  in  marriage  to  a  gentleman 
who  respected,  but  did  not  profess,  religion.  Thinking  that  it 
might  please  him  to  attend  a  ball  and  mingle  in  the  dance,  she 
proposed  that  they  both  go  to  the  ball.  To  her  astonishment 
he  declined,  for  he  was  greatly  surprised  that  one  who  pro- 
fessed to  follow  Christ  *  in  the  narrow  way/  should  offer  to 
enter  with  him  through  that  wide  gate,  into  *  the  broad  way 
which  leadeth  to  destruction.'  In  a  few  minutes  he  withdrew 
for  the  evening.  When  he  next  called,  he  asked  that  their 
engagement  of  matrimony  might  be  broken  off.  Mortified  at 
the  request  of  her  affianced  husband,  she  requested  an  expla- 
nation of  his  unlooked-for  demand.  He  replied,  '  You  have 
solemnly  vowed  to  Christ  to  be  his,  yet  you  propose  to  turn 
your  back  on  him  and  mingle  with  sinners  in  the  dance.  Your 
relation  to  Christ  is  more  sacred  than  your  relation  to  me  could 
be  if  we  were  married.  If  you  are  untrue  to  God- —  in  your 
offer  to  forsake  him — what  reason  have  1  to  .believe  you  would 
not  be  untrue  to  me,  and  forsake  me  ?  The  greater  always  in- 
cludes the  less.'  Severe  as  his  conclusion  was,  she  could  not 
say  it  was  unjust,  for  there  is  an  adultery  which  consists  of 
broken  vows  to  God,  as  well  as  broken  marital  relations"  ( Jer. 
3:9;  Ezek.  23  :  37.) 


612  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

FRUIT  AFTER  MANY  DAYS. 

But  it  is  good  to  be  zealously  affected  always  in  a  good  thing,  and  not  only 
when  I  am  present  with  you.  — Gal.  4  :  18. 

A  SUPERINTENDENT  of  a  school  in  Virginia  had  among 
J\.  his  scholars  a  fiery,  funny,  red-headed  scamp  of  a  boy. 
He  annoyed  everybody,  and  what  was  worse,  he  could  not  be 
driven  from  the  school.  The  superintendent  was  out-gener- 
aled,  and  finally  brought  the  boy  to  the  platform  and  laid  the 
responsibility  of  a  verdict  in  his  case  upon  the  school.  A  little 
girl  rose  up  and  said,  "  Pray  for  him."  The  superintendent 
seated  the  boy  on  the  chair,  taking  a  good  firm  grip  of  his 
neck,  knelt  down  by  his  side,  and  raising  his  left  hand,  im- 
plored earnestly  that  God  would  in  mercy  spare  the  boy's 
soul,  forgive  him,  convert  him,  and  make  him  a  useful  man. 
Tears  of  many  flowed  that  day  for  that  bad  boy. 

Time  rolled  on,  and  the  boy  was  lost  sight  of  for  many  years. 
No  one  knew  what  had  become  of  him.  Not  long  since  this 
same  good  brother  was  visiting  a  western  city,  and,  spending 
the  Sabbath  there,  inquired  where  he  could  find  an  interesting 
Sunday  school  to  which  he  could  go  and  gather  some  new 
ideas.  He  was  taken  to  the  outskirts  of  the  city,  to  one  of 
the  largest  and  the  best  mission  schools.  He  was  pleased  at 
the  sight  that  met  his  eye.  The  superintendent  of  the  school 
invited  him  to  speak.  He  began  to  tell  the  story  of  his  early 
labors  in  Virginia,  and  naming  several  places,  the  superinten- 
dent became  interested,  and  called  to  mind  his  own  history 
as  a  scholar.  Interrupting  the  speaker,  he  asked  him  if  he 
was  Mr.  So-and-so,  from  such  a  place  in  Virginia. 

On  his  responding  affirmatively,  he  said,  "  Do  you  remember 

the  red-headed  scamp  of  a  boy  in  your  school  at ?     Well, 

sir,  I  am  the  boy.  .Here  I  stand  superintendent  of  this  school, 
a  monument  of  grace,  and  indebted  to  your  prayer  for  the  con- 
version of  my  soul." 


NEW   TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  613 


STAND  FAST  IN  CHRIST. 

Stand  fast,  therefore,  in  the  liberty  wherewith  Christ  hath  made  us  free,  and 
be  not  entangled  again  with  the  yoke  of  bondage.  — Gal.  5  :  1. 

ALL  colors  are  wrapped  up  in  the  sunlight,  which,  as  is  well 
known,  may  be  seen  resolved  into  its  elementary  colors 
in  the  prism  or  rainbow.  Apart  from  the  sunlight,  no  object 
has  any  color,  as  is  shown  by  the  fact  that,  as  soon  as  light  is 
withdrawn  from  the  landscape,  the  colors  fade  from  the  robe 
of  Nature.  The  difference  of  color  in  different  objects,  while 
the  sun  is  shining,  is  produced  by  some  subtile  difference  of 
texture  or  superficies,  which  makes  each  object  absorb  certain 
rays,  and  reflect  certain  other  rays,  in  different  proportions. 
Now,  Christ  is  the  Sun  of  Righteousness,  in  whom  dwelleth  all 
the  fullness  of  the  Godhead-  bodily  —  the  fair  color  of  every 
grace  and  Christian  virtue*  When  Christ  is  shining  upon 
the  heart,  then  these  virtues  are  manifested  there  —  by  one 
Christian  graces  of  one  description,  by  another  of  another,  ac- 
cording to  their  different  receptivity  and  natural  temperament; 
just  as,  when  the  sun  is  shining,  colors  are  thrown  upon  a  land- 
scape, and  reflected  by  the  different  objects  in  different  pro- 
portions. But  as  no  part  of  the  landscape  has"  any  color  in 
the  absence  of  the  sun,  nor  can  acquire  any  independently  of 
the  sun,  so  Christians  have  no  grace  except  from  Christ,  nor 
hold  any  virtue  independently  of  him.  —  Dr.  Goulbourn. 


THE  NOBLE  CONVICT. 

For,  brethren,  ye  have  been  called  unto  liberty ;  only  use  not  liberty  for  an 
occasion  to  the  flesh,  but  by  love  serve  one  another.  — Gal.  5 :  13. 

A  YOUNG  man  ran  away  from  the  galleys  at  Toulouse.  He 
was  strong  and  vigorous,  and  soon  made  his  way  across 
the  country  and  escaped  pursuit.  He  arrived  the  next  morn- 
ing before  a  cottage  in  an  open  field,  and  stopped  to  beg 
something  to  eat,  and  get  refuge  while  he  reposed  a  little. 
But  he  found  the  inmates  of  the  cottage  in  the  greatest  dis- 
tress. Four  little  children  sat  trembling  in  the  corner,  their 


614  NEW   TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

mother  was  weeping  and  tearing  her  hair,  and  the  father 
walked  the  floor  in  agony.  The  galley-slave  asked  what  was 
the  matter,  and  the  father  replied  that  they  were  that  morn- 
ing to  be  turned  out  of  doors  because  they  could  not  pay  the 
rent.  % 

"  You  see  me  driven  to  despair/'  said  the  father ;  "  my  wife 
and  little  children  without  food  or  shelter,  and  I  without  means 
to  provide  any  for  them." 

"  I  will  give  you  the  means.  I  have  but  just  escaped  from 
the  galleys.  Whoever  secures  and  takes  back  an  escaped 
prisoner  is  entitled  to  a  reward  of  fifty  francs.  How  much 
does  your  rent  amount  to  ?  " 

"  Forty  francs,"  answered  the  father. 

"  Well,"  said  the  other,  "  put  a  cord  around  my  body.  I  will 
follow  you  to  the  city,  where  they  will  recognize  me,  and  you 
will  get  fifty  francs  for  bringing  me  back." 

"  No,  never  ! "  exclaimed  the  astonished  listener  ;."  my  chil- 
dren should  starve  a  thousand  times  before  I  would  do  so  base 
a  thing." 

The  generous  young  man  insisted,  and  declared  at  last  that 
he  would  go  and  give  himself  up  if  the  latter  would  not  con- 
sent to  take  him. 

After  a  long  struggle  the  latter  yielded,  and  taking  his  pre- 
server by  the  arm,  led  him  to  the  city  and  to  the  mayor's  office. 
Everybody  was  surprised  that  a  little  man  like  the  father 
should  be  able  to  capture  such  a  strong  young  fellow  ;  but  the 
proof  was  before  them.  The  fifty  francs  were  paid,  and  the 
prisoner  sent  back  to  the  galleys.  But  after  he  was  gone 
the  father  asked  a  private  interview  with  the  mayor,  to  whom 
he  told  the  whole  story.  The  mayor  was  so  much  affected 
that  he  not  only  added  fifty  francs  more  to  the  father's  purse, 
but  wrote  immediately  to  the  minister  of  justice,  begging  the 
noble  young  prisoner's  release. 

The  minister  examined  into  the  affair,  and  finding  that  it 
was  comparatively  a  small  offense  which  had  condemned  the 
young  man  to  the  galleys,  and  that  he  had  already  nearly  served 
out  his  time,  ordered  his  release. 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  615 

HOW  DRUNKARDS  ARE  MADE. 

Now,  the  works  of  the  flesh  are  manifest,  which  are  these :  Adultery,  for- 
nication, uncleanness,  lasciviousness,  idolatry,  witchcraft,  hatred,  variance, 
emulations,  wrath,  strife,  seditions,  heresies,  envyings,  murders,  drunkenness, 
revelings,  and  such  like;  of  the  which  I  tell  you  before,  as  I  have  also  told 
you  in  time  past,  that  they  which  do  such  things  shall  not  inherit  the  kingdom 
of  God.  —  Gal.  5  :  19-21. 

A  YOUNG  man  entered  the  bar-room  of  a  village  tavern, 
and  called  for  a  drink.  "  No/7  said  the  landlord ;  "  you 
have  had  delirium  tremens  once,  and  I  can  not  sell  you  any 
more."  He  stepped  aside  to  make  room  for  a  couple  of  young- 
men  who  had  just  entered,  and  the  landlord  waited  upon  them 
very  politely.  The  other  had  stood  by,  silent  and  sullen, 
and  when  they  finished,  he  walked  up  to  the  landlord,  and 
thus  addressed  him :  "  Six  years  ago,  at  their  age,  I  stood 
where  those  young  men  are  now ;  I  was  a  man  with  fair  pros- 
pects. Now,  at  the  age  of  twenty-eight,  I  am  a  wreck,  body 
and  mind.  You  led  me  to  drink.  In  this  room  I  formed  the 
habit  that  has  been  my  ruin.  Now,  sell  me  a  few  glasses 
more,  and  your  work  will  be  done.  I  shall  soon  be  out  of  the 
way ;  there  is  no  hope  for  me  ;  but  they  can  be  saved.  Do  not 
sell  it  to  them.  Sell  to  me,  and  let  me  die,  and  the  world  will 
be  rid  of  me ;  but  for  Heaven's  sake  sell  no  more  to  them  ! " 
The  landlord  listened,  pale  and  trembling.  Setting  down  his 
decanter,  he  exclaimed,  "  God  help  me,  this  is  the  last  drop  I 
will  ever  sell  to  any  one  ! "  And  he  kept  his  word."  The 
curse  of  God  is  on  the  liquor  traffic.  The  "  woe  "  pronounced 
by  God  on  him  that  "  giveth  his  neighbor  drink "  (Hab. 
2  :  15)  is  not  repealed. 

THE  ABSURDITY  OF  ERROR. 

For  if  a  man  think  himself  to  be  something  when  he  is  nothing,  he  deceiv- 
eth  himself.  —  Gal.  6:3. 

I  HAVE  often  seen  Universalism  reduced  to  an  absurdity ; 
but  seldom,  if  ever,  has  it  been  better  done  than  in  the 
following,  which  I  beg  to  recite  for  the  benefit  of  any  who 
may  need  it. 


616  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

11 1  am  a  Universalist,"  said  G.  K.,  boastingly,  "  and  you 
Orthodox  are  not  fair  in  saying  that  our  system  is  inconsistent 
with  reason."  This  he  addressed  to  one  who  held  an  oppo- 
site system. 

"  But  I  will  prove  the  irrationality  of  your  system,"  said 
his  friend.  "  You  believe  that  Christ  died  to  save  all  men?  " 

"  Yes,  I  do." 
.     "  And  you  don't  believe  there  is  a  hell  ?  " 

"  No,  I  do  not." 

"  You  don't  believe  there  is  any  punishment  hereafter?" 

"  No,  I  do  not  |  men  are  punished  for  their  sins  in  this  life." 

"  Well,  now,  let  us  put  your  l  rational '  system  together,  if  we 
can.  It  amounts  to  just  this  :  that  Christ  the  Saviour  died  to 
save  all  men  from  nothing  at  all !  Not  from  hell,  because, 
according  to  you,  there  is  none.  Not  from  punishment  in  a 
future  state  of  being,  for  man  receives  his  whole  punishment 
in  this  life.  Yours  is  the  absurd  spectacle  of  ropes  and  life- 
preservers  thrown  at  an  immense  expense  to  a  man  who  is 
on  dry  land,  and  in  no  danger  of  being  drowned.  Let  me  tell 
you  that  your  religion  is  stark  infidelity.  If  you  heartily  be- 
lieved the  Bible,  you  could  not  believe  Universalism." 


THE  FATAL  MIRAGE. 

Be  'not  deceived ;  God  is  not  mocked ;  for  whatsoever  a  man  soweth,  that 
shall  he  also  reap.  — Gal.  6  :  7. 

IN  that  recent  publication,  The  Nile  Tributaries  of  Abys- 
sinia, by  Sir  Samuel  W.  Baker,  is  the  following  thrilling 
incident,  which  very  appropriately  points'  a  moral :  — 

"  Many  years  ago,  when  the  Egyptian  troops  first  conquered 
Nubia,  a  regiment  was  crossing  a  desert.  The  heat  was  op- 
pressive, almost  beyond  endurance  ;  the  supply  of  water  nearly 
exhausted.  Far  in  the  horizon  they  seemed  to  see  a  beautiful 
lake,  bordered  with  palm  trees.  The  Arab  guide,  who  well 
understood  the  desert  wastes,  told  the  soldiers  there  was  no 
lake  there  ;  that  what  they  saw  was  only  a  mirage  —  a  float- 
ing delusion  on  the  sky.  But  the  thirsty  soldiers  saw  some- 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  617 

thing  which  they  believed  to  be  water,  and  were  determined 
to  trust  their  sight  rather  than  his  words.  They  insisted  upon 
their  guide  leading  them  to  the  water.  He  protested,  and 
resisted  even  to  death.  When  they  had  killed  him,  the  whole 
regiment,  wild  with  excitement,  and  eager  for  the  cooling 
waters,  leave  the  course  indicated  by  their  guide,  and  start 
for  the  lake.  On  and  on  they  press  over  the  burning  sands ; 
hour  after  hour  they  endure  the  heat,  hoping  to  gain  the  re- 
"freshing  waters  of  the  lake  ;  but  that  object  flees  before  them 
like  a  phantom.  Self-deceived,  exhausted  by  the  heat,  and 
overcome  with  fatigue,  they  begin  to  fall  upon  the  burning 
sands  and  die.  They  all  perished.  Long  after,  the  Arabs,  in 
search,  found  the  body  of  the  guide,  a  martyr  to  his  faithful- 
ness, while  the  bodies  of  the  soldiers  were  found  far  out  upon 
the  wild  wastes,  where  they  fell  in  their  vain  search  to  find 
water  where  there  was  none.  Their  sincerity  did  not  save 
them  from  death." 

We  have  a  divine  Guide  in  the  person  of  Jesus  Christ.  He 
points  out  the  only  way  to  heaven,  and  tells  us  it  is  only  found 
in  the  new  birth  and  faith  in  him.  "  Except  a  man  be  born 
again  he  can  not  see  the  kingdom  of  God  ; "  and  "  He  that  be- 
lieveth  on  the  Son  hath  everlasting  life,  and  he  that  believeth 
not  the  Son  shall  not  see  life,  but  the  wrath  of  God  abideth  on 
him."  He  who  disregards  these  words  of  our  Saviour,  and 
fancies  he  sees  the  way  open  to  heaven  in  some  other  faith 
than  this  pure  evangelism  of  Christ,  is  deluded  by  the  mirage 
that  floats  in  his  imagination.  Only  what  the  divine  word 
teaches  is  to  be  trusted. 


SOWING  AND  REAPING. 

For  he  that  soweth  to  his  flesh,  shall  of  the  flesh  reap  corruption :  but  he 
that  soweth  to  the  Spirit,  shall  of  the  Spirit  reap  life  everlasting.  — Gal.  6:  8. 

A  CHRISTIAIN  gentleman  was  staying  a  few  days  with  a 
jLJL  farmer,  who,  though  a  man  of  sound  sense  and  many 
amiable  traits,  was  a  neglecter  of  religion. 

One  day  the  gentleman  walked  out  where  the  farmer  was 
scattering  his  seed  broadcast  in  the  field. 
78 


618  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

"  What  are  you  sowing,  Mr.  H.  ?  "  was  his  pleasant  inquiry. 

"  Wheat,"  was  the  answer. 

"  And  what  do  you  expect  to  reap  from  it  ?  " 

"  Why,  wheat,  of  course,"  said  the  farmer. 

At  the  close  of  the  day,  as  all  were  gathered  in  the  family 
circle,  some  little  thing  provoked  the  farmer,  —  the  husband, 
the  father,  and  the  head  of  the  family,  —  and  at  once  he  flew 
into  a  violent  passion,  and,  forgetting,  in  his  excitement,  the 
presence  of  his  guest,  he  swore  most  profanely. 

The  latter,  who  was  sitting  next  to  him,  in  a  low  and  seri- 
ous tone  said,  "  And  what  are  you  sowing  now  ?  " 

The  farmer  seemed  startled.  A  new  light  at  once  flashed 
on  him  from  the  question  of  the  morning.  "  What !  "  he  said, 
in  a  subdued  and  thoughtful  tone,  "  do  you  take  such  serious 
views  of  life  as  that,  such  serious  views  of  every  mood,  and 
word,  and  action  ?  " 

"  Yes,"  was  the  reply ;  "  for  every  mood  helps  to  form  the 
permanent  temper  ;  and  for  every  word  we  must  give  account ; 
and  every  act  but  aids  to  form  a  habit ;  and  habits  are  to  the 
soul  what  the  veins  and  arteries  are  to  the  blood  —  the  courses 
in  which  it  moves,  and  will  move  for  ever.  By  all  these  little 
things  we  are  forming  character,  and  that  character  will  go 
with  us  to  eternity,  and  according  to  it  will  be  our  destiny  for 


PERSEVERANCE  IN  SOUL-SAVING. 

And  let  us  not  be  weary  in  well  doing,  for  in  due  season  we  shall  reap  if 
we  faint  not.  — Gal.  6:9. 

AN  old  man,  whom  the  Rev.  S.  Thornton  had  often  and  un- 
successfully urged  to  attend  to  the  duty  of  coming  to  pub- 
lic worship,  was  laid  up  in  bed  from  illness.  The  curate,  on 
hearing  this,  called  upon  him.  Entering  the  cottage,  he  asked 
to  see  him.  The  old  man,  recognizing  his  voice,  and  perhaps 
hearing  his  request,  called  out  rudely,  — 

"  I  don't  want  you  here  ;  you  may  go  away." 
The  next  day  Mr.  Thornton  again  presented  himself,  with 
inquiries  after  him,  and  an  expressed  desire  to  see  him ;  cull- 
ing out  from  the  stairs,  — 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  619 

"  Well,  my  friend,  may  I  come  up  to  you  to-day  ?  " 
Again  he  was  answered,  "  I  don't  want  you  here." 
Twenty-one  days  successively  did  the  patient   clergyman 
come  to  the  cottage  with  the  same  request,  and  on  the  twenty- 
second  obtained  admittance  to  the  bedside  of  the  sick  man. 
Henceforth  he  was  permitted  to  read  God's  word  to  him,  pray 
by  him,  and  impart  such  instruction  as  was  blessed  to  the  poor 
man's  soul.     The  aged  sufferer  recovered,  and  became  hence- 
forth one  of  the  most  regular  attendants  on  the  services  of  the 
church. 


GLORYING  IN  THE  CROSS  OF  CHRIST. 

But  God  forbid  that  I  should  glory  save  in  the  cross  of  our  Lord  Jesus 
Christ,  by  whom  the  world  is  crucified  unto  me,  and  I  unto  the  world.  — 
Gal.  6  :  14. 

1VTOWHERE  in  the  material  universe  do  we  see  declared,  in 
1A  its  most  complete  and  impressive  exhibition,  that  infinite 
love  which  was  in  Christ  toward  the  world  of  mankind ;  that 
love  which  led  him  even  to  the  cross,  and  the  sacrifice  of  him- 
self, for  our  advantage.  All  other  manifestations,  therefore, 
o.f  that  which  is  really  divine  in  character,  are  pale  and  poor 
by  the  side  of  this.  You  tell  me  of  the  Southern  Cross,  lifting 
its  stars  in  the  sky  that  bends  beyond  the  horizon  ;  and  that 
shall  be  to  me  a  symbol,  perhaps  almost  a  foreshadowing,  but 
it  never  is  the  parallel  of  this  cross  upon  Calvary.  This  shines 
with  no  starry  splendor  upon  the  earth.  Over  it  was  gathered, 
rather,  the  shrouding  of  a  supernatural  darkness,  from«the  sixth 
hour  to  the  ninth.  But  the  lesson  that  comes  from  it  is  the 
grandest  and  most  precious  the  world  has  heard.  The  Cross 
lifted  among  the  stars,  in  those  yet  unseen  southern  skies, 
tells  of  the  power  of  Him  who  built  it.  But  the  cross  —  so 
stained,  and  dark,  and  bloody  —  that  was  lifted  on  Calvary 
tells  of  the  infinite  and  unsearchable  love  in  the  heart  of  Him 
who  hung  upon  it.  From  this  we  get  views,  therefore,  which 
we  can  not  from  any  part  of  the  universe  that  sweeps  its  radi- 
ant circles  above  us  —  which  we  can  riot  from  even  the  soul 
of  man,  to  which  this  outward  is  the  setting  —  of  the  character 
ofljrod  ;  not  of  his  infinite  righteousness  only,  but  of  his  eter- 


620  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

nal  and  measureless  love  ;  of  his  sympathy  with  the  suffering; 
of  his  incomparable  and  unconquerable  patience  toward  even 
those  who  sin  against  him.  —  Rev.  Dr.  Storrs. 


PASTORAL  PRUDENCE. 

Wherein  he  hath  abounded  toward  us  in  all  wisdom  and  prudence.  — 
Eph.  1 :  8. 

THE  Christian  pastor  should  be  a  man  of  prudence.  By 
prudence,  however,  I  do  not  mean  that  time-serving,  man- 
fearing,  earth-born  policy,  which  in  the  desk  keeps  out  of  sight 
what  are  called  the  hard  doctrines,  and  never  has  the  rudeness 
to  disquiet  the  sinner's  conscience,  and  is  so  very  polite  and 
civil  as  never  to  utter  the  word  hell  without  a  humble  apology, 
or  to  name  the  prince  of  darkness  without  turning  him  into  a 
harmless  Eastern  metaphor  !  Nor  by  ministerial  prudence  do 
I  mean  that  cringing  spirit  which  never  dares  to  look  titled 
wickedness  in  the  face  —  that  aspen  timidity  which  always 
says  yes  to  the  world,  whatever  it  may  dictate  or  propose, 
and  which  never  troubles  the  gay,  the  rich,  the  great,  the 
polite,  with  any  of  the  unwelcome  and  old-fashioned  topics 
of  religion  ;  or,  at  any  rate,  not  till  they  are  just  leaving  the 
world,  and  want  to  be  assured  that  such  harmless  and  good- 
hearted  people  as  they  are  have  nothing  to  fear.  All  this, 
and  more,  which  sometimes  passes  current  under  the  impos- 
ing garb  of  prudence,  deserves  a  very  different  name.  It  is  a 
gross  perversion  both  of  the  word  and  the  thing. 

Genuine  ministerial  prudence  keeps  back  no  important  truth, 
listens  to  no  compromise  with  sin,  connives  at  no  fashionable 
vice,  cringes  before  no  lordly  worldling,  is  never  silent  when 
it  ought  to  speak,  and  never  sits  quaking  in  cowardly  conceal- 
ment when  the  honor  of  religion  calls  for  boldness  and  activity. 
But  prudence  is  always  the  opposite  of  rashness  and  incon- 
sideration.  It  neither  speaks  nor  acts  till  it  has  had  time  to 
deliberate.  Its  words,  being  "  fitly  spoken,  are  like  apples 
of  gold  in  pictures  of  silver."  In  rebuking  transgression,  it 
strives  to  conciliate  and  gain  the  offender.  It  disarms  preju- 
dice, inspires  confidence,  gains  friends,  and  wards  off  the 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  G21 

attacks  of  enemies.  Ordinary  talents,  under  the  direction  of 
prudence,  will  do  more  in  the  ministry  than  the  greatest  gifts 
without  it.  Indeed,  without  prudence  no  pastor  can  long  be 
either  useful  or  happy.  —  Dr.  Humphrey's  Sermon. 


TRUSTED  AND  WERE  DELIVERED. 

• 

That  we  should  be  to  the  praise  of  his  glory,  who  first  trusted  in  Christ.  In 
whom  ye  also  trusted,  after  that  ye  heard  the  word  of  truth,  the  gospel  of  your 
salvation ;  in  whom,  also,  after  that  ye  believed,  ye  were  sealed  with  that  Holy 
Spirit  of  promise.  —  EpK.  1 :  12,  13. 

IN  Madagascar,  some  time  ago,  an  insurrection  broke  out, 
and  the  army  were  ordered  to  march  to  quell  it ;  but  be- 
fore they  set  out,  the  great  national  idol  was  to  be  dragged 
forth  to  bless  the  people,  and  they  were  to  be  sprinkled  with 
holy  water.  Now,  it  happened  that  three  hundred  of  the 
soldiers  had  cast  off  idolatry ;  and  when  they  heard  what  was 
coming,  they  said  one  to  another,  "  What  shall  we  do  ?  If  we 
do  not  bow  before  the  idol,  we  shall  be  counted  among  the 
rebels,  and  shall  surely  be  put  to  death."  The  leader  of  the 
Christian  band  asked  his  brethren  to  meet  together  in  the 
evening,  that  they  might  consult  what  steps  they  had  better 
take.  They  met  accordingly.  Some  said,  "  We  are  poor, 
feeble  creatures ;  we  hope  that  God  will  forgive  us,  though 
we  should  bow  before  the  idol ;  it  will  be  only  to  preserve 
our  lives."  Others  said,  "  We  are  married  men  ;  it  will  never 
do  for  us_to  leave  our  wivefc  widows,  and  our  children  father- 
less." The  leader  of  the  party,  after  he  had  heard  the  opinion 
of  his  companions,  took  his  New  Testament  from  his  pocket, 
and  read  aloud,  "  He  that  loveth  father  or  mother  more  than 
me  is  not  worthy  of  me  ;  and  he  that  loveth  his  life  more 
than  me  is  not  worthy  of  me."  It  was  enough.  Their  de- 
cision was  made  at  once.  They  would  not  forsake  their 
Saviour.  But  it  was  a  fiery  trial  through  which  they  had  to 
pass,  and  they  knelt  down  to  ask  of  him.  that  he  would  not 
leave  them  to  pass  through  it  alone.  They  then  pledged  one 
another  to  stand  to  their  resolution. 

One  of  them  was  a  traitor.     He  went  and  told  the  command- 


622  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

ing  officer.  "  Three  hundre'd  of  the  soldiers,"  said  he,  "  are 
believers,  and  they  have  resolved  not  to  worship  the  national 
god."  The  Christian  leader  was  sent  for,  and  asked  if  it  was 
so.  He  confessed  it  was.  This  made  the  officer  very  angry, 
and  he  ordered  that  the  three  hundred  were  not  to  attend 
when  the  idol  was  brought  out ;  but  he  added,  "  The  god  will 
avenge  himself  upon  them."  He  would  not  put  them  to  death, 
because  they  would  be  wanted  in  the  army ;  but  he  deter- 
mined to  place  them  somewhere  where  they  would  be  sure  to 
be  cut  off. 

The  army  marched  to  meet  the  rebels.  They  came  up  to 
them  in  a  ravine  between  two  lofty  mountains.  Here  the 
Christians  were  ordered  to  occupy  the  front  ranks.  Their 
enemies  took  it  for  granted  that  they  must  fall  there  :  but  a 
hand  greater  than  that  of  man  so  arranged  the  order  of  the 
battle  that  the  arrows  never  touched  the  Christian  band. 
When  the  sun  set  a  retreat  was  sounded,  the  roll  was  called, 
and  it  was  found  that,  though  there  had  been  great  destruc- 
tion among  the  heathen,  not  one  of  the  Christian  soldiers  was 
missing.  The  other  soldiers  asked  them  how  they  had  been 
preserved,  and  began  to  suspect  that  the  New  Testaments  in 
their  pockets  were  charms.  "  It  was  not  these  that  saved  us," 
they  made  answer  ;  "  it  was  the  God  whom  we  serve."  The 
rest  were  thunderstruck,  and  a  hundred  of  them  cast  away 
their  idols  from  that  day. 

Who  has  an  arm  like  God  ?  Whose  rock  is  like  our  Rock  ? 
"  They  that  trust  in  the  Lord  shall  be  as  Mount  Zion,  which 
can  not  be  removed,  but  abideth  for  ever." 


CHRIST  OUR  ALL  IN  ALL. 

And  hath  put  all  things  under  his  feet,  and  gave  him  to  be  the  head  over 
all  things  to  the  church,  which  is  his  body,  the  fullness  of  him  that  filleth  all 
in  all.  —  Eph.  1  :  22,  23. 

THE  Lord  Jesus  Christ  is  the  All  in  All  of  his  redeemed.    In 
every  want  he  is  their  Friend.     In   every  danger  he  is 
their   Defense.      In  weakness  he  is   their  Strength;    in  sor- 
row, their  Joy ;  in  pain,  their  Peace  ;  in  poverty,  their  Pro- 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  623 

vider ;  in  sickness,  their  Physician  ;  in  hunger,  their  Bread ; 
in  trouble,  their  Consolation ;  in  perplexity,  their  Counselor ; 
in  the  furnace,  their  Refiner;  in  the  floods,  their  Rock;  in 
assaults,  their  Refuge  ;  in  accusations,  their  Advocate  ;  in  debt, 
their  Surety  ;  in  slavery,  their  Ransom  ;  in  captivity,  their  De- 
liverer ;  in  the  day,  their  Sun ;  in  the  night,  their  Keeper  ;  in 
the  desert,  their  Shepherd.  In  life,  he  is  their  Hope  ;  in  death, 
their  Life  ;  in  the  grave,  their  Resurrection ;  in  heaven,  their 
Glory. 

Let  Christ,  therefore,  be  thy  All  in-  All,  for  time  and  for 
eternity.  With  the  faithful  martyr  say,  while  living,  "  None 
but  Christ."  When  dying  say,  "  None  but  Christ."  Through 
all  eternity  say,  "  None  but  Christ."  Let  this  triumphant 
name,  "  The  Lord  our  Righteousness,"  settle  every  difficulty, 
solve  every  doubt,  and  silence  every  accusation.  When  con- 
science tells  thee  thy  sins  are  both  many  and  great,  answer 
thou,  "  Christ's  blood  cleanseth  from  all  sin."  When  re- 
minded of  your  ignorance,  say,  "  Christ  is  my  wisdom"  When 
your  ground  and  title  to  the  kingdom  are  demanded,  say, 
"  Christ  is  my  righteousness.11  When  your  meetness  to  enter 
its  sacred  walls  is  challenged,  say,  "  Christ  is  my  sanctifica- 
tion"  When  sin  and  the  law,  when  death  and  Satan,  claim 
thee  as  their  captive,  reply  to  them  all,  "  Christ  is  my  redemp- 
tion.'1 The  law  saith,  Pay  thy  debt;  the  gospel  saith,  Christ 
hath  paid  it.  The  law  saith,  Make  amends  for  thy  sins ;  the 
gospel  saith,  Christ  hath  made  it  for  thee.  The  law  saith, 
Thou  art  a  sinner ;  despair,  for  thou  shalt  be  condemned ;  the 
gospel  saith,  Thy  sins  are  forgiven  thee ;  be  of  good  comfort ; 
thou  shalt  be  saved. 


GOD  IS  NOT  A  MERCHANT. 

For  by  grace  arc  ye  saved  through  faith,  and  that  not  of  yourselves ;  it  is 
the  gift  of  God;  not  of  works,  lest  any  man  should  boast.  —  Eph.  2  :  8,  9. 

ONCE  there  was  a  poor  woman  standing  before  the  window 
of  a   royal  conservatory   which   looked   into   the   public 
street.     It  was  the  dead  of  winter,  and  no  flowers  were  in  the 
garden,  and  no  fruit  on  the  trees.     But  in  the  hot-house  a 


624  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

splendid  bunch  of  grapes  hung  from  the  glass  ceiling,  basking 
in  the  bright  winter  sun,  and  the  poor  woman  gazed  at  it  ti'l 
the  water  came  into  her  mouth,  and  she  sighed,  "  0,  I  wish  I 
could  take  it  to  my  sick  darling  !  "     She  went  home  and  sat 
down  to  her  spinning-wheel,  and  wrought  day  and  night  till 
she  had  earned  half  a  crown.     She  then  went  to  the  king's 
gardener,  and  offered  that  sum  for  the  bunch  of  grapes  ;  but  the 
gardener  received  her  unkindly,  and  told  her  not  to  come  again. 
She  returned  home,  and  looked  around  her  little  cottage  to  see 
whether  there  was  anything  she  could  dispense  with.    It  was 
a  severe  winter,  yet  she 'thought  she  could  do  without  a  blanket 
for  a  week  or  two ;  so  she  pawned  it  for  half  a  crown,  and 
went  to  the  king's  gardener,  and  now  offered  him  five  shillings. 
But  the  gardener  scolded  her,  and  took  her  by  the  arm  rather 
roughly,  and  turned  her  out.    It  just  happened,  however,  that 
the  king's  daughter  was  near  at  hand ;  and  when  she  heard  the 
angry  words  of  the  gardener  and  the  crying  of  the  woman,  she 
came  up  and  inquired  into  the  matter.    When  the  poor  woman 
had  told  her  story,  the  noble  princess  said,  with  a  kind  smile, 
"  My  dear  woman,  you  were  mistaken ;  my  father  is  not  a 
merchant,  but  a  king  ;  his  business  is  not  to  sell,  but  to  give;  " 
whereupon  she  plucked  the  bunch  from  the  vine,  and  gently 
dropped  it  into  the  woman's  apron.     So  the  woman  obtained 
as  a  free  gift  what  the  labor  of  many  days  and  nights  had 
been  unable  to  procure. 

The  salvation  of  the  soul  is  the  greatest  treasure  you  can 
desire.  But  you  can  not  buy  it  with  all  the  riches  of  the 
world,  with  all  the  prayers  you  can  pray,  with  all  the  alms  you 
can  give,  with  all  the  useful  works  you  could  perform  during 
a  life  as  long  as  that  of  Methuselah.  The  fact  is,  your  soul's 
salvation  is  in  the  hands  of  a  King,  and  not  of  a  merchant.  If 
youl-eceive  it  at  all,  it  must  be  as  a  gift,  for  you  never  can  buy 
it. 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  625 

ACCESS  TO  GOD. 

For  through  him  we  both  have  access  by  one  Spirit  unto  the  Father.  — 
Eph.  2 :  18. 

TTOWEYER  early  in  the  morning  you  seek  the  gate  of  ac- 
JjL  cess,  you  find  it  already  open ;  and  however  deep  the 
midnight  moment  when  you  find  yourself  in  the  sudden  arms 
of  death,  the  winged  prayer  can  bring  an  instant  Saviour  near, 
and  this  wherever  you  are.  It  needs  not  that  you  should 
enter  some  awful  shrine,  or  put  off  your  shoes  on  some  holy 
ground.  Could  a  memento  be  reared  on  every  spot  from  which 
an  acceptable  prayer  passed  away,  and  on  which  a  prompt 
answer  has  come  down,  we  should  find  Jehovah  shammah, 
"  The  Lord  hath  been  here,"  inscribed  on  many  a  cottage 
hearth  and  many  a  dungeon  floor.  We  should  find  it  not  only 
in  Jerusalem's  proud  temple,  David's  cedar  galleries,  but  in 
the  fisherman's  cottage,  by  the  brink  of  Genesareth,  and  in 
the  upper  chamber  where  Pentecost  began. 

And  whether  it  be  the  field  where  Isaac  went  to  meditate, 
or  the  rocky  knoll  where  Jacob  lay  down  to  sleep,  or  the  brook 
where  Israel  wrestled,  or  the  den  where  Daniel  gazed  on 
the  hungry  lions  and  the  hungry  lions  gazed  on  him,  or  the 
hill-side  where  the  Man  of  Sorrows  prayed  all  night,  we  should 
still  discern  the  print  of  the  ladder's  feet  let  down  from 
heaven,  the  landing-place  of  mercies,  because  the  starting- 
point  of  prayer.  —  Hamilton. 


THE  ONLY  FOUNDATION. 

And  are  built  upon  the  foundation  of  the  apostles  and  prophets,  Jesus 
Christ  himself  being  the  chief  corner  stone.  —  Eph.  2  :  20. 

AT  a  recent  Baptist  Sunday  School  Convention  held  at  St. 
Louis,  Rev.  Dr.  Hodge   concluded  an  address  with  the 
following  remarks  :  — 

u  The  people  of  this  goodly  city  of  St.  Louis  look  forward  to 
the  time  when  the  ponderous  engine,  followed  by  its  heavily 
freighted  train,  shall  roll  on  the  iron  track  that  is  to  span  their 
79 


626  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

great  river.  To  sustain  the  burden  on  their  projected  bridge, 
they  are  constructing  foundations  of  solid  masonry,  eighty  feet 
in  length  and  sixty  feet  in  breadth,  which  are  to  be  sunk  sev- 
enty feet  below  the  bed  of  the  river,  even  down  to  the  under- 
lying rock  formation,  so  useless  do  they  deem  it  to  raise  sup- 
ports for  the  great  pressure  of  commerce  on  the  basis  of 
yielding  water  or  of  treacherous  sand.  Beloved,  the  immense 
burden  which  must  come  rolling  on  upon  the  next  generation 
of  living  men  demands  of  us  that  we  build  not  slightly.  Com- 
pute, if  you  can,  the  weight  of  interests  with  which  the  next 
hundred  years  will  be  freighted,  and  learn  from  your  compu- 
tation what  moral  masonry  will  be  adequate  to  support  that 
weight.  Beneath  all  that  man  can  build  must  lie  the  divine, 
the  immovable  Rock,  which  is  the  Son  of  God  and  the  Saviour 
of  men,  and  we,  as  builders,  must  go  down  to  the  rock  and 
start  from  it  with  the  foundations  we  lay.  To  do  this  we  must 
penetrate  the  accumulated  dobris  of  ages.  It  is  said  that  an 
English  builder,  a  few  years  since,  determined  to  build  a 
house  within  the  walls  of  the  old  Jerusalem,  and  having  re- 
solved to  lay  its  foundation  on  the  rock  of  David's  time,  he 
found  it  necessary  to  excavate  through  fifty  feet  of  accumu- 
lated rubbish.  These  Christian  centuries  have  been  prolific 
in  religious  rubbish,  and  whoever  now  will  build  with  the  Son 
of  David  must  dig  down  through  superstition,  and  priestcraft, 
and  tradition,  and  prejudiced  interpretations,  until  he  finds  the 
'Word  of  the  living  God.'" 


HUMILITY  A  CHRISTIAN  GRACE. 

Unto  me,  who  am  less  than  the  least  of  all  saints,  is  this  grace  given,  that 
I  should  preach  among  the  Gentiles  the  unsearchable  riches  of  Christ.  — 
Eph.  3 :  8. 

SOME  time  since,  I  took  up  a  little  work  purporting  to  be 
the  lives  of  sundry  characters  as  related  by  themselves. 
Two  of  these  characters  agreed  in  remarking  that  they  were 
never  happy  until  they  ceased  striving  to  be  great  men.  This 
remark  struck  me,  as  yon  know  the  most  simple  remarks  will 
strike  us,  when  Heaven  pleases.  It  occurred  to  me  at  once 


NEW   TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  627 

that  the  most  of  my  sufferings  and  sorrows  were  occasioned 
by  my  unwillingness  to  be  nothing,  which  I  am,  and  by  con- 
sequent struggles  to  be  something.  I  saw  if  I  could  but  cease 
struggling,  and  consent  to  be  anything  or  nothing,  just  as 
God  pleases,  I  might  be  happy.  You  will  think  it  strange 
that  I  mention  this  as  a  new  discovery.  In  one  sense  it  is 
not  new  ;  I  had  known  it  for  years  ;  but  I  now  saw  it  in  a  new 
light.  My  heart  saw  it,  and  consented  to  it ;  I  am  compara- 
tively happy.  My  dear  brother,  if  you  can  give  up  all  desire 
to  be  great,  and  feel  heartily  willing  to  be  nothing,  you  will 
be  happy  too.  — Dr.  Payson. 


OUR  RELIGION  THE  FIRST  THING. 

That  Christ  may  dwell  in  your  hearts  by  faith,  that  ye,  being  rooted  and 
grounded  in  love,  may  be  able  to  comprehend  with  all  saints  what  is  the 
breadth,  and  length,  and  depth,  and  height ;  and  to  know  the  love  of  Christ, 
which  passeth  knowledge,  that  ye  might  be  filled  with  all  the  fullness  of  God.  — 
Eph.  3 :  17-19. 

WE  want  to  have  spiritual  life  so  developed  in  us  that  it 
shall  be  supreme.  A  Christian,  in  the  old  times  was, 
first  of  all,  a  Christian,  and  then,  a  long  way  down,  perhaps  he 
was  a  shoemaker.  He  was  a  Christian,  and  perhaps  he  might 
belong  to  Caesar's  household  ;  but  that  you  might  hardly  know. 
Nowadays  what  are  we  ?  We  are  bankers  or  merchants ; 
everybody  knows  that.  Then,  after  a  little  inquiry,  perhaps 
it  may  be  found  out  that  we  are  Christians.  The  thing  ought 
to  be  reversed.  Our  religion  should  be  the  first  thing.  Too 
much  the  Lord  Jesus  gets  the  scraps  and  the  spare  victuals, 
and  the  world  gets  the  banquets.  Men  give  to  the  Lord 
Jesus  their  odd  minutes,  and  to  money-getting  the  main 
strength  of  their  lives.  I  do  believe  that  will  have  to  be 
altered  before  we  shall  see  any  great  work  done  in  the  land, 
and  multitudes  of  conversions. 

How  it  is  going  to  be  altered,  I  can  not  tell,  except  by  this 
—  that  life  has  a  wonderful  faculty  for  accomplishing  great 
things.  A  little  seed  has  been  sown  in  a  mass  of  rock,  and 
you  could  hardly  suppose  it  could  live ;  but  yet  it  has  thrust 
itself  up,  and  is  become  a  tree,  and  has  lifted  up  the  mass  of 


628  NEW   TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

rock,  and  by  and  by  it  will  move  the  rock  away  to  make  space 
for  itself.  And  life  in  God's  people  at  this  time  is  very  like 
that  seed  in  the  rock.  Our  modes  of  living,  and  our  habits 
are  altogether  prejudicial,  I  believe,  to  any  very  wonderful 
display  of  life ;  but  life  will  do  it  somehow ;  it  will  achieve  its 
purpose  by  some  means.  I  pray  God  to  give  us  that  life.  — 
C.  H.  Spurgeon. 

FINDING  HAPPINESS  IN  GOD. 

Now,  unto  him  that  is  able  to  do  exceeding  abundantly  above  all  that  we 
ask  or  think,  according  to  the  power  that  worketh  in  us,  unto  him  be  glory  in 
the  church  by  Christ  Jesus  throughout  all  ages,  world  without  end.  Amen.  — 
Eph.  3  :  20,  21. 

/CHRISTIANS  might  avoid  much  trouble  and  inconvenience 
\J  if  they  would  only  believe  what  they  profess  —  that  God 
is  able  to  make  them  happy  without  anything  else.  They 
imagine  that  if  such  a  dear  friend  were  to  die,  or  such  and  such 
blessings  were  removed,  they  should  be  miserable ;  whereas 
God  can  make  them  a  thousand  times  happier  without  them. 
To  mention  my  own  case.  God  has  been  depriving  me  of  one 
mercy  after  another ;  but,  as  one  is  removed,  he  has  come  in 
and  filled  up  its  place.  Now,  when  I  am  a  cripple,  and  not 
able  to  move,  I  am  happier  than  ever  I  was  in  my  life  before, 
or  ever  expected  to  be ;  and  if  I  had  believed  this  twenty 
years  ago,  I  might  have  been  spared  much  anxiety.  If  God 
had  told  me  some  time  ago  that  he  was  about  to  make  me  as 
happy  as  I  could  be  in  this  world,  and  then  had  told  me  that 
he  should  begin  by  crippling  me  in  all  rny  limbs,  and  removing 
me  from  my  usual  sources  of  enjoyment,  I  should  have  thought 
it  a  very  strange  mode  of  accomplishing  this  purpose.  And 
yet  how  is  his  wisdom  manifest  even  in  this  1  —  Dr.  Payson. 


ALL-SUFFICIENCY  OF  CHRIST. 

He  that  descended  is  the  same  also  that  ascended  up  far  above  all  heavens, 
that  he  might  fill  all  things.  —  Eph.  4  :  10. 

[  LL  the  good  things  that  can  be  reckoned  up  here  below 
have  only  a  finite  and  limited  benignity  :  some  can  clothe, 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  629 

but  can  not  feed ;  others  can  nourish,  but  they  can  not  heal  ; 
others  can  enrich,  but  they  can  not  secure  ;  others  adorn,  but 
can  not  advance  :  all  do  serve,  but  none  do  satisfy.  They  are 
like  a  beggar's  coat,  made  up  of  many  pieces,  not  all  enough 
either  to  beautify  or  defend.  But  Christ  is  full  and  sufficient 
for  all  his  people.  He  ascended  on  high  that  he  might  fill  all 
things  (Eph.  4  :  10),  that  he  might  pour  forth  such  abundance 
of  spirit  on  his  church  as  might  answer  all  the  conditions 
whereunto  they  may  be  reduced  ;  righteousness  enough  to 
cover  all  their  sins,  plenty  enough  to  supply  all  their  wants, 
rgrace  enough  to  subdue  all  their  lusts,  wisdom  enough  to 
resolve  all  their  doubts,  power  enough  to  vanquish  all  their 
enemies,  virtue  enough  to  cure  all  their  diseases,  fullness 
enough  to  save  them,  and  that  to  the  utmost :  over  and  be- 
sides, there  is  in  Christ  .something  proportionable  to  all  the 
wants  and  desires  of  his  people  ;  he  is  bread,  wine,  milk,  living 
waters  to  feed  them  (John  6 :  5,  7,  35) ;  he  is  a  garment  of 
righteousness  to  cover  and  adorn  them ;  a  physician  to  heal 
them  (Matt.  9:12);  a  counselor  to  advise  them  (Isa.  9:6); 
a  captain  to  defend  them  (Heb.  2  :  10) ;  a  prince  to  rule,  a 
prophet  to  teach,  a  priest  to  make  atonement  for  them,  a  hus- 
band to  protect,  a  father  to  provide,  a  brother  to  relieve,  a 
foundation  to  support,  a  root  to  quicken,  a  head  to  guide,  a 
treasure  to  enrich,  a  sun  to  enlighten,  and  a  fountain  to  cleanse. 
So  that  as  the  one  ocean  hath  more  waters  than  all  the  rivers 
of  the  world,  and  one  sun  more  light  than  all  the  luminaries  in 
heaven,  so  one  Christ  is  more  all  to  a  poor  soul,  than  if  it  had 
the  all  of  the  whole  world  a  thousand  times  over.  —  Things 
New  and  Old. 

UNITY  OF  THE  BIBLE. 

Till  we  all  come  in  the  unity  of  the  faith,  and  of  the  knowledge  of  the  Son 
of  God,  unto  a  perfect  man,  unto  the  measure  of  the  stature  of  the  fullness 
of  Christ.  —  Eph.  4  :  13. 

AS  in   Beethoven's  matchless  music  there  runs  one  idea, 
worked  out  through  all  the  changes  of  measure  and  of 
key,  —  now  almost  hidden,  now  breaking  out  in  rich  natural 

melody,  whispered  in  the  treble,  murmured  in  the  bass,  dimly 


630  NEW   TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

suggested  in  the  prelude,  but  growing  clearer  and  clearer  as 
the  work  proceeds,  winding  gradually  back  till  it  ends  in  the 
key  in  which  it  began,  and  closes  in  triumphant  harmony  —  so 
throughout  the  whole  Bible  there  runs  one  great  idea  —  man's 
ruin  by  sin,  and  his  redemption  by  grace ;  in  a  word,  Jesus 
Christ  the  Saviour.  This  runs  through  the  Old  Testament,  that 
prelude  to  the  New,  dimly  promised  at  the  fall,  and  more 
clearly  to  Abraham  j  typified  in  the  ceremonies  of  the  law  ;  all 
the  events  of  sacred  history  paving  the  way  for  his  coming ; 
his  descent  proved  in  the  genealogies  of  Ruth  and  Chronicles  ; 
spoken  of  as  Shiloh  by  Jacob,  as  the  Star  by  Balaam,  as. 
Prophet  by  Moses  ;  the  David  of  the  Psalms  :  the  Redeemer 
looked  for  by  Job ;  the  Beloved  of  the  Song  of  Songs.  We 
find  him  in  the  sublime  strains  of  the  lofty  Isaiah,  in  the  writ- 
ings of  the  tender  Jeremiah,  in  the  .mysteries  of  the  contem- 
plative Ezekiel,  in  the  visions  of  the  beloved  Daniel,  the  great 
idea  growing  clearer  and  clearer  as  the  time  drew  on.  Then 
the  full  harmony  broke  out  in  the  song  of  the  angels :  "  Glory 
to  God  in  the  highest,  and  on  earth  peace,  good  will  toward 
men."  And  evangelists  and  apostles  taking  up  the  theme,  the 
strain  closes  in  the  same  key  in  which  it  began :  the  devil, 
who  troubled  the  first  paradise,  for  ever  excluded  from  the 
second ;  man  restored  to  the  favor  of  God,  and  Jesus  Christ 
the  key-note  of  the  whole. 


ABSORBED  IN  RELIGION. 

But  speaking  the  truth  in  love,  may  grow  up  into  him  in  all  things,  which 
is  the  head,  even  Christ.  —  Eph.  4 :  15. 

DR.  CHALMERS  said,  "Unless  I  make  religion  my  great 
and  engrossing  concern,  I  shall  be  a  stranger  to  all  solid 
peace  and  enjoyment.  I  have  at  times  caught  a  glimpse  of 
the  comfort  which  it  yields  the  spirit  when  I  merge  my  will 
into  God's  will  —  when  I  resolve  to  have  no  will  of  my  own 
separate  from  God.  I  feel  quite  assured  that  this  entire  re- 
nunciation of  self,  and  entire  devotion  to  Christ's  service, 
would  give  a  simplicity  and  grandeur  to  my  existence  - 
would  throw  an  unclouded  sunshine  over  all  my  ways,  would 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  631 

raise  me  above  the  cares  and  provocations  of  this  life,  would 
enhance  even  my  sensible  gratifications,  and  superadd  those 
gratifications  of  a  higher  order  which  constitute  the  main 
and  essential  blessedness  of  heaven.  0  my  God,  may  it  be 
thus  with  me  !  Call  me  out  of  nature's  darkness  into  thine 
own  marvelous  light.  Give  me  to  aspire  after  the  graces,  and 
hold  forth  to  my  acquaintances,  and,  above  all,  to  my  children, 
the  example  of  all  righteousness.  Conform  me  tb  the  gospel 
economy  under  which  I  sit,  that  as  Christ  died  for  sin,  I  may 
die  to  it,  that  as  he  rose  again,  I  may  rise  to  newness  of  life, 
and  feel  it  my  meat  and  drink  to  do  thy  will." 


ADVICE  TO  PREACHERS. 

Let  no  corrupt  communication  proceed  out  of  your  mouth,  but  that  which 
is  good  to  the  use  of  edifying,  that  it  may  minister  grace  unto  the  hearers.  — 
Eph.  4 :  29. 

1.  TTNDERSTAND  your  text.  2.  Confirm  your  view  by  ref- 
U  erence  to  the  original.  3.  Strengthen  your  opinion  by 
once  more  reading  the  whole  text.  4.  Avoid  a  display  of  learn- 
ing ;  criticise  in  the  study  ;  teach  in  the  pulpit.  5.  Divide  your 
subject  —  it  helps  the  hearers.  6.  Speak  in  short  sentences  — 
it  helps  the  preacher.  7.  Use  plain  words  —  they  are  good  for 
all  sorts  and  conditions  of  men.  8.  Avoid  parentheses  —  they 
trouble  the  speaker,  they  puzzle  the  hearer.  9.  Speak  in  the 
first  person  singular — it  gives  reality.  10.  Avoid  the  first 
person  plural  —  kings  speak  thus;  preachers  should  not.  11. 
Apply  pointedly  —  all  within  the  church  walls  are  not  of  the 
church  of  Christ.  12.  Rebuke  boldly.  13.  Warn  lovingly. 
14.  Encourage  heartily.  15.  Preach  frequently  with  your 
tongue.  16.  Preach  always  by  your  life.  17.  Honor  the  Holy 
Ghost.  18.  Remember  your  Master — seek  his  glory,  not 
your  own.  Old  John  Owen  says  somewhere,  "  To  preach  the 
word,  and  not  to  follow  it  with  prayer  constantly  and  fre- 
quently, is  to  believe  its  use,  neglect  its  end,  and  cast  away  all 
the  seed  of  the  gospel  at  random."  (1  Cor.  1 :  21.) 


632  NEW   TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

RESISTING  THE   SPIRIT. 

And  grieve  not  the  Holy  Spirit  of  God,  whereby  ye  are  sealed  unto  the  day 
of  redemption.  — Eph.  4:  30. 

IT  is  a  spectacle  over  which  an  angel  might  weep  if  there 
could  be  tears  in  heaven ;  man,  feeble  man,  child  of  dust, 
and  crushed  before  the  moth,  strives  with  Almighty  God. 
Who  has  not  done  it !  How  many  are  doing  it  yet !  And 
while  man  does  it  in  his  thoughtlessness,  he  hears  not,  or,  if  he 
hears,  heeds  not  the  sound  which  comes  from  the  distance  and 
falls  upon  the  ear  in  tones  so  solemn  and  distinct,  and  with  a 
cadence  so  dreadful,  "  My  Spirit  shall  not  always  strive  with 
man."  He  heeds  it  not,  but  goes  on  his  way  resisting  the 
Holy  Ghost.  Thus  he  hastens  on  to  a  condition  of  hopeless- 
ness and  helplessness.  Quick  as  the  mind  can  act,  he  speeds 
him  onward.  Every  stifled  conviction  accelerates  his  move- 
ments. Every  Sabbath's  light  but  lights  him  forward.  Every 
message  of  truth,  every  argument  and  appeal  of  the  sanctuary 
which  fall  upon  his  ear,  and  reach  his  spirit,  serve  but  to 
quicken  his  progress.  Ere  long  the  crisis  comes.  In  an  un- 
looked-for moment  the  grieved  and  insulted  Spirit  spreads  his 
wings  for  a  final  flight,  and  as  he  goes  he  leaves  upon  the  soul 
a  seal  which  neither  earth,  nor  heaven,  nor  hell  can  break. 
The  die  is  then  cast,  the  work  is  done,  the  decision  is  recorded. 
"  Let  him  alone,"  is  the  sentence  which  has  gone  forth,  and 
the  man  is  lost.  Thenceforward  his  career  is  one  of  growing 
sinfulness.  Thenceforward  his  state  is  one  of  spiritual  sleep, 
profound  as  that  of  the  grave,  undisturbed  by  any  Sabbath 
argument,  unbroken  by  any  threatening  omen,  unaffected  by 
the  approaching  realities  of  another  world  ;  and  though  he 
may  live  amid  scenes  of  spiritual  beauty,  and  though  the  re- 
freshing showers  of  heavenly  grace  may  brighten  and  give 
new  verdure  to  the  moral  landscape  around  him,  there  he  is  — 
a  spot  blasted  by  heaven's  fire,  which  can  never  be  cultivated  ; 
a  tree  scathed  by  heaven's  lightning,  ready  to  be  cut  down  as 
fuel  for  the  burning.  I  may  seem  to  you  to  speak  strongly  ; 
but  0,  how  lame  and  feeble  are  my  words  to  give  expression 
to  the  sentiment  which  God  hath  uttered,  "  Woe  unto  them 
when  I  depart  from  them  ! '?  -  Hcv.  Ersldne  Mason. 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  633 


SPEAKING  EVIL. 

Let  all  bitterness,  and  wrath,  and  anger,  and  clamor,  and  evil  speaking,  be 
put  away  from  you,  with  all  malice.  —  Eph.  4:31. 

DR.  McINTYRE  has  these  observations  on  despising  the 
gifts  of  others :  "  Preachers  are  sometimes  very  severe, 
if  not  censorious,  critics  on  each  other's  gifts,  and  by  their 
remarks  bring  them  into  contempt  with  many  people  who  would 
otherwise  be  benefited.  They  lessen,  instead  of  increasing,  the 
entire  availability  of  the  ministry.  This  matter  has  another 
aspect:  Dr.  Alexander  once  remarked  that  he  could  observe 
a  continual  growth  in  grace  in  one  of  his  old  ministerial  asso- 
ciates, and  that  this  was  .evidenced  by  a  gradual  extinction 
of  anything  like  vanity  or  envy.  The  observation  is  worth 
recording.  The  surroundings  of  ministers  expose  them  to 
these  very  temptations.  Almost  every  human  agency  is  set  to 
work  to  fan  the  flame.  '  Young  men/  said  a  very  wise  bishop 
to  a  graduating  class,  '  you  may  be  both  ugly  and  dull,  but 
there  will  be  at  least  some  silly  woman  ready  to  tell  you  that 
you  are  smart  and  handsome.'  Once  tainted  by  this  spirit, 
the  next  step  is  jealousy,  arid  the  next  a  system  of  -habitual 
detraction  of  all  with  whom  he  may  be  brought  into  rivalry, 
unless,  perhaps,  he  may  be  bound  by  some  selfish  tie,  such  as 
that  of  party  or  clique.  It  has  been  wondered  why  the  sons 
of  the  evangelical  Wilberforce  did  not  turn  out  evangelicals. 
One  of  the  reasons  assigned  for  the  dislike  taken  by  them  to 
the  clergy  of  the  evangelical  school  is,  that  among  the  num- 
bers by  whom  that  eminent  statesman's  house  was  frequented 
there  were  some  who  were  habitually  censorious  of  their 
brethren.  A  young  and  generous  mind  revolts  from  such 
things,  and  suspects  the  system  that  produces  them.  If  we 
lame  and  damage  the  instruments,  and  diminish,  by  manner  or 
word,  their  influence,  how  can  the  work  be  done  ?  Verily,  in 
despising  each  other's  gifts,  in  speaking  lightly  of  each  other, 
preachers  do  the  devil  service.  l  From  envy,  hatred,  and 
malice,  good  Lord,  deliver  us.'  " 
80 


634  NEW   TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 


NOT  JUSTICE,  BUT  PARDON. 

And  be  ye  kind  one  to  another,  tender-hearted,  forgiving  one  another,  even 
as  God,  for  Christ's  sake,  hath  forgiven  you.  —  Eph.  4  :  32. 

WE  are  shocked  when  we  hear  men  talk  of  dealing  with 
God  on  their  personal  merits.  The  man  who  thus 
speaks  is  either  ignorant,  willfully  deceived,  a  hypocrite,  or 
a  fool. 

In  the  days  when  Napoleon  was  first  consul  of  France,  a 
well-dressed  girl,  fourteen  years  of  age,  presented  herself 
alone  at  the  gate  of  the  palace.  By  tears  and  entreaties  she 
moved  the  kind-hearted  porter  to  allow  her  to  enter.  Fac- 
ing from  one  room  to  another,  she.  found  her  way  to  the  hall 
through  which  Napoleon,  with  his  officers,  was  to  pass.  When 
he  appeared,  she  cast  herself  at  his  feet,  and  in  the  most  ear- 
nest and  moving  manner  cried,  — 

"  Pardon,  sire  !  pardon  for  my  father." 

"  And  who  is  your  father  ?  "  asked  Napoleon  ;  "  and  who  are 
you  ? '' 

"  My  name  is  Lajolia,"  she  said  ;  and  with  flowing  tears  add- 
ed, "  but,  sire,  my  father  is  doomed  to  die." 

"  Ah,  young  lady,"  replied  Napoleon,  "  I  can  do  nothing  for 
you.  It  is  the  second  time  that  your  father  has  been  found 
guilty  of  treason  against  the  state." 

"  Alas  ! "  exclaimed  the  poor  girl,  "  I  know  it,  sire  ;  but  I  do 
not  ask  for  justice,  I  implore  pardon.  I  beseech  you,  forgive, 
0,  forgive  my  father  ! " 

Napoleon's  lips  trembled,  and  his  eyes  filled  with  tears. 
After  a  momentary  struggle  of  feeling,  he  gently  took  the  hand 
of  the  young  maiden,  and  said,  — 

"  Well,  my  child,  for  your  sake  I  will  pardon  your  father. 
That  is  enough.  Now  leave  me." 

Reader,  whoever  you  are,  know  that,  as  a  sinner  against 
God,  the  cry  from  your  lips  must  always  be,  "  Not  justice,  but 
pardon." 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  635 

COYETOUSNESS. 

For  this  ye  know,  that  no  whoremonger,  nor  unclean  person,  nor  covetous 
man,  who  is  an  idolater,  hath  any  inheritance  in  the  kingdom  of  Christ  and  of 
God.  —  Eph.  5  :  5. 

THE  covetous  man  is  like  the  spider.  He  does  nothing 
but  lay  his  wits  to  catch  every  fly,  gaping  only  for  a 
booty  of  gain ;  so  yet  more  in  that  whilst  he  makes  nets  for 
these  flies,  he  consumeth  his  own  bowels,  so  that  which  is  his 
life  is  his  death.  And  yet  he  is  at  least  to  be  pitied,  because 
he  makes  himself  miserable  ;  like  wicked  Ahab,  the  sight  of 
another  man's  vineyard  makes  him  sick ;  he  wants  it  for  him- 
self. He  hates  his  neighbors  as  bad  as  he  is  hated  by  them, 
and  would  sell  his  best  friend,  if  he  had  one,  for  a  groat.  He 
pines  his  body  that  he  may  damn  his  soul ;  and  whenever  dis- 
appointed of  his  expected  gain,  through  the  accursed  discon- 
tent of  his  mind,  he  would  dispatch  himself,  but  that  he  is  loth 
to  cast  away  the  money  on  a  cord.  —  Bishop  Hall. 

Riches,  oftentimes,  if  nobody  takes  them  away,  make  to 
themselves  wings  and  fly  away ;  and  truly,  many  a  time  the 
undue  sparing  of  them  is  but  letting  their  wings  grow,  which 
makes  them  ready  to  fly  away  ;  and  the  contributing  a  part  of 
them  to  do  good  only  clips  their  wings  a  little,  and  makes 
them  stay  the  longer  with  their  owner.  —  Archbishop  Leighton. 

The  only  privilege  of  the  affluent  which  I  covet,  is  the  good 
which  I  might  do  with  their  wealth,  and  the  pleasure  I  might 
enjoy  in  doing  it. — Dr.  Dwicjht. 


WHY  THE  JUDGE  DID  NOT  HELP  THEM. 

And  have  no  fellowship  with  the  unfruitful  works  of  darkness,  but  rather 
reprove  them.  —  Eph.  5  :  11. 

IN  one  of  the  Middle  States,  a  Universalist  preacher,  some 
time  since,  made  great  efforts  to  establish  a  society  of  his 
own  faith.     A  few  persons,  of  little  character  and  influence, 
were   deeply  anxious  that  such  a  society  should  be  formed 


636  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

among  them,  but  knew  not  how  to  effect  their  object  and 
build  a  house.  It  was  finally  agreed  that  the  preacher  and 
one  of  his  followers  should  wait  on  a  distinguished  judge  who 
resided  in  the  village,  and  solicit  his  patronage.  The  judge 
heard  the  loquacious  preacher  with  great  patience  for  almost 
half  an  hour,  when  he  closed  by  asking  the  judge's  aid  in  estab- 
lishing the  society. 

u  No/'  says  the  judge,  "  I  shall  not  be  disposed,  sir,  to  lend 
you  any  assistance  in  forming  such  a  society.  For,  in  the  first 
place,  it  seems  to  me  that  your  system  of  faith  is  not  support- 
ed by  the  Holy  Scriptures.  I  confess  I  am  not  so  thoroughly 
versed  in  those  writings  as  I  ought  to  be  ;  yet  I  should  hardly 
know  how  to  express  the  eternity  of  future  punishment  more 
clearly  than  I  often  see  it  there  described.  But  this,  sir,  I  do 
believe  (let  the  Scriptures  say  what  they  may),  that  were  all 
clergymen  to  preach  this  doctrine  which  you  preach,  there 
would  soon  be  a  heil  in  this  world,  if  not  in  the  next."  The 
judge  then  added  with  seriousness,  that  if  all  who  profess  to 
preach  the  gospel  were  to  adopt  and  inculcate  such  senti- 
ments, he  did  not  believe  it  would  be  possible  to  hold  ci\7il 
society  together.  Human  laws  would  be  trampled  under  foot, 
and  their  penalties,  if  not  backed  by  divine  threatenings,  would 
be  but  a  subject  of  mockery.  With  these  views  he  must  be 
excused  from  making  any  efforts  to  establish  a  Universalist 
society  in  that  place  or  any  other. 

The  correctness  of  the  above-cited  occurrence  may  be  re- 
lied on ;  and,  as  to  the  justness  of  the  judge's  views,  reason, 
common  sense,  and  the  Scriptures  say,  Amen. 


THINGS  MISCALLED  AMUSEMENTS. 

For  it  is  a  shame  even  to  speak  of  those  things  which  are  done  of  them  in 
secret.  —  Eph.  5  :  12. 

THE  popular  amusements  of  the  day  are  grievously  mis- 
named.    They  should  be  called  excitements.     The  Anglo- 
Saxons  and  the  Celts,  the  races  that  give   character  to  our 
American  civilization  and  religion,  know  little  of  amusements 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  637 

in  the  proper  sense.  It  does  not  content  them.  The  dance, 
the  evening  party,  the  card-table,  the  theater  and  opera,  the 
race- course,  the  billiard-saloon,  and  the  tenpin-alley,  are,  either 
in  their  very  nature  or  by  their  almost  invariable  associations, 
excitements  of  the  most  unwholesome,  inordinate,  and  per- 
nicious sort.  Such  a  party  as  that  given  by  a  prominent  New 
England  representative  in  Washington  last  winter,  when,  after 
the  usual  gayeties,  and  feasting,  and  drinking  had  extended  to 
one  o'clock  in  the  morning,  we  are  told  "  the  German  "  was 
commenced,  and  kept  up  till  near  daybreak,  and  the  whole  was 
finished  by  a  champagne  breakfast,  —  could  this  be  rightly 
called  amusement  ?  By  no  means.  It  was  a  piece  of  real 
business,  of  the  hardest  and  most  trying  nature,  cruel  to  body 
and  soul,  as  severe  a  draught  upon  the  nerve-force  as  a  forced 
march,  or  a  total  rout  and  pell-mell  retreat  of  an  army.  Nay, 
we  believe  the  downright  butchery  of  a  battle-field  is  less  bar- 
barous and  more  truly  amusing  than  the  orgies  of  such  a  first- 
class  all-night  party  at  the  metropolis.  The  theater  is  also 
the  scene  of  wearying,  demoralizing,  imbrutirig  excitement, 
more  enfeebling  and  corrupting  than  a  miasm.  The  fierce 
passions,  the  gorgeous  lewdness,  the  unmitigated  sensuality 
of  spectacle,  and  costume,  and  situation,  and  plot  of  the  staple 
performances  of  the  drama,  —  what  refreshment  is  there  in  all 
this  ?  what  refreshment,  indeed,  on  the  very  crater  of  hell,  in- 
haling the  sulphurous  fumes  of  the  pit  ?  Men  do  not  go  to 
those  places  for  the  innocent  and  wholesome  thing  properly 
called  amusement ;  they  go  for  excitement.  They  go  not  to  be 
entertained,  but  to  be  inflamed. 


A  SOLEMN  BUT  TRUE  CHARGE. 

And  be  not  drunk  with  wine,  wherein  is  excess ;  but  be  filled  with  the 
Spirit.  —  Eph.  5  :  18. 

DR.  GUTHRIE  says,   "  Before  God  and  man,  before    the 
church  and  the  world,  I  impeach  intemperance.     I  charge 
it  with  the  murder  of  innumerable   souls.     In  this  country, 
blessed  with  freedom  and  plenty,  the  word  of  God,  and  the 
liberties  of  true  religion,  I  charge  it  as  the  cause  —  whatever 


638  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

be  their  source  elsewhere  —  of  almost  all  the  poverty,  and 
almost  all  the  crime,  and  almost  all  the  misery,  and  almost  all 
the  ignorance,  and  almost  all  the  irreligion  that  disgrace  and 
afflict  the  land.  *  I  am  not  mad,  most  noble  Festus.  I  speak 
the  words  of  truth  and  soberness.'  I  do  in  my  conscience  be- 
lieve that  these  intoxicating .  stimulants  have  sunk  into  perdi- 
tion more  men  and  women  than  found  a  grave  in  that  deluge 
which  swept  over  the  highest  hill-tops,  ingulfing  a  world  of 
which  but  eight  were  saved/'7 

From  the  teachings  of  Scripture,  from  the  history  of  crime, 
from  the  observation  of  men  in  all  ages,  and  from  the  sad  ex- 
amples of  intemperance  so  generally  manifest,  can  a  Chris- 
tian aid,  by  voice  or  ballot,  the  cause  of  intemperance  ? 


SO  OUGHT  HUSBANDS  TO  LOVE  THEIR  WIVES. 

Husbands,  love  your  wives,  even  as  Christ  also  loved  the  church,  and  gave 
himself  for  it.  —  Eph.  5  :  25. 

A  SBESTOS  is  the  most  extraordinary  of  all  fossils.  It  is  of 
J\.  the  nature  of  alabaster,  but  may  be  drawn  out  into  fine 
silken  threads  of  a  grayish  or  silver  color.'  It  is  indissolvable 
in  water,  and  remains  unconsumed  in  fire.  A  handkerchief, 
made  of  this  material,  many  years  ago,  and  presented  to  the 
Royal  Society  of  England,  was  thrown  into  an  intensely  hot 
fire,  and  lost  but  two  drachms  of  its  weight,  and  when  thus 
heated  was  laid  upon  white  paper,  and  did  not  burn  it.  Con- 
nubial love  is  like  the  asbestos.  Neither  fire  nor  water  can 
destroy  it ;  for  it  can  neither  be  dissolved  nor  consumed.  The 
waves  of  sorrow  will  riot  wash  it  away ;  the  scorching  flames 
of  tribulation  will  not  burn  it  up.  If  this  be  true  concerning 
genuine  connubial  love,  ho\v  beautifully  does  it  illustrate  the 
indissolvable  love  between  Christ  and  his  church,  which  is 
called  "  The  bride,  the  Lamb's  wife  !  "  (Rev.  21  :  9.)  —  From 
Dr.  Strikers  Lecture  on  Matrimony. 


NEW   TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  639 


HOW  BEST  TO  LIVE  IN  PEACE. 

Nevertheless,  let  every  one  of  you  in  particular  so  love  his  wife  even  as 
himself;  and  the  wife  see  that  she  reverence  her  husband.  — Eph.  5  :  33. 

MR.  JOHNSTON,  of  West  Africa,  in  one  of  his  journals, 
relates  the  following  very  pleasing  and  instructive  inci- 
dent :  — 

11  In  visiting  a  sick  communicant,  his  wife,  who  was  formerly 
in  our  school,  was  present.  I  asked  several  questions,  viz.,  if 
they  prayed  together,  read  a  part  of  the  Scriptures  (the  wo- 
man can  read),  constantly  attended  public  worship,  and  lived 
in  peace  with  their  neighbors.  All  these  questions  were  an- 
swered in  the  affirmative.  I  then  asked  if  the}7  lived  in  peace 
together.  The  man  answered,  '  Sometimes  I  say  a  word  my 
wife  no  like,  or  my  wife  talk  or  do  what  I  no  like ;  but  when 
we  want  to  quarrel,  we  shake  hands  together,  shut  the  door, 
and  go  to  prayer ;  and  so  we  get  peace  again.'  This  method 
of  keeping  peace  quite  delighted  me.7'  —  Cheever's  Anecdotes. 


A  MUCH  INDULGED  CHILD. 

Honor  thy  father  and  mother,  which  is  the  first  commandment  with  prom- 
ise, that  it  may  be  well  with  thee,  and  thou  mayst  live  long  on  the  earth.  — 
Eph.  6  :  2,  3. 

THE  tragic  murder  of  Dr.  Parkman,  of  Boston,  by  Pro- 
fessor Webster,  filled  the  community  with  horror.  A  chain 
of  circumstantial  evidence  proved  his  guilt,  and  he  was  con- 
demned to  die  upon  the  gallows.  In  the  prison,  while  awaiting 
his  awful  doom,  he  petitioned  the  governor  for  a  milder  pun- 
ishment, at  the  same  time  confessing  the  crime.  In  his  peti- 
tion for  executive  clemency  he  said,  "  I  am  irritable  and 
passionate  ;  a  quick-handed  and  brisk  violence  of  temper  have 
been  the  besetting  sins  of  my  life.  I  was  an  only  child,  much 
indulged,  and  have  never  acquired  the  control  over  my  tem- 
per, as  I  ought  to  have  acquired  early ;  and  the  consequence 
is  all  this."  Where  was  parental  government?  Remember, 
you  who  have  the  responsibility  of  bringing  up  children,  that 


640  NEW   TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

11  much  indulged  "  was  the  seed  sown,  which  ripened  into  mur- 
der at  the  harvest.  Restraint  is  an  indispensable  element  in 
family  government.  Of  Eli  it  said,  "  His  sons  made  them- 
selves vile,  and  he  restrained  them  not."  (1  Sam.  3  : 13.) 


PREACHING  FROM  EXPERIENCE. 

Not  with  eye-service,  as  men-pleasers,  but  as  the  servants  of  Christ,  doing 
the  will  of  God  from  the  heart.  —  Eph.  6  :  6. 

HE  that  can  tell  men  what  God  hath  done  for  his  own  soul 
is  the  likeliest  to  bring  their  souls  to  God  ;  hardly  can  he 
speak  to  the  heart  that  speaks  not  from  it.  Before  the  cock 
crows  to  others,  he  claps  his  wings,  and  rouses  up  himself. 
How  can  a  frozen-hearted  preacher  warm  his  hearers'  hearts, 
and  enkindle  them  with  the  love  of  God?  But  he  whom  the 
love  of  Christ  constrains,  his  lively  recommendations  of  Christ, 
and  speeches  of  love,  shall  sweetly  constrain  others  to  love 
him.  Above  all  loves,  it  is  most  true  of  this,  that  none  can 
speak  sensibly  of  it  but  those  that  have  felt  it. 


BE  GIGANTIC  CHRISTIANS. 

Finally,  my  brethren,  be  strong  in  the  Lord,  and  in  the  power  of  his 
might.  —  Eph.  6  :  10. 

/CONCERNING  Christian  progress,  Mr.  Spurgeon  says, 
\J  "  Let  me  offer  a  word  of  practical  exhortation.  Do  set  a 
very  high  standard  to  yourselves  of  what  a  Christian  should 
be.  We  might  develop  into  giants  if  we  did  but  aim  at  be- 
ing gigantic.  Some  men  have  never  thought  they  could  be 
otherwise  than  trembling,  and  so  have  remained  doubting  and 
fearing  always.  Some  have  fancied  they  never  could  be  any- 
thing other  than  mere  patients  in  Christ's  hospital,  and  they 
have  remained  there  all  their  lives  long.  You  have  a  child  ; 
you  put  it  in  a  perambulator,  and  you  are  glad  to  wheel  it 
through  the  street ;  you,  the  mother,  think  it  is  a  beautiful 
sight.  But  suppose,  fifteen  years  hence,  your  child  shall  need 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS..  641 

to  be  wheeled  about  in  the  same  way,  shall  need  to  be  fed  on 
the  same  food,  and  carried  tenderly  in  the  same  arms ;  will 
that  be  a  pleasing  sight?  Will  that  delight  you?  Father 
and  mother  will  whisper  together  what  they  dare  hardly  at 
first  say:  '  We  are  the  unhappy  parents  of  a  dwarfed  child, 
an  imbecile ; '  and  those  dear  friends,  who,  when  they  first 
came  in  to  see  the  child,  congratulated  37ou  upon  the  little 
stranger,  would  hardly  dare  to  bring  up  such  an  unhappy 
topic  of  consideration.  Now,  I  know  some  Christians  that  I 
used  to  wheel  in  perambulators  fifteen  years  ago.  I  had 
choice  texts  for  them,  and  sermons  full  of  consolation,  and  I 
have  to  do  much  the  same  for  them  now.  I  suppose  in  ouc 
churches  there  is  a  very  large  proportion  of  Christians  who 
are  not  one  whit  more  manly,  more  daring,  more  believing,  or 
even  more  intelligent  in  the  things  of  God,  than  they  were 
fifteen  or  twenty  years  ago.  Unhappy  church,  to  be  the  moth- 
er of  a  tribe  of  dwarfs  !  How  much  of  this  dwarfing  comes 
from  our  belief  that  we  can  not  be  anything  but  dwarfs  ?  It 
is  not  so.  Ye  can  l  be  strong  in  the  Lord,  and  in  the  power 
of  his  might.'  I  pray  you,  seek  after  it,  and  you  shall  have  it, 
for  according  to  your  faith  in  this  thing,  as  in  many  others, 
shall  it  be  unto  you." 


DR.  MILLER'S  DUCK  STORY. 

Put  on  the  whole  armor  of  God,  that  ye  may  be  able  to  stand  against  the 
wiles  of  the  devil.  —  Epli.  6:11. 

THE  late  Dr.  Miller,  of  Princeton,  as  all  his  students  will 
remember,  abounded  in  anecdotes,  which  he  related  to  his 
classes  from  year  to  year,  to  illustrate  the  points  made  in  his 
lectures.  One  of  them  occurs  to  us,  just  now,  as*specially  ap- 
plicable to  the  new  converts  which  have  recently  come  into 
the  churches  within  the  bounds  of  our  circulation. 

A  celebrated  judge  in  Virginia  was,  in  his  earlier  years, 
skeptical  as  to  the  truth  of  the  Bible,  and  especially  as  to  the 
reality  of  experimental  religion.  He  had  a  favorite  servant, 
who  accompanied  him  in  his  travels  round  his  circuit.  As 
they  passed  from  court-house  to  court-house,  they  frequently 
81 


012  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

conversed  on  the  subject  of  religion,  the  servant,  Harry,  ven- 
turing at  times  to  remonstrate  with  his  master  against  his  in- 
fidelity. As  the  judge  had  confidence  in  Harry.'s  honesty  and 
sincerity,  he  asked  him  a  great  many  questions  as  to  how  he 
felt  and  what  he  thought  on  various  points.  Amongst  other 
things,  Harry  told  his  master  that  he  was  often  very  sorely 
tempted  and  tried  by  the  devil.  The  judge  asked  Harry  to 
explain  to  him  how  it  happened  that  the  devil  attacked  him 
(Harry),  who  was  so  pious  a  man,  so  sorely  whilst  he  allowed 
himself,  who  was  an  infidel  and  a  sinner,  to  pass  unnoticed  and 
untempted.  Harry  asked,  "  Are  you  right  sure,  massa,  dat 
he  does  let  you  pass  widout  troubling  you  ?  "  "  Certainly  I 
am,"  replied  the  judge ;  I  have  no  dealings  with  him  at  all. 
I  do  not  even  so  much  as  know  that  there  is  any  such  being  hi 
existence  as  the  devil.  If  there  is  any  such  being,  he  never 
troubles  me."  "  Well,"  said  Harry,  "  I  know  that  there  is  a 
devil,  and  that  he  tries  me  sorely  at  times." 

A  day  or  two  afterwards,  when  the  judge  had  finished 
his  docket,  he  concluded  to  go  on  a  hunt  for  wild  ducks  on 
one  of  the  streams  which  lay  across  his  road  homeward. 
Harry  accompanied  him.  As  they  approached  the  river  they 
espied  a  flock  of  ducks  quietly  floating  on  its  surface.  The 
judge  stealthily  crept  up  the  bank  and  fired  upon  them, 
killing  two  or  three  and  wounding  as  many  others.  He  at 
once  threw  down  his  gun,  and  made  strenuous  efforts,  with 
the  aid  of  clubs  and  stones,  to  secure  the  wounded  ducks, 
while  he  permitted  the  dead  ones  to  float  on,  for  the  time, 
unnoticed  by  him.  Harry,  as  he  sat  on  the  seat  of  the  car- 
riage, watched  his  master's  movements  with  deep  interest,  ;m<l 
when  he  returned  said  to  him,  "  Massa,  whilst  you  was  a 
splashin'  in  de  water  after  dem  wounded  ducks,  and  lottin  de 
dead  ones  float  on,  it  jist  come  into  my  mind  why  it  is  dat  de 
debil  troubles  me  so  much,  whilst  ho  lets  you  alone.  You  are 
like  the  dead  ducks;  he's  sure  he's  got  you  safe.  I'm  like  de 
wounded  ones,  trying  to  git  away  from  him,  and  he's. afraid  I'll 
do  it ;  so  he  makes  all  de  fuss  after  me,  and  jist  lets  you  float 
on  down  de  stream.  He  knows  he  can  git  you  any  time ;  but 
he  knows  it's%now  or  neber  wid  me.  If  you  were  to  begin  to 
flutter  a  little,  and  show  signs  like  you  were  agoin'  to  git  away 


NEW   TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  643 

from  him,  he  would  make  jist  as  big  a  splashin'  after  you  as  he 
does  after  me." 

The  illustration  struck  the  learned  judge  with  great  force, 
and  led  him  to  reinvest! gate  the  grounds  of  his  skepticism ; 
and,  through  Harry's  instrumentality,  he  was  finally  brought  to 
sit  with  him  at  the  feet  of  Jesus,  and  to  learn  of  him.  The 
illustration  is  a  homely  one,  but  it  sets  forth  a  great  truth  in 
the  experiences  of  those  who  set  out  in  the  Christian  course. 


SPIRITUAL  WRESTLING. 

\A  ''K  z- 

For  we  wrestle  not  against  flesh  and  blood,  but  against  pN^rYc.ipalities,'£' 
against  powers,  against  the  rulers  of  the  darkness  of  this  world,  against  spir- 
itual wickedness  in  high  places.  —  Eph.  6  :  12. 


VRESTLERS,  before  they  began  their  combats,  were  rubbed 
all  over  in  a  rough  manner,  and  afterward  anointed 
with  oil,  in  order  to  increase  the  strength  and  flexibility  of 
their  limbs.  But  as  this  unction,  in  making  the  skin  too 
slippery,  rendered  it  difficult  for  them  to  take  hold  of  each 
other,  they  remedied  that  inconvenience  sometimes  by  rolling 
themselves  in  the  dust  of  the  palaestra,  sometimes  by  throwing 
fine  sand  upon  each  other,  kept  for  that  purpose  in  xysta,  or 
porticoes  of  the  gymnasia.  Thus  prepared,  they  began  their 
combat.  They  were  matched  two  against  two,  and  sometimes 
several  couples  contended  at  the  same  time.  In  this  combat 
the.  whole  aim  and  design  of  the  wrestlers  were  to  throw  their 
adversaries  on  the  ground.  Both  strength  and  art  were  em- 
ployed to  this  purpose ;  they  seized  each  other  by  the  arms, 
drew  forward,  pushed  backward,  used  many  distortions  and 
twistings  of  the  body ;  locking  their  limbs  in  each  other's,  * 
seizing  by  the  neck  or  throat,  pressing  in  their  arms,  strug- 
gling, playing  on  all  sides,  lifting  from  the  ground,  dashing 
their  heads  together  like  rams,  and  twisting  one  another's 
necks.  In  this  manner  the  athietae  wrestled  standing,  the 
combat  ending  with  the  fall  of  one  of  the  competitors.  To 
this  combat  the  words  of  Eliphaz  seem  to  apply :  "  For  he 
stretcheth  out  his  hand  against  God,"  like  a  wrestler  chal- 
lenging his  antagonist  to  the  contest,  "  and  strengthened  him- 


644  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

self/'  rather  vaunteth  himself,  stands  up  haughtily,  and  boasts 
of  his  prowess  in  the  full  view  of  "  the  Almighty/'  throwing 
abroad  his  arms,  clapping  his  hands  together,  springing  into 
the  middle  of  the  ring,  and  taking  his  station  there  in  the  ad- 
justed attitude  of  defiance.  "  He  runneth  upon  him,  even  on 
his  neck,"  or  with  his  neck  stretched  out,  furiously  dashing 
his  head  against  the  other  j  and  this  he  does  even  when  he 
perceives  that  his  adversary  is  covered  with  defensive  armor, 
upon  which  he  can  make  no  impression  •  "  he  runneth  upon 
the  thick  bosses  of  his  bucklers." 


SPEAK  THE  TRUTH  ALWAYS. 

*  Stand,  therefore,  having  your  loins  girt  about  with  truth,  and  having  on 
the  breastplate  of  righteousness.  —  Eph.  6  :  14. 

ANY  one  can  count  on  his  fingers  all  of  his  acquaintances 
who  are  accustomed  to  tell  the  truth.  Let  them  describe 
some. incident  or  object,  and  ninety-nine  out  of  a  hundred  inev- 
itably exaggerate  or  color  it.  They  are  not  accustomed  to 
look  carefully  and  describe  accurately.  The  fault  is  perhaps 
half  in  the  seeing  and  half  in  the  telling,  and  in  both  cases  it 
is  a  curable  fault.  Let  children  be  checked  when  they  talk 
vaguely,  or  at  random,  of  something  they  have  just  seen  or 
heard,  and  of  which,  therefore,  they  ought  to  have  some  clear 
idea.  When  they  look  at  some  new  thing,  teach  them  to 
scrutinize  it  carefully,  so  that  they  can  describe  it  after- 
ward. When  they  hear  a  "narrative,  let  them  be  trained  to 
listen  intently ;  and  when  they  say  anything,  teach  them  to  say 
just  what  they  mean.  Slipshod  observation  and  slipshod 
speech  are  some  of  our  inheritances  from  our  first  parents,  and 
we  make  slow  work  in  outgrowing  them. 


MAY  WE  SO  PRAY. 

Praying  always  with  all  prayer  and  supplication  in  the  spirit,  and  watching 
thereunto  with  all  perseverance  and  supplication  for  all  saints.  —  Eph,  6 :  18. 

NUMBER  of  ministers  were  assembled  for  the  discussion 
of  difficult  questions ;  and,  among  others,  it  was  asked 


A 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  645 

how  the  command  to  "  pray  without  ceasing  "  could  be  com- 
plied with.  Various  suppositions  were  started  ;  and  at  length 
one  of  the  number  was  appointed  to  write  an  essay  upon  it,  to 
be  read  at  the  next  meeting ;  which  being  overheard  by  a 
female  servant,  she  exclaimed,  — 

"  What  !  a  whole  month  waiting  to  tell  the  meaning  of  that 
text  ?  It  is  one  of  the  easiest  and  best  texts  in  the  Bible." 

"  Well,  well ! "  said  an  old  minister.  "  Mary,  what  can  you 
say  about  it  ?  Let  us  know  how  you  understand  it.  Can  you 
pray  all  the  time  ?  " 

"  0,  yes,  sir  !  " 

"  What !  when  you  have  so  many  things  to  do  ?  " 

"  Why,  sir,  the  more  I  have  to  do,  the  more  I  can  pray." 

"  Indeed  !  Well,  Mary,  do  let  us  know  how  it  is  ;  for  most 
people  think  otherwise." 

"  Well,  sir,"  said  the  girl,  "  when  I  first  open  my  eyes  in 
the  morning,  I  pray, '  Lord,  open  the  eyes  of  my  understand- 
ing ; '  and  while  I  am  dressing,  I  pray  that  I  may  be  clothed 
with  the  robe  of  righteousness  ;  and  when  I  have  washed  me, 
I  ask  for  the  washing  of  regeneration  ;  and  as  I  begin  to  work, 
I  pray  that  I  may  have  strength  equal  to  my  day ;  when  I 
begin  to  kindle  up  the  fire,  I  pray  that  God's  work  may  revive 
in  my  soul ;  and  as  I  sweep  out  the  'house,  I  pray  that  my 
heart  may  be  cleansed  from  all  its  impurities  ;  and  while  pre- 
paring and  partaking  of  breakfast,  I  desire  to  be  fed  with  the 
hidden  manna  and  the  sincere  milk  of  the  word  ;  and  as  I  am 
busy  with  the  little  children,  I  look  up  to  God  as  my  Father, 
and  pray  for  the  spirit  of  adoption,  that  I  may  be  his  child  ; 
and  so  on  all  day.  Everything  I  do  furnishes  me  with  a 
thought  for  prayer." 

"  Enough,  enough  !  "  cried  the  old  divine  ;  "  these  things 
are  revealed  to  babes,  and  often  hidden  from  the  wise  and  pru- 
dent. Go  on,  Mary,"  said  he  ;  "  pray  without  ceasing ;  and  as 
for  us,  my  brethren,  let  us  bless  the  Lord  for  this  exposition, 
and  remember  that  he  has  said,  '  The  meek  will  he  guide  in 
judgment.'  "• 

After  this  little  event,  the  essay  was  not  considered  neces- 
sary. 


646  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

HE  SHREWDLY  COVERED  HIS  TRACKS. 

And  for  me,  that  utterance  may  be  given  unto  me,  that  I  may  open  my 
mouth  boldly,  to  make  known  the  mystery  of  the  gospel.  —  Eph.  6  :  19. 

EEV.  DOLPHUS  SKINNER,  for  many  years  a  leading 
clergyman  in  the  Universalist  denomination  in  the  State 
of  New  York,  was  more  distinguished  for  his  adroitness  in 
avoiding  distinct  statements  of.  his  doctrine,  or  of  boldly  de- 
claring adverse  views  to  the  generally  received  doctrines  of 
Christianity,  than  for  any  other  quality  in  his  pulpit  efforts. 
A  gentleman  who  had  often  heard  him  was  asked,  "  What  are 
Mr.  Skinner's  strong  points  ? "  His  reply  was,  "  In  talking 
much  and  saying  little,  for  no  one  can  repeat  any  connected 
ideas  of  his  sermon  an  hour  after  he  has  heard  him."  With 
an  excellent  command  of  language,  with  an  easy  elocution, 
and  with  a  better  understanding  of  human  nature  than  of  "the 
new  creature  in  Christ  Jesus,"  his  preaching  was  in  striking 
contrast  with  the  apostle  who  desired  the  prayers  of  Chris- 
tians that  he  might  "  open  his  mouth  boldly  to  make  known 
the  mystery  of  the  gospel."  Mr.  Skinner  scattered  his  semi- 
infidel  sentiments,  not  by  proving  the  orthodox  faith  to  be 
untrue,  not  by  demonstrating  that  "  these  shall  (not)  go  away 
into  everlasting  punishment,"  but  by  gentle  words,  in  care- 
fully prepared  expressions,  that  insinuated,  rather  than  de- 
clared, a  positive  unbelief,  he  drew  many  unthinking  and  non- 
investigating  minds  into  accepting  a  creed  that  does  not  lead 
to  Christ,  because  mostly  made  up  of  negatives  ;  while  Chris- 
tianity is  a  positiveness  in  its  faith,  in  its  power  to  save,  in  its 
source,  and  in  its  ultimate  destiny.  All  true  ministers  of 
Christ  are  positive  in  experience,  and  in  their  utterances  of 
divine  truth.  Luther,  John  Knox,  Wesley,  Whitefield,  and 
hosts  of  others  who  have  led  on  the  army  of  the  Lord,  and 
won  victories,  for  Christ,  all  "  opened  their  mouths  boldly  in 
making  known  the  gospel." 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  G±7 

POSITIVE  CHRISTIANITY. 

Being  filled  with  the  fruits  of  righteousness,  which  are  by  Jesus  Christ, 
unto  the  glory  and  praise  of  God.  —  Phil.  1 :  11. 

BE  not  content  with  a  purely  negative  religion.  It  is  much 
easier  to  be  negative  —  that  is,  not  to  commit  gross  sins 
—  than  to  be  positive.  It  is  not  so  easy  to  be  an  outspoken, 
active,  decided  Christian.  The  world  will  bear  with  us  any 
length  if  we  do  not  push  the  thought  of  eternity  upon  them. 
But  this  is  what  the  Lord  wants  ;  not  merely  negative  Chris- 
tians, who  do  no  great  harm  gliding  on  smoothly  with  the 
current,  but  bold  and  active  laborers,  who  seek  by  word  and 
deed  to  turn  men  to  God.  Scripture  speaks  of  the  salt  and 
the  light. 

Observe  that  while  salt  preserves  from  corruption,  light 
dispels  the  darkness  ;  that  while  the  salt  is  meant  for  the 
church,  the  light  is  meant  for  the  world.  And  we  are  not 
only  to  have  salt  in  ourselves,  to  preserve  what  is  good 
amongst  the  saints,  but  we  are  also  to  be  lights  in  the  world, 
to  dispel  the  evil,  pushing  forward  among  perishing  sinners, 
in  the  activity  of  the  new  man,  not  only  not  doing  what  is 
evil,  but  doing  positive  good,  and  seeking  the  salvation  of 
souls,  bearing  the  fruit  of  the  Spirit  in  all  goodness,  and  right- 
eousness, and  truth,  and  then  glory  will  be  brought  to  God  by 
our  lives.  May  we  be  less  content  with  moderate  attainments, 
and  more  desirous  to  be  filled  with  the  Spirit,  that  we  may  be 
as  overflowing  vessels  ;  for  when  a  vessel  is  full  to  the  brirn, 
the  least  little  touch  will  overflow  it ;  so  it  shall  be  with  us,  that 
the  least  opportunity  will  cause  our  full  hearts  to  overflow  with 
words  of  grace  and  love  to  those  around. 


"ALL  FOR  THE  BEST." 

But  I  would  ye  should  understand,  brethren,  that  the  things  which  hap- 
pened unto  me  have  fallen  out  rather  unto  the  furtherance  of  the  gospel.  — 
Phil.  1  :  12. 

T)ERNARD    GILPIN   was  a  great  and   good   man,  whose 
J3  pious  labors  in  the  counties  of  Westmoreland,  Cumber- 


6±8  NEW   TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

land,  Northumberland,  and  York,  at  the  period  of  the  refor- 
mation, procured  for  him  the  title  by  which -he  is  still  remem- 
bered in  those  parts,  as  the  "  Apostle  of  the  North." 

It  appears  that  it  was  a  frequent  saying  of  his,  when  ex- 
posed to  losses  or  troubles,  "  Ah,"  well,  God's  will  be  done  ; 
nothing  happens  which  is  not  intended  for  our  good  j  it  is  all 
for  the  best !  " 

Toward  the  close  of  Queen  Mary's  reign,  Mr.  Gilpin  was 
accused  of  heresy  before  the  merciless  Bishop  Bonner,  and 
was  speedily  apprehended.  He  left  his  quiet  home,  "  noth- 
ing doubting,"  as  he  said,  "  but  that  it  was  all  for  the  best," 
though  he  was  well  aware  of  the  fate  that  might  await  him ; 
for  he  gave  directions  to  his  steward  "  to  provide  him  a  long 
garment,  that  he  might  go  the  more  comely  to  the  stake,"  at 
which  he  would  be  burnt. 

While  on  his  way  to  London,  by  some  accident  he  had  a 
fall,  and  broke  his  leg,  which  put  a  stop  for  some  time  to  his 
journey.  The  persons  in  whose  custody  he  was,  took  occasion 
thence  maliciously  to  retort  upon  his  habitual  remark. 

"  What !  "  said  they,  "  is  this  all  for  the  best  ?  " 

"  Sirs,  I  make  no  question  but  it  is,"  was  the  meek  reply  ; 
and  so  in  very  truth  it  proved,  for  before  he  was  able  to  travel, 
Queen  Mary  died,  the  persecution  ceasedrand  he  was  restored 
to  his  liberty  and  friends. 

BE  DEVOUT  IN  CONVERSATION. 

Only  let  your  conversation  be  as  it  becometh  the  gospel  of  Christ ;  that 
whether  I  come  and  see  you,  or  else  be  absent,  I  may  hear  of  your  affairs,  that 
ye  stand  fast  in  one  spirit,  with  one  mind,  striving  together  for  the  faith  of  the 
gospel.  —  Phil.  1 :  27. 

nHHERE  once  was  a  young  minister  preaching  very  earnestly 
JL  in  a  certain  chapel,  who,  after  service,  had  to  walk  some 
four  or  five  miles  to  his  home  along  a  country  road.  A  young- 
man  who  had  been  deeply  impressed  during  the  sermon  re- 
quested the  privilege  of  walking  with  the  minister,  with  an 
earnest  hope  that  he  might  get  an  opportunity  of  telling  his 
feelings  to  him,  and  obtaining  some  word  of  guidance  or  com- 
foit.  Instead  of  that,  the  young  minister,  all  along,  told  the 


NEW   TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  649 

most  singular  tales  to  those  who  were  with  him,  causing  loud 
roars  of  laughter.  He  stopped  at  a  certain  house,  and  this 
young  man  with  him,  and  the  whole  evening  was  spent  in 
frivolity. 

Some  years  after,  when  the  minister  had  grown  older,  he 
was  sent  for  to  the  bedside  of  a  dying  man.  He  hastened 
thither  with  a  heart  desirous  to  do  good.  He  was  requested 
to  sit  down  at  frhe  bedside,  and  the  dying  man,  looking  at  him 
and  regarding  him  more  closely,  said  to  him,  — 

"  Do  you  remember  preaching  in  such  a  village,  and  on  such 
an  occasion  ?  " 

"  I  do,"  said  the  minister. 

"  I  was  one  of  your  hearers,"  said  the  man,  "  and  I  was 
deeply  impressed  by  the  sermon." 

"  Thank  God  for  that ! "  said  the  minister. 

"  Stop  !  "  interrupted  the  man ;  "  don't  thank  God  till  you 
have  heard  the  whole  story.  You  will  have  reason  to  alter 
your  tone  before  I  have  done." 

The  minister  changed  countenance  ;  but  he  little  guessed 
what  would  be  the  full  extent  of  that  man's  testimony. 

Said  he,  "  Sir,  do  you  remember,  after  you  had  finished  your 
sermon,  that  I,  with  some  others,  walked  home  with  you  ?  I 
was  sincerely  desirous  of  being  led  in  the  right  path  that 
night ;  but  I  heard  you  speak  in  such  a  strain  of  levity,  and 
with  so  much  coarseness,  too,  that  I  went  outside  the  house 
while  you  were  sitting  down  to  your  evening  meal.  I 
stamped  my  foot  upon  the  ground ;  I  said  that  you  were  a 
liar  ;  that  Christianity  was  a  falsehood  ;  that  if  you  could  pre- 
tend to  be  in  earnest  in  the  pulpit,  and  then  come  down  and 
talk  like  that,  the  whole  thing  must  be  sham.  And  I  have 
been  an  infidel,"  said  he,  "  a  confirmed  infidel,  from  that  day 
to  this.  But  I  am  not  an  infidel  at  this  moment.  I  know 
better.  I  am  dying,  and  about  to  be  damned,  and  at  the  bar 
of  God  I  will  lay  my  damnation  to  your  charge.  My  blood  is 
upon  your  head  !  " 

And  with  a  dreadful  shriek,  and  a  demoniacal  glance  at  the 
trembling  minister,  he  died. 
82 


G50  NEW   TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

FAITHFUL  FRANCES. 

Let  nothing  be  done  through  strife  or  vain-glory,  but  in  lowliness  of  mind 
let  each  esteem  other  better  than  themselves.  —  Phil.  2  :  3. 

AT  a  time-  of  great  scarcity  in  Germany,  a  certain  rich  man 
invited  twelve  children  to  his  house,  and  said  to  them, 
"  In  this  basket  there  is  a  loaf  of  bread  for  eagh  of  you  ;  take 
it,  and  come  again  every  day  at  this  hour  till  God  sends  us 
better  times." 

The  children  seized  upon  the  basket,  wrangled  and  fought 
for  their  bread,  as  each  wished  to  get  the  best  and  largest 
loaf ;  and  at  last  they  went  away,  without  ever  thanking  him. 

Frances,  alone,  a  poor  but  neatly-dressed  child,  stood  mod- 
estly at  a  distance,  took  the  smallest  loaf  which  was  left  in  the 
basket,  thanked  the  gentleman,  and  then  went  home  in  a  quiet 
and  orderly  manner. 

On  the  following  day  the  children  were  just  as  ill  behaved  ; 
and  poor  Frances  this  time  received  a  loaf  which  was  scarcely 
half  the  size  of  the  rest.  But  when  she  came  home,  and  her 
mother  began  to  cut  the  bread,  there  fell  out  of  it  a  number 
of  bright  new  silver  pieces. 

Her  mother  was  perplexed,  and  said,  "  Take  back  the  money 
this  instant ;  for  it  has,  no  doubt,  got  into  the  bread  through 
some  mistake." 

Frances  carried  it  back.  But  the  benevolent  man  said, 
"  No,  no  ;  it  was  no  mistake.  I  had  the  money  baked  in  the 
smallest  loaf  in  order  to  reward  you,  my  dear  child.  Remem- 
ber that  the  person  who  is  contented  with  the  smallest  loaf, 
rather  than  quarrel  for  the  largest  one,  will  find  blessings  still 
more  valuable  than  money  baked  in  bread." 


HAYING  THE  MIND  OF  CHRIST. 

Let  this  mind  be  in  you,  which  was  also  in  Christ  Jesus.  —  Phil.  2  :  5. 


is  a  story  of  an  earl,  called  Elzearus,  that  was  much 
JL  given  to  immoderate  anger  ;  and  the  means  he  used  to 
cure  this  disordered  affection  was,  by  studying  of  Christ,  and 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  651 

of  his  patience  in  suffering  the  injuries  and  affronts  that  were, 
offered  unto  him.  And  he  never  suffered  this  meditation  to 
pass  from  him  before  he  found  his  heart  transformed  to  the 
similitude  of  Christ  Jesus.  Now,  we  are  all  of  us  sick  of  a 
hard  and  stony  heart,  and  if  we  ever  desire  to  be  healed  of 
.this  soul-damning  disease,  let  us  have  recourse  to  the  Lord 
Jesus  Christ,  and  never  leave  meditating  of  his  breakings  and 
woundings  for  us,  till  we  find  virtue  coming  out  of  him,  that 
the  great  heart-maker  may  become  a  great  heart-breaker  unto 
us.  —  Ed.  Calamy,  a  Fast  Sermon  at  Westminster. 


GOD'S  NAME. 

Wherefore  God  also  hath  highly  exalted  him,  and  given  him  a  name  which 
is  above  every  name;  that  at  the  name  of  Jesus  every  knee  should  bow, 
of  things  in  heaven,  and  things  in  earth,  and  things  under  the  earth.  — 
Phil.  2  :  9,  10. 

"  fTlHOU  shalt  not  take  the  name  of  the  Lord  thy  God  in 

JL  vain."  That  is  the  third  commandment,  you  know ;  and 
in  the  Lord's  Prayer  we  find,  "  Hallowed  be  thy  name." 

Jessie  and  George  asked  why  so  much  was  made  of  a  name. 
A  great  deal  is  said  in  the  Bible  about  the  Lord's  name,  and 
the  way  we  ought  to  use  it.  "  Sing  praises  to  his  name ;  " 
"  Exalt  is  name  ;  "  "  Bless  his  name." 

Why,  you  ask,  is  so  much  said  about  a  mere  word.  If  you 
think  a  moment,  you  will  notice  the  name  of  a  person  brings 
up  to  your  mind  all  you  know  about  him.  Take  anybody 
you  are  acquainted  with,  and  the  moment  his  name  is  spoken 
you  instantly  know  how  he  thinks,  talks,  and  acts,  and  wherein 
you  like  or  dislike  him.  His  name,  instead  of  being  a  mere 
word,  is  really  the  same  thing  as  himself.  It  is  a  good  or  a 
bad  name,  according  as  he  has  behaved  well  or  ill ;  so  that 
people  think  him  a  good  or  a  bad  man.  If  you  love  him  very 
much,  you  will  speak  it  lovingly ;  if  you  dislike  him,  you  will 
show  your  dislike  in  the  way  you  speak  it ;  if  you  do  not  care 
anything  about  him,  you  will  show  that  too. 

Just  so  the  Lord's  name  stands  for  all  we  know  or  think 
about  him ;  and  if  we  love  and  honor  him,  we  shall  always 


652  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

speak  his  name  reverently.  To  use  his  name  to  swear  by,  as 
wicked  men  do,  is  telling  everybody  we  do  not  care  about 
him  ;  and  to  speak  it  carelessly,  or  in  anger,  or  without  think- 
ing who  he  is,  shows  that  we  do  not  really  believe  in  him,  and 
worship  him;  for  if  you  really  believed  in. him  and  worshiped 
him,  you  could  no  more  take  his  name  in  vain  than  you  could  . 
speak  to  him  or  of  him  disrespectfully,  if  you  saw  him  stand- 
ing before  you. 

CHRISTIAN  EFFORT. 

Wherefore,  my  beloved,  as  ye  have  always  obeyed,  not  as  in  my  presence 
only,  but  now  much  more  in  my  absence,  work  out  your  own  salvation  with 
fear  and  trembling.  —  Phil.  2:12. 

GOD  is  not  to  be  served  by  child's  play,  or  sham  work  with 
no  toil  in  it.  I  believe  with  all  my  heart  in  the  Spirit  of 
God  ;  but  I  do  not  believe  in  human  idleness.  Celestial  power 
uses  human  effort.  The  Spirit  of  God  usually  works  most 
where  we  work  most.  With  regard  to  our  own  salvation,  the 
meritorious  part  of  that  is  finished  for  us  ;  but  still  it  is  writ- 
ten, "  Work  out  your  own  salvation  with  fear  and  trembling ;  " 
and  the  reason  given  is,  "  For  it  is  God  which  worketh  in  you, 
both  to  will  and  to  do  of  his  good  pleasure."  We  work  be- 
cause God  works ;  to  loiter  because  God  works  is  wicked 
reasoning.  Do  not  tell  me  that  because  God  will  fulfill  his 
own  promises,  therefore  his  people  may  go  to  sleep ;  for  it 
never  was  his  purpose  to  lull  his  people  to  slumber ;  but  his 
great  design  is  the  education  of  an  intelligent  host  of  co- 
workers  with  himself.  The  Lord  has  made  us  and  ordained 
us  that  we  in  our  measure  may  work  together  with-  him.  It 
is  his  office  to  bless  our  efforts ;  but  it  is  at  once  our  privilege 
and  our  duty,  each  one  of  us,  to  yield  ourselves  as  the  instru- 
ments of  the  divine  purpose.  Let  but  men  be  prepared  to 
labor,  and  God  is  prepared  to  bless  their  labor ;  for  is  it  not 
written,  "  Paul  planteth,  and  Apollos  watereth  "  ?  And  what 
happens?  "God  giveth  the  increase."  He  seldom  denies 
the  increase  where  there  is  a  planting  Paul  and  a  watering 
Apollos.  Earnest  efforts  and  believing  dependence  upon  God 
are  sure  to  be  attended  with  a  blessing. 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  653 


POWER  IN  THE  PULPIT. 

For  we  are  the  circumcision,  which  worship  God  in  the  spirit,  and  rejoice 
in  Christ  Jesus,  and  have  no  confidence  in  the  flesh.  —  Phil.  3  :  3. 


difference  in  religious  character  explains  a  difficulty  in 
JL  regard  to  culture  in  the  ministry  which  perplexes  many. 
There  are  some  pastors  to  whom  a  rich  culture  seems  a  posi- 
tive evil.  It  blunts  the  edge  of  their  preaching.  It  tempts 
to  literary  essays  rather  than  pungent  sermons.  It  begets  a 
regard  for  the  proprieties  in  the  pulpit  and  in  social  life,  rather 
than  an  eager  desire  to  win  souls.  In  spite  of  their  culture 
and  mental  power,  they  fail  of  success  in  the  ministry.  The 
fatal  error  is,  religion  has  not  got  them,  but  they  have  got  re- 
ligion. It  is  only  a  part  of  their  life,  and  culture  is  another 
part  of  equal  value.  It  does  not  make  learning  and  thought 
subordinate  to  its  own  ends,  but  esteems  them  for  inherent 
worth. 

Another  class  of  ministers  are  equally  studious,  and  covet  a 
varied  culture.  But  it  is  only  incidental  to  their  life-work  in 
saving  men.  They  are  never  beguiled  by  literature,  nor  led 
astray  by  learning.  Religion  has  an  absolute  mastery  within 
them,  and  turns  all  their  attainments  to  Christian  uses.  All 
growth  adds  to  their  power  and  success,  for  everything  is 
given  with  intense  earnestness  to  service  for  Christ. 

The  terribly  earnest  men  of  history,  whose  lives  have  been 
a  power,  have  been  mastered  by  some  great  idea.  It  pos- 
sessed the  center  of  their  being,  and  appropriated  natural 
gifts,  position,  and  attainments  to  its  uses.  Such  men  are 
always  needed  in  the  church  of  Christ,  in  whose  hearts  a  love 
for  Jesus  is  a  constraining  power,  fusing  all  opposing  elements 
by  its  intense  heat  ;  who  have  a  passion  for  saving  souls,  which 
success  can  not  sate,  nor  failure  suppress.  Too  many  Chris- 
tians in  our  day  have  got  religion.  It  would  be  better  for  the 
churcn  if  religion  had  got  them. 


654  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 


OUR  HIGH  CALLING. 

I  press  toward  the  mark  for  the  prize  of  the  high  calling  of  God  in  Christ 
Jesus.  —  Phil.  3  :  14. 

/CHRISTIAN  progress  is  only  possible  in  Christ.  It  is  a  very 
\J  lofty  thing  to  be  a  Christian ;  for  a  Christian  is  a  man  who 
is  restoring  God's  likeness  to  his  character ;  and  therefore  the 
apostle  calls  it  a  high  calling.  High  as  heaven  is  the  calling 
wherewith  we  are  called.  But  this  very  height  makes  it  seem 
impracticable.  It  is  natural  to  say,  "  All  that  was  well  enough 
for  one  so  transcendently  gifted  as  St.  Paul  to  hope  for ;  but 
I  am  no  gifted  man ;  I  have  no  iron  strength  of  mind  ;  I  have 
no  sanguine  hope,  no  fullness  of  character ;  I  am  disposed 
to  look  on  the  dark  side  of  things ;  I  am  undetermined,  weak, 
vacillating ;  and  then  I  have  a  whole  army  of  passions  and 
follies  to  contend  with."  We  must  remind  you  of  one  thing 
you  have  forgotten.  It  is  the  high  calling  of  God,  if  you  will, 
but  it  is  the  high  calling  of  God  in  Christ  Jesus.  What  the 
world  calls  virtue,  is  a  name  and  a  dream  without  Christ.  The 
foundation  of  all  human  excellence  must  be  laid  deep  in  the 
blood  of  the  Redeemer's  cross,  and  in  the  power  of  his  resur- 
rection. First  let  a  man  know  that  all  his  past  is  wrong  and 
sinful,  then  let  him  fix  his  eye  on  the  love  of  God  in  Christ  loving 
him,  —  even  him,  the  guilty  one.  Is  there  no  strength  in 
that  ?  no  power  in  the  knowledge  that  all  that  is  gone  by  is 
gone,  and  that  a  peculiar  future  is  open?  It  is  not  the  prog- 
ress of  virtue  that  God  asks  for,  but  progress  in  saintliness, 
empowered  by  hope  and  love. 


"WHAT  HAS  IT  DONE  FOR  YOU?" 

Whose  end  is  destruction,  whose  god  is  their  belly,  and  whose  glory  is  in 
their  shame,  who  mind  earthly  things.  —  Phil.  3  :  19. 


other  day  Mr.  Bradlaugh  was  lecturing  in  a  village 
_L  in  the  north  of  England,  and  at  the  close  he  challenged 
discussion.  Who  should  accept  the  challenge  but  an  old,  bent 
woman,  in  the  most  antiquated  attire,  who  went  up  to  the  lee- 


NEW   TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  655 

turer  and  said,  "  Sir,  I  have  a  question  to  put  to  you."  "  Well, 
my  good  woman,  what  is  it?  "  "  Ten  years  ago,"  she  said,  **  I 
was  left  a  widow,  with  eight  small  children  utterly  unprovided 
for,  and  nothing  to  call  my  own  but  this  Bible.  By  its  direc- 
tion and  looking  to  God  for  strength,  I  have  been  enabled  to 
feed  myself  and  family.  I  am  now  tottering  to  the  grave  ;  but 
I  am  perfectly  happy,  because  I  look  forward  to  a  life  of  im- 
mortality with  Jesus  in  heaven.  That's  what  my  religion  has 
done  for  me.  What  has  your  way  of  thinking  done  for  you  ?  " 
"  Well,  my  good  lady,"  rejoined  the  lecturer,  "  I  don't  want  to 
disturb  your  comfort;  but — "  "  0,  but  that's  not  the  ques- 
tion," interposed  the  woman  ;  "  keep  to  the  point,  sir.  What 
has  your  way  of  thinking  done  for  you  ? "  The  infidel  en- 
deavored to  shirk  the  matter  again.  The  feeling  of  the  meet- 
ing gave  vent  in  uproarious  applause,  and  Mr.  Bradlaugh  had 
to  go  away  discomfited  by  an  old  woman. 


CHRISTIAN  LABOR  NOT  MASCULINE. 

And  I  entreat  thee,  also,  true  yoke-fellow,  help  those  women  which  labored 
with  me  in  the  gospel,  with  Clement  also,  and  with  other  my  fellow-laborers, 
whose  names  are  in  the  book  of  life.  —  Phil.  4 :  3. 

SOME  persons,  who  would  be  "  wise  above  what  is  written," 
deny  to  women  the  right  to  speak  and  pray  in  social  and 
public  worship.  Hence  a  large  number  of  Christian  women, 
of  unbounded  piety  and  acknowledged  talent,  are  almost  lost 
to  the  working  forces  of  Christianity,  because  the  idea  pre- 
vails in  some  minds  that  Christian  labor  is  masculine ;  that 
preaching,  praying,  speaking,  or  publicly  confessing  Christ, 
belongs  to  men  exclusively.  This  is  evidently  a  misappre- 
hension of  the  gospel.  It  appears  from  the  writings  of  the 
apostle,  that  women  were  laborers  in  the  gospel  with  St. 
Paul  and  Clement.  (Phil.  4  :  3.)  Whatever  they  did,  it  was 
"  labor  in  the  gospel."  Clement  is  acknowledged  to  have  been 
one  of  the  early  bishops  of  Rome  ;  and  St.  Paul,  by  associ- 
ating certain  Christian  women  with  himself  and  Clement  as 
"  laborers,"  precludes  the  idea  that  their  work  was  that  of  the 
family  only,  but  justifies  the  conclusion  that  it  was  rather 
ministerial  than  domestic.  While  neither  in  the  Aaronic 


C56  NEW   TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

priesthood,  nor  among  the  apostles,  were  there  women,  yet 
both  under  the  old  and  new  dispensations,  God  did  call  women 
to  prophetical  and  ministerial  services,  thereby  showing  that 
public  Christian  labor  is  not  exclusively  man's  work.  Miriam, 
the  sister  of  Aaron  and  Moses,  was  a  prophetess.  (Ex.  15  :  20.) 
Deborah  was  a  prophetess :  her  song  (Judg.  5)  is  one  of  the 
finest  passages  in  the  Old  Testament.  Huldah  was  a  proph- 
etess, and  spoke  the  word  of  the  Lord.  (2  Kings  22  :  15.)  Anna 
was  a  prophetess  that  departed  not  from  the  temple,  but  served 
God  with  fastings  and  prayer  night  and  day.  (Luke  2  :  36,  37.) 
Philip,  one  of  the  seven  deacons,  had  four  daughters  that -did 
prophesy.  (Acts  21  :  8,  9.)  And  to  certain  Christian  women, 
who  were  early  at  the  sepulcher  on  the  morning  of  the  third 
day,  Christ  gave  the  peculiar  honor  of  being  the  first  to  preach 
his  resurrection,  and  that  to  his  less  devoted  apostles.  (Matt. 
28  : 10  ;  Luke  24  :  22,  23.) 


MAKING  A  EIGHT  USE  OF  HIS  EYES. 

I  know  both  how  to  be  abased,  and  I  know  how  to  abound ;  everywhere 
and  in  all  things  I  am  instructed  both  to  be  full  and  to  be  hungry,  botli  to 
abound  and  to  suffer  need.  —  Phil.  4  :  12. 

AN  Italian  bishop  struggled  through  great  difficulties  with- 
out repining,  and  met  with  much  opposition  without  ever 
betraying  the  least  impatience.  An  intimate  friend  of  his, 
who  highly  admired  these  virtues,  which  he  thought  impossible 
to  imitate,  one  day  asked  the  bishop  if  he  could  communicate 
his  secret  of  being  always  easy. 

"  Yes,"  replied  the  old  man,  "  I  can  teach  you  my  secret 
with  great  facility  :  it  consists  in  nothing  more  than  making  a 
right  use  of  my  eyes." 

His  friend  begged  him  to  explain  himself. 

"  Most  willingly,"  returned  the  bishop :  "  in  whatever  state 
I  am,  I  first  of  all  look  up  to  heaven,  and  remember  that  my 
principal  business  here  is  to  get  there ;  I  then  look  down  on 
the  earth,  and  call  to  mind  how  small  a  space  I  shall  occupy  in 
it  when  I  come  to  be  interred ;  I  then  look  abroad  on  the 
world,  and  observe  what  multitudes  there  are  who  are  in  all 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  657 

respects  more  unhappy  than  myself.  Thus  I  learn  where  true 
happiness  is  placed,  where  all  our  cares  must  end,  and  how 
very  little  reason  I  have  to  repine  or  complain." 


CONQUERING  ONE'S  SELF. 

I  can  do  all  things  through  Christ  which  strengthened  me.  —  Phil.  4  :  13. 


power  of  faith  to  give  us  the  victory  over  every  beset- 
JL  ting  sin  is  well  illustrated  in  the  following  incident  :  — 

A  certain  lady,  residing  in  Boston,  was  of  a  peculiarly  irri- 
table temper,  and  its  unlovely  exhibitions  caused  her,  as  a  pro- 
fessed Christian,  the  greatest  mortification  and  the  deepest 
grief.  She  struggled  and  prayed,  she  resolved  and  wept,  all, 
apparently,  in  vain.  Every  purpose  was  swept  away  in  the 
first  excitement  of  even  a  slight  temptation  on  this  sensitive 
side,  till  she  despaired  of  .victory.  Finally,  she  was  urged  at 
a  meeting  to  confide,  by  simple  faith,  in  the  power  of  Christ 
to  keep  her,  and  to  make  a  full-hearted  surrender  of  her  entire 
being  to  him  for  that  purpose.  She  embraced  the  thought, 
and  consciously  laid  her  soul  in  the  hands  of  Jesus,  inwardly 
praying  all  the  way  back  to  her  house.  This  was  the  more 
appropriate,  as  her  peculiar  trials  and  temptations  were  at 
home,  and  these  she  had  always  declared  to  be  so  many  that 
it  was  impossible  for  her  to  rise  above  them.  Opening  the 
front  door,  she  saw  a  domestic  violating  one  of  her  most  ex- 
plicit rules  by  carrying  a  slop-pail  down  the  front  stairs  ;  and, 
to  make  the  matter  worse,  the  domestic  was  so  alarmed  at  the 
sight  of  her  mistress  that  she  dropped  the  pail,  and  the  water 
flowed  down  the  stairs  and  over  the  carpet  into  the  hall  !  The 
lady  uttered  not  an  audible  word,  but  whispered  over  and 
over,  "  Jesus,  help  me  !  Jesus,  help  me  !  "  and  gained  the  vic- 
tory. With  entire  composure  she  went  in,  and  from  that  mo- 
ment found  no  difficulty  in  controlling  her  before  ungovernable 
temper. 

83 


658  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 


GOD  OUR  ALL-SUFFICIENCY. 

But  my  God  shall  supply  all  your  need  according  to  his  riches  in  glory  by 
Christ  Jesus.  —  Phil.  4  :  19. 

T)ELIEVE  him,  and  not  only  will  the  gates  of  the  celestial 
J3  city  open  to  receive  us,  but  even  here  we  shall  rest  in  the 
shadow  of  a  great  love. 

But  dangers  stand  thick  on  every  hand,  suggests  Faint- 
heart ;  how  can  we  help  being  anxious  ?  Only  believe  ;  the 
Lord  is  a  shield  to  them  that  put  their  trust  in  him. 

Silver-tongued  temptation  may  assail  us.  He  is  able  to  suc- 
cor them  that  are  tempted. 

What  if  poverty  be  our  lot  ?     The  Lord  knoweth  the  poor. 

What  if  riches,  and  we  are  encumbered  with  many  cares  ? 
Give  to  the  poor,  and  thou  shalt  have  treasure  in  heaven. 

We  may  be  homeless.  Our  Lord  had  not  where  to  lay  his 
head. 

Friendless.  There  is  a  Friend  that  sticketh  closer  than  a 
brother. 

Afflicted.     He  bindeth  up  the  broken-hearted. 

Unjustly  accused.     The  Almighty  shall  be  thy  defense. 

The  night  cometh.     He  that  keepeth  thee  will  not  slumber. 

Accidents  may  befall  us.  The  Lord  will  preserve  thy  going 
out  and  thy  coming  in. 

Pain  and  sickness.  The  Lord  will  make  all  thy  bed  in  thy 
sickness. 

The  infirmities  of  age.  They  shall  still  bring  forth  fruit  in 
old  age. 

There  are  heavy  burdens  to  be  borne,  perchance  incessant 
daily  toil.  There  remaineth  a  rest. 

Wearisome  nights  may  be  appointed  to  us.  He  giveth  songs 
in  the  night. 

Death  will  surely  come.  It  knocketh  alike  at  the  lordly 
palace  and  the  lowly  cottage.  It  is  well  with  the  righteous. 
Death  is-  swallowed  up  in  victory. 

To  the  believer  every  providence  is  but  another  stroke  of 
the  chisel  upon  the  marble  rock,  shaping  it  for  its  position  in 
the  heavenly  temple. 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  659 


THE  UNSEEN  INHERITANCE. 

Giving  thanks  unto  the  Father,  which  hath  made  us  meet  to  be  partakers 
of  the  inheritance  of  the  saints  in  light.  —  Col.  1 :  12. 

AN  aged  Christian  man  was  on  his  death-bed,  and  was  happy 
in  the  prospect  of  soon  entering  into  the  joy  of  his  Lord. 
He  had  a  brother  who  had  made  the  world  the  great  object 
of  his  life,  and  who,  of  course,  was  very  poor  toward  God,  and 
with  all  his  worldly  shrewdness  was  so  short-sighted  as  to 
have  made  no  provision  for  the  world  to  come,  and  had  no  idea 
of  enjoying  an  inheritance  beyond  the  grave. 

His  dying  brother  had  given  greater  attention  to  the  ac- 
quirement of  true  riches  than  to  the  realization  of  worldly 
wealth ;  and  in  his  infirmities  and  sickness  he  required  that 
Christian  friends  should  minister  to  his  necessities,  as  the  holy 
women  ministered  of  their  substance  to  his  Lord. 

When  his  rich  brother  came  to  see  him,  he  upbraided  him 
for  giving  so  much  attention  to  the  things  of  God,  and  giving 
away  so  much  of  his  substance  for  religious  purposes,  and 
subjecting  himself  to  poverty,  when,  if  he  had  followed  his 
advice  and  example,  he  might  now  have  been  in  the  enjoy- 
ment of  plenty,  instead  of  being,  as  he  termed  it,  a  burden  to 
his  friends. 

With  great  calmness  and  earnestness  the  dying  saint  re- 
plied, waving  his  wasted  hand  toward  his  poor,  self-deceived 
brother,  — 

"  Quiet !  quiet !  Whisht,  whisht,  Tam  !  I  have  a  kingdom 
no  begun  upon,  and  an  inheritance  that  I  hav'na  yet  seen.'; 

Who  was  the  richer  of  the  two  brothers  ?  The  one  who 
had  his  good  things  here  in  this  perishing  world,  or  the  one 
who  was  begotten  again  to  a  lively  hope  by  the  resurrection 
of  Jesus  Christ  from  the  dead,  and  who  knew  that  he  was  heir 
to  an  inheritance  which  is  incorruptible  and  undefined,  and  that 
fadeth  not  away,  reserved  in  heaven. 


660  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

CHRIST  THE  HEAD  OF  THE  CHURCH. 

And  he  is  the  head  of  the  body,  the  church ;  who  is  the  beginning,  the  first- 
born from  the  dead;  that  in  all  things  he  might  have  the  pre-eminence. — 
Col.  1 :  18. 

THE  church  is  the  body  of  Christ.  Jesus  and  'his  people  are 
one.  They  are  his  elect  whom  he  hath  chosen ;  his  seed 
which  he  hath  begotten  ;  his  portion  which  he  hath  received  ; 
his  delight  and  glory,  in  which  he  constantly  rejoices.  He 
saves  them  by  substitution ;  he  took  their  place,  their  obliga- 
tions, and  their  sins ;  he  saves  them  by  communication,  giv- 
ing them  grace  and  his  Holy  Spirit,  with  every  spiritual  bless- 
ing. He  saves  them  by  instruction ;  for  they  are  all  taught 
of  God.  He  saves  them  by  separation  ;  bringing  them  out  of, 
and  delivering  them  from,  this  present  evil  world.  He  saves 
them  by  visitations  j  he  grants  them  life  and  favor,  and  his 
visitations  preserve  their  spirits.  He  saves  them  by  transla- 
tion ;  first  out  of  the  kingdom  of  Satan  into  his  kingdom  of 
grace,  and  then  out  of  the  present  world  into  his  kingdom  of 
glory.  He  saves  them  to  display  his  perfections,  confound 
his  foes,  exalt  his  name,  satisfy  his  love,  and  from  sympathy 
with  them.  All  who. are  saved  form  part  of  his  body.  Salva- 
tion is  entirely  of  God.  What  happiness  to  be  saved  thus  ! 


DRIFTING. 

If  ye  continue  in  the  faith,  grounded  and  settled,  and  be  not  moved  away 
from  the  hope  of  the  gospel,  which  ye  have  heard,  and  which  was  preached 
to  every  creature  which  is  under  heaven,  whereof  I,  Paul,  am  made  a  min- 
ister. —  Col.  1 :  23. 

DR.  CHEEVER  relates  that  when  once  sailing  from  one  of 
the  West  India  islands,  at  the  close  of  a  day's  progress  it 
was  calculated  that  they  had  advanced  sixty  miles  upon  their 
voyage ;  but  upon  an  observation  being  taken,  they  learned 
their  actual  position,  and  to  their  surprise  found  that  such  had 
been  the  force  of  the  currents  acting  upon  the  vessel,  that,  in 
spite  of  the  fair  but  faint  winds  which  had  filled  their  sails, 
they  had  actually  drifted  thirty  miles  in  the  rear  of  the  point 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  661 

from  which,  they  started.  Like  powerful  currents  are  con- 
stantly operating  in  the  political  and  religious  world,  and  must 
be  carefully  considered  by  those  interested  in  the  true  progress 
of  the  race. 

The  churches  themselves,  while  apparently  making  very 
rapid  progress,  building  expensive  edifices,  establishing  im- 
posing institutions  and  wide-reaching  charities,  with  all  their 
sails  spread  to  catch  the  fair  breezes  overhead,  are  constantly 
liable  to  these  powerful,  silent  under-currents,  bearing  them 
downward  rather  than  forward  in  the  course  of  true  Christian 
advancement.  With  all  this  outward  prosperity,  how  is  it 
with  reference  to  the  administration  of  discipline  ?  Has  the 
moral  power  of  the  church  held  any  adequate  proportion  to 
her  increased  material  resources  ?  What  would  be  the  result 
now  of  a  general  and  faithful  administration  of  discipline? 
What  a  drifting  toward  the  world  is  everywhere  apparent  with 
all  this  brave  display  of  sails  and  colors  ! 


RICHES  OF  THE  GOSPEL. 

To  whom  God  would  make  known  what  is  the  riches  of  the  glory  of  this 
mystery  among  the  Gentiles ;  which  is  Christ  in  you,  the  hope  of  glory.  — 
Col.  1 :  27. 

WHEN  I  go  to  the  house  of  God,  I  do  not  want  amuse- 
ment. I  want  the  doctrine  which  is  according  to  godli- 
ness. I  want  to  hear  of  the  remedy  against  the  harassing  of 
my  guilt  and  the  disorder  of  my  affections.  I  want  to  be  led 
from  weariness  and  disappointment  to  that  goodness  which 
filleth  the  hungry  soul.  I  want  to  have  light  upon  the  mystery 
of  Providence ;  to  bet  taught  how  the  judgments  of  the  Lord 
are  right ;  how  I  shall  be  prepared  for  duty  and  for  trial ;  how 
I  may  pass  the  time  of  my  sojourning  here  in  fear,  and  close 
it  in  peace-.  Tell  me  of  that  Lord  Jesus  "  who  his  own  self 
bare  our  sins  in  his  own  body  on  the  tree."  Tell  me  of  his 
"  intercession  for  the  transgressors,"  as  their  "  advocate  with 
the  Father."  Tell  me  of  his  Holy  Spirit,  whom  they  that 
believe  on  him  receive,  to  be  their  Preserver,  Sanctifier,  Com- 
forter. Tell  me  of  his  chastenings,  their  necessity,  their  use. 


662  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

Tell  me  of  his  presence,  and  sympathy,  and  love.  Tell  me  of 
the  virtues,  as  growing  out  of  his  cross,  and  nurtured  by  his 
grace.  Tell  me  of  the  glory  reflected  on  his  name  by  the 
obedience  of  faith.  Tell  me  of  the  vanquished  death,  of  the 
purified  grave,  of  a  blessed  resurrection,  of  the  life  everlast- 
ing, and  my  bosom  warms.  This  is  gospel ;  these  are  glad 
tidings  to  me  as  a  sufferer,  because  glad  to  me  as  a  sinner.  — 
Dr.  John  M.  Mason. 


"SERIOUS  AFFAIRS  TO-MORROW." 

Whom  we  preach,  warning  every  man,  and  teaching  every  man  in  all  wis- 
dom, that  we  may  present  every  man  perfect  in  Christ  Jesus.  —  Col.  1 :  28. 

WHEN  Pelbpidas  and  his  companions  had  entered  Thebes 
secretly,  to  deliver  it  from  its  bondage  by  killing  Archias 
and  Philidas,  they  found  them  gratifying  their  passions  by 
feasting,  drinking,  and  debauchery.  The  Athenians,  con- 
cerned for  their  welfare,  sent  a  courier  to  Archias  in  great 
haste,  with  a  packet  containing  a  circumstantial  account  of 
the  whole  conspiracy.  When  he  delivered  the  packet  to  Ar- 
chias, he  said,  "  The  person  who  writes  you  these  letters  con- 
jures you  to  read  them  immediately,  being  serious  affairs." 
Archias  replied,  laughing,  "  Serious  affairs  to-morrow  ;  "  and, 
taking  the  letters,  he  put  them  under  his  pillow,  and  continued 
his  conversation  and  debauch.  The  conspirators,  through 
this  fatal  neglect,  by  stratagem  entered  the  house  of  feasting, 
and  destroyed  its  thoughtless  inmates. 

What  a  striking  picture  is  this  of  multitudes  of  our  fellow- 
men  !  In  spite  of  all  the  warnings  of  conscience,  of  God's  Spirit 
and  ministers,  and  the  occurrence  of  providence  around  them, 
faithfully  warned  of  the  approach  of  Death,  who  often  comes 
as  a  thief  in  the  night,  sudden  and  unexpected,  yet  they,  by 
their  practice,  say,  "  Serious  affairs  to-morrow,"  till  the  cup 
of  their  iniquity  is  full,  and  the  patience  of  God-  exhausted. 
Then  the  pains  of  death  take  hold  of  them,  and  they  "  die  in 
their  sins,"  and  are  justly  doomed  to  eternal  despair  and  pun- 
ishment. One  of  the  fiercest  pangs  of  the  second  death  will 
be  the  remembrance  of  the  fact,  that  when  the  gospel  and  all 
its  fullness  were  brought  before  them,  they  foolishly  said,  with 
the  majority  of  mankind,  "  Serious  affairs  to-morrow." 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  663 


HIDDEN  TREASURES  IN  THE  WORD. 

That  their  hearts  might  be  comforted,  being  knit  together  in  love,  and  unto 
all  riches  of  the  full  assurance  of  understanding,  to  the  acknowledgment  of  the 
mystery  of  God,  and  of  the  Father,  and  of  Christ ;  in  whom  are  hid  all  the 
treasures  of  wisdom  and  knowledge.  —  Col.  2  :  2,  3. 

IN  the  "  green-room  "  at  Dresden,  where,  for  centuries,  the 
Saxon  princes  have  gathered  their  gems  and  treasures, 
until  they  have  become  worth  millions  of  dollars,  may  be  seen 
a  silver  egg,  a  present  to  one  of  the  Saxon  queens,  which, 
when  you  touch  a  spring,  opens  and  reveals  a  golden  yolk. 
Within  this  is  hid  a  chicken,  whose  wing,  being  pressed,  also 
flies  open,  disclosing  a  splendid  gold  crown,  studded  with 
jewels.  Nor  is  this  all.  Another  secret  spring  being  touched, 
hidden  in  the  center  is  found  a  magnifient  diamond  ring. 

So  it  is  with  every  truth  and  promise  of  God's  word  —  a 
treasure  within  a  treasure.  The  more  we  examine  it,  the 
richer  it  becomes.  But  how  many  neglect  to  touch  the 
springs. 


WALKING  AFTER  THE  PATTERN. 

As  ye  have  therefore  received  Christ  Jesus  the  Lord,  so  walk  ye  in  him.  — 
Col.  2  :  6. 

ALL  who  profess  Christ  are  supposed  to  possess  a  new 
nature  ;  they  are  brought  under  new  obligations,  and  are 
expected  to  keep  new  objects  in  view.  Being  baptized  into 
the  death  of  Christ,  and  participating  in  his  resurrection,  they 
should  walk  as  influenced  by  new  principles ;  the  free  grace, 
holy  truth,  and  divine  power  of  God  should  lead  them  to 
newness  of  life".  They  should  walk  by  new  rules,  no  longer 
following  custom,  or  imitating  the  world  ;  they  should  walk 
according  to  God's  word,  the  Saviour's  golden  rule  and  bright 
example.  The  love  of  God,  gratitude  to  God,  and  zeal  for  his 
glory,  should  be  the  motives  from  which  they  act :  while  to 
honor  God ;  to  enjoy  his  presence  ;  to  exalt  Jesus  ;  to  benefit 
others ;  to  prove  the  power  and  purity  of  their  principles ;  to 
justify  their  profession  ;  and  to  evidence  their  faith  and  love,  — 


664  KEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

should  be  the  ends  they  have  constantly  in  view.  A  new  life 
is  expected  from  new  creatures ;  and  without  it  our  religion 
is  vain,  and  our  profession  a  falsehood.  Beloved,  do  we  walk 
in  newness  of  life  ? 


¥E  NEED  AN  INFINITE  SAVIOUR. 

For  in  him  dwelleth  all  the  fullness  of  the  Godhead  bodily.  —  Col.  2  :  9. 

IT  is  said  that  once  in  a  company  of  literary  gentlemen,  Mr. 
Webster  was  asked  if  he  could  comprehend  how  Jesus 
Christ  could  be  both  God  and  man.  "  No,  sir,"  he  replied, 
"  I  should  be  ashamed  to  acknowledge  him  as  my  Saviour  if  I 
could  comprehend  him.  If  I  could  comprehend  him,  he  would 
be  no  greater  than  myself.  Such  is  my  sense  of  sin,  and  con- 
sciousness of  my  inability  to  save  myself,  that  I  feel  I  need  a 
superhuman  Saviour,  one  so  great  and  glorious  that  I  can  not 
comprehend  him." 

During  the  progress  of  a  revival  in  New  Hampshire,  some 
time  since,  an  intelligent  and  popular  man,  sitting  in  his  place 
of  business,  reasoned  thus:  "This  religion  is  either  divine  or 
human  in  its  origin.  If  it  is  divine,  I  ought  to  know  it  and 
to  experience  its  power.  Doubtless  God  could  tell  me  if  he 
would.  Possibly,  if  I  were  a  sincere  inquirer,  he  would. 
There  is  no  possibility  of  loss,  and  gain  is  probable.  I'll  in- 
quire ;  but  whom  shall  I  ask?  Why  not  God  himself?  Sure 
enough  !  I  will  ask  him  now  in  prayer."  He  did  so  honestly, 
and  is  now  a  sincere  disciple,  with  an  experience  of  Jesus' 
love  to  tell  of  and  to  rejoice  in.  Christ  fulfills  his  promise  to- 
day :  "  Ask,  and  it  shall  be  given  you  ;  seek,  and  ye  shall  find ; 
knock,  and  it  shall  be  opened  unto  you."  Whoever  doeth  my 
will  shall  know  of  the  doctrine,  whether  I  be  sent  of  God;  or 
whether  I  come  of  myself.  —  Apples  of  Gold. 

COMPLETE  ONLY  IN  CHRIST. 

And  70  arc  complete  in  him,  which  is  the  head  of  all  principality  and 
power.  —  Col.  2  :  10. 

T  is  reported,  by  the  poets,  of  Achilles,  the  Grecian  captain, 
that  his  mother,  being  warned  by  the  oracle,  dipped  him 


i 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  6G5 

(being  a  child)  in  the  River  Styx,  to  prevent  any  danger  that 
might  ensue  by  reason  of  the  Trojan  war ;  but  Paris,  his  in- 
veterate enemy,  understanding  also  by  the  oracle  that  he  was 
impenetrable  all  over  his  body,  except  the  heel,  or  small  of 
his  leg,  which  his  mother  held  by  when  she  dipped  him,  took 
his  advantage,  shot  him  in  the  heel,  and  killed  him.  Thus, 
every  man  is,  or  ought  to  be,  armed  cap-d-pie  with  that  panoply, 
that  whole  armor  of  God.  For  the  devil  will  be  sure  to  hit 
the  least  part  that  he  finds  unarmed.  If  it  be  the  eye,  he  will 
dart  in  at  that  casement  by  the  presentation  of  one  lewd  object 
or  other ;  if  it  be  the  ear,  he  will  force  that  door  open  by  bad 
counsel ;  if  the  tongue,  that  shall  be  made  a  world  of  mischief; 
if  the  feet,  they  shall  be  swift  to  shed  blood,  &c. 


A  COMMAND  DISREGARDED. 

Set  your  affection  on  things  above,  not  on  things  on  the  earth.  —  Col.  3  :  2. 

ANEW  HAMPSHIRE  farmer  lived  upon  a  farm  a  few  miles 
back  from  the  village  containing  the  post  office  and  store. 
He  was  noted  for  being  a  hard  worker,  and  for  being  "  close  " 
in  his  dealings,  and  was  supposed  to  be  in  but  moderate 
circumstances.  He  became  ill,  and  the  physician,  calling 
upon  him  one  day,  found  that  the  disease  had  made  such 
progress  as  to  render  speedy  death  certain.  He  informed  his 
patient  of  the  fact,  counseling  him  that,  if  he  had  any  dispo- 
sition of  his  property  to  make  previous  to  his  death,  to  attend 
to  it  quickly.  This,  announcement  seemed  to  astound  the 
sick  man.  It  was  evident  that  he  did  not  know  what  to  do. 
Being  warned  again  of  the  brief  time  before  him,  he  sent  one 
of  his  children  to  the  barn,  instructing  him  to  bring  a  stocking 
which  he  would  find  under  a  certain  sill.  The  boy  did  as  re- 
quested, and  the  father  took  the -stocking  and  emptied  it  upon 
the  bed-quilt  before  him.  It  contained  gold  coin.  He  then 
directed  the  boy  to  a  corner  of  the  attic,  where  he  would  find 
another  stocking.  The  contents  of  this  were  poured  upon  the 
bed ;  it  was  gold.  The  boy  was  thus  sent  to  various  places, 
till  the  treasure  was  collected  and  poured  in  a  glittering  pile 
upon  the  counterpane.  The  dying  man  laid  his  hands  upon 


666  NEW   TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

it,  feeling  over  the  coins.  As  he  did  not  seem  to  realize  the 
necessity  of  completing  his  arrangements,  the  physician  again 
said  to  him,  "  If  you  have  any  disposition  to  make  of  this,  or 
if  you  have  any  directions  to  give  your  family,  you  had  better 
attend  to  it  at  once,  as  your  time  is  short." 

Still  his  fingers  were  busy  with  the  coins,  and,  though  his 
family  were  dear  to  him,  the  separation  from  his  toil- earned 
treasure  seemed  the  more  painful.  Despite  the  repeated 
urging  of  friends,  he  gave  his  family  no  parting  counsel,  and 
made  no  disposition  of  his  property.  Death  overtook  him  with 
his  hands  still  spread  over  the  gold  he  was  forced  to  leave. 

The  incident  carries  its  own  moral :  "  Let  not  your  affec- 
tions be  set  on  things  of  this  world." 


INFLUENCE  OF  THE  HIDDEN  LIFE. 

For  ye  are  dead,  and  your  life  is  hid  with  Christ  in  God.  —  Col,  3  :  3. 


coast  of  Cornwall,  particularly  in  and  near  Mount's  Bay, 
JL  is  visited  by  the  warm  Gulf  Stream,  which  is  the  secret  of 
its  healthful  temperature.  There  is  little  alteration  in  the 
atmosphere  by  day  or  night.  There  is  not  much  information 
to  be  obtained  concerning  this  interesting  phenomenon,  but 
the  influence  is  felt  and  seen,  though  the  Gulf  Stream  itself 
flows  unseen  in  the  wide  ocean,  separated  in  a  manner  from 
the  deep  waters  through  which  it  passes  without  mingling. 
The  lands  it  visits  are  warmed  by  it  ;  the  air  above  and  in  the 
vicinity  is  soft  and  balmy.  Exotics,  seen  nowhere  else  in 
England,  flourish  in  its  neighborhood,  and  many  an  early  blos- 
som is  put  forth  before  the  winter  elsewhere  has  departed.  In 
the  caves  of  the  rocks,  and  occasionally  in  some  places  of  the 
coast,  its  presence  is  known  by  the  rare  and  beautiful  shells 
which,  carried  safely  by  the  current  through  the  ocean,  are 
left  as  the  production  of  a  distant  shore,  and  tell  whence  the 
stream  flowed. 

As  I  felt  the  soft  influence  of  this  genial  stream  in  the  months 
of  early  spring,  it  never  failed  to  remind  me  of  the  hidden  life 
of  Christ  —  the  positive  blessing  flowing  from  the  fullness  of 
the  Spirit  in  the  soul  of  a  child  of  light  dwelling  in  the  un- 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  667 

godly  world ;  a  continual  contrast  to  that  Christianity  which 
lives  only  on  the  lips  of  formal  professors,  bringing  neither 
warmth  to  themselves  nor  light  and  gladness  to  others.  —  The 
Secret  of  the  Lord. 

RULE  OF  FORGIVENESS. 

Forbearing  one  another,  and  forgiving  one  another,  if  any  man  have  a 
quarrel  against  any ;  even  as  Christ  forgave  you,  so  also  do  ye.  —  Col.  3 :  13. 

IN  the  middle  ages,  when  the  great  lords  and  knights  were 
always  at  war  with  each  other,  one  of  them  resolved  to 
revenge  himself  upon  a  neighbor  who  had  offended  him.  It 
chanced  that,  on  the  very  evening  when  he  had  made  this 
resolution,  he  heard  that  his  enemy  was  to  pass  near  his  castle, 
with  only  a  few  men  with  him.  It  was  a  good  opportunity  to 
take  his  revenge,  and  he  determined  not  to  let  it  pass.  He 
spoke  of  this  plan  in  the  presence  of  his  chaplain,  who  tried 
in  vain  to  persuade  him  to  give  it  up.  The  good  man  said  a 
great  deal  to  the  duke  about  the  sin  of  what  he  was  going  to 
do,  but  in  vain.  At  length,  seeing  that  all  his  words  had  no 
effect,  he  said,  — 

"  My  lord,  since  I  can  not  persuade  you  to  give  up  this  plan 
of  yours,  will  you  at  least  consent  to  come  with  me  to  the 
chapel,  that  we  may  pray  together  before  you  go  ?  " 

The  duke  consented,  and  the  chaplain  and  he  knelt  together 
in  prayer.  Then  the  mercy-loving  Christian  said  to  the  re- 
vengeful warrior,  — 

"  Will  you  repeat  after  me,  sentence  by  sentence,  the  prayer 
which  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ  himself  taught  to  his  diciples  ?  " 

"  I  will  do  it,"  replied  the  duke. 

He  did  it  .accordingly.  The  chaplain  said  a  sentence,  and 
the  duke  repeated  it,  till  he  came  to  the  petition,  "  Forgive 
us  our  trespasses  as  we  forgive  them  that  trespass  against 
us."  There  the  duke  was  silent. 

"  My  lord  duke,  you  are  silent,"  said  the  chaplain.  "  Will 
you  be  so  good  as  to  continue  to  repeat  the  words  after  me,  if 
you  dare  say  so  ?  — l  Forgive  us  our  trespasses  as  we  forgive 
them  that  trespass  against  us.7  " 

"  I  can  not,"  replied  the  duke. 


668  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

"  Well,  God  can  not  forgive  you ;  for  he  has  said  so.  He 
himself  has  given  this  prayer.  Therefore  you  must  either 
give  up  your  revenge,  or  give  up  saying  this  prayer;  for  to 
ask  God  to  pardon  you  as  you  pardon  others  is  to  ask  him  to 
take  vengeance  on  you  for  all  your  sins.  Go  now,  my  lord, 
and  meet  your  victim.  God  will  meet  you  at  the  great  day 
of  judgment." 

The  iron  will  of  the  duke  was  broken. 

"No,"  said  he,  "I  will  finish  my  prayer:  'My  God,  my 
Father,  pardon  me ;  forgive  me  as  I  desire  to  forgive  him  who 
has  offended  me  ;  lead  me  not  into  temptation,  but  deliver  me 
from  evil ! ' : 

"  Amen  !  "  said  the  chaplain. 

"  Amen  !  "  repeated  the  duke,  who  now  understood  the 
Lord's  Prayer  better  than  he  had  ever  done  before,  since  he 
had  learned  to  apply  it  to  himself.  —  Bib.  Treasury. 


¥ORDS  TIMELY  SPOKEN. 

Let  the  word  of  Christ  dwell  in  you  richly  in  all  wisdom ;  teaching  and  ad- 
monishing one  another  in  psalms,  and  hymns,  and  spiritual  songs,  singing  with 
grace  in  your  hearts  to  the  Lord.  —  Col.  3 :  16. 

IN  a  boarding-house  in  England  was  a  young  East  Indian 
girl,  of  engaging  manners  and  personal  attractiveness.  I 
found  her  one  day  seated  at  the  musical  instrument,  and  play- 
ing some  favorite  airs  with  great  spirit.  When  she  paused  for 
a  few  moments,  I  placed  a  sacred  air  before  her,  requesting 
her  to  sing  some  verses  which  I  would  repeat.  She  instantly 

complied.     At  length  she  came  to  the  following  stanza,  — 

» 

"  Sweet  to  rejoice  in  lively  hope 

That,  when  my  change  shall  come, 
Angels  shall  hover  round  my  bed 
To  waft  my  spirit  home." 

At  this  moment  I  was  overcome  by  the  emotions  springing 
from  a  train  of  ideas,  and  I  wept.  She  paused  and  said,  "  Dear 
sir,  what  is  the  matter  ?  "  "  0,  Annie,"  I  replied, "  you  are  about 
to  leave,  never,  it  is  probable,  to  see  us  again  in  this  world-;  and 
you  are  quitting  us  in  a  state  of  mind  that  makes  me  fear  that 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  669 

angels  will  not  hover  round  your  bed  to  waft  your  spirit 
home."  "  But  why  not?'7  she  pleasantly  rejoined  ;  and  yet  I 
observed  a  rising  tear,  which  she  brushed  away.  From  that 
hour  I  saw  her  no  more. 

At  the  end  of  a  few  years  a  young  lady  from  India  called  at 

my  house.     She  had  been  the  bosom  friend  of  Annie . 

Soon  after  her  return  to  India  she  was  well  married,  and  had 
become  thoughtful,  serious,  and  devout.  But  she  fell  into  a 
rapid  decline,  and  was  soon  laid  upon  a  dying  bed.  Prior  to 
her  decease  and  the  departure  to  this  country  of  her  friend, 
who  was  my  visitor,  she  called  her  to  her  bedside,  and  charged 
her  to  call  on  me,  and  say  that  the  words  I  had  spoken  to  her 
at  the  instrument  of  music  had  never  gone  from  her  mind. 
They  led  her  to  entertain  my  fears  that  what  she  had  been 
singing  would  never  be  hers  to  appropriate.  "  But  tell  him;" 
she  said,  "  that  I  have  been  brought  to  the  Saviour,  and  have 
found  him  to  be  my  Saviour.  And  tell  him,  0,  tell  him,  that 
angels  are  hovering  round  my  bed  to  waft  my  spirit  home, 
and  that  I  hope  to  welcome  him  in  that  abode  of  the  blessed, 
and  to  tell  to  him  in  heaven  what  I  now  commission  you 
to  narrate  to  him  on  earth." 


OBEDIENCE  TO  PARENTS. 

Children,  obey  your  parents  in  all  things,  for  this  is  well-pleasing  unto  the 
Lord.  —  Col.  3  :  20. 

IF  you  perceive  that  anything  in  your  ways  makes  your  par- 
ents unhappy,  you  ought  to  have  no  peace  until  you  have 
corrected  it ;  and  if  you  find  yourself  indifferent  or  insensible 
to  their  will  and  wishes,  depend  upon  it  yours  is  a  carnal,  dis- 
obedient, ungrateful  heart.  If  you  love  them,  keep  their 
commandments ;  otherwise  love  is  a  mere  word  in  the  mouth, 
or  a  notion  in  the  fancy,  but  not  a  ruling  principle  in  the  heart. 
They  know  much  of  the  world,  you  very  little ;  trust  them, 
therefore,  when  they  differ  from  you  and  refuse  compliance 
with  your  desire.  They  watch  over  you  for  God,  and  are 
entitled  to  great  deference  and  cheerful  obedience.  You  may 
easily  shorten  the  lives  of  affectionate  and  conscientious 


670  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

parents  by  misconduct,  bad  tempers,  and  alienation  from  their 
injunctions.  Let  not  this  sin  be  laid  to  your  charge.  —  Leyh 
Richmond. 


WRESTLING  IN  PRAYER. 

Continue  in  prayer,  and  watch  in  the  same  with  thanksgiving.  —  Col.  4 :  2. 

TACOB,  the  patriarch,  had  a  struggle  in  that  remarkable  and 
fj  mystical  scene  at  Penuel.  We  are  told  that  he  wrestled 
with  the  angel  of  the  covenant  (who  may  have  been  the  incar- 
nate Jesus)  until  the  breaking  of  the  day.  The  angel  said, 
"  Let  me  go  ;  the  day  breaketh."  Here  was  a  trial  of  the  patri- 
arch's faith.  "  What  is  that  to  me,"  thought  the  eager  man, 
"  that  the  day  is  breaking  ?  I  must  have  the  blessing  now. 
There  is  no  daylight  of  hope  for  me  unless  I  obtain  what  I  am 
struggling  for.  I  will  not  let  thee  go,  except  thou  bless  me  1" 
He  triumphed  on  the  spot. 

So  clung  the  Syro-Phcenician  mother  to  Christ  when  she 
was  beseeching  him  to  heal  her  sick  daughter.  The  Master 
seemed  to  put  her  off,  in  order  to  try  the  mettle  of  her  faith. 
But  she  came  up  into  what  the  old  Scotchman  called  a  closer 
grip  with  the  heart  of  infinite  love,  and  she  carried  the  day. 
"  Go  thy  way,"  said  Jesus  unto  her.  "  0  woman !  great  is 
thy  faith ;  be  it  unto  thee  even  as  thou  wilt."  And  so  he 
grantee!  to  a  great  faith  what  he  might  have  denied  to  a 
little  faith.  Precisely  so  is  it  with  Christians  now,  and  with 
churches.  An  honest,  persevering  faith  —  a  faith  that  works 
while  it  prays,  a  faith  that  holds  on  through  discouragements 

-achieves  the  result  it  pleads  for.  For  faith  creates  such  a 
condition  of  things  that  it  is  wise  for  God  to  grant  what  would 
otherwise  be  denied.  —  T.  L.  Cayler. 

OUR  COMPLETENESS  IS  IN  GOD. 

Epaphras,  who  is  one  of  you,  a  servant  of  Christ,  saluteth  you,  always 
laboring  fervently  for  you  in  prayers,  that  ye  may  stand  perfect  and  complete 
in  all  the  will  of  God.  —  Col.  4 :  12. 

E  should  not  judge  of  our  completeness  from  our  weak- 
ness, but  from  the  divine  strength.     The  Christian  who 


¥ 


NEW   TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  671 

abides  in  Christ  is  less  dependent  than  others  upon  externals, 
alike  for  his  joy  and  for  his  grief.  His  highest  joys  and  his 
deepest  sorrows  have  little  to  do  with  merely  temporal  con- 
cerns. In  this  all  Christians  differ  from  other  men ;  but  they 
also  differ  from  each  other,  according  as  they  are  more  or  less 
advanced  and  established  in  grace. 

See  in  what  different  degrees  mature  and  immature  dis- 
ciples are  dependent  on  externals  for  their  joy.  Let  a  sincere 
but  superficial  believer  be  deprived  of  the  means  of  grace. 
Fie  finds  it  hard  to  keep  up  his  religious  comfort.  He  deeply 
feels  the  lack  of  the  spirit-stirring  songs  of  praise,  the  earnest 
prayers  and  the  warm  sympathies  of  social  worship,  and  of 
the  hallowed  devotions  and  instructions  of  the  sanctuary.  The 
more  advanced  believer  enjoys  all  these  things  even  more  than 
the  other,  but  when  kept  from  them  by  sickness  or  other  law- 
ful cause,  he  finds  himself  by  no  means  destitute  of  joy.  He 
has  within  him  "  a  well  of  water  springing  up  unto  everlast- 
ing life." 

"  My  earth  thou  waterest  from  on  high, 

But  make  it  all  a  pool ; 
Spring  up,  0  Well,  I  ever  cry, 
Spring  up  within  my  soul !  " 


MINISTERIAL  PROPRIETY. 

And  say  to  Archippus,  Take  heed  to  the  ministry  which  thou  hast  received 
in  the  Lord,  that  thou  fulfill  it.  —  Col.  4 :  17. 

"YTO  minister  can  command  the  respect  of  his  people,  nor  win 
1.1  souls  to  Christ,  who  allows  himself  to  indulge  in  the  pulpit 
in  vulgarisms,  cant  phrases,  a  low  wit ;  nor  can  he  practice 
these  things  out  of  the  pulpit  and  be  respected.  Many  a 
minister  destroys  all  of  his  influence  for  good  by  allowing 
himself  to  act  the  part  of  a  clown,  when  he  ought  to  maintain 
the  dignity  of  a  gentleman.  Ministers  should  be  models  for 
the  people  in  their  demeanor  in  the  social  circle,  and  their 
language  in  the  pulpit  and  out  of  it  should  be  well  chosen 
and  chaste,  their  illustrations  of  a  high  order,  such  as  will  be 
commended  by  the  nicest  ear  and  the  most  critical  mind  ; 
such  as  the  best  and  most  refined  scholar  will  feel  pleased 


672  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

with.  What  a  pity  it  is  that  some  men  of  talent,  of  eloquence, 
and  of  learning,  neutralize  the  influence  of  a  good  sermon,  on 
the  whole,  by  initiating  into  it  some  cant  phrases  and  vulgar 
illustrations  !  Truth  needs  no  such  garments  to  'give  it  beauty 
and  attraction.  Let  ministers  remember  that- they  are  ambas- 
sadors of  Christ,  and  that  they  should  intensely  study  to  do 
and  say  nothing  in  the  pulpit,  nor  out  of  it,  but  what  Christ 
would  approve  or  do  himself.  "  Study  to  show  thyself  ap- 
proved of  God  ;  a  workman  who  needeth  not  to  be  ashamed, 
rightly  dividing  the  word  of  God/'  was  the  exhortation  of  the 
prince  of  preachers  to  his  son  in  the  gospel.  Again  he  said  to 
him,  "  Take  heed,  unto  yourself." 


ROWLAND  HILL'S  MASTER-STROKE. 

For  our  gospel  came  not  unto  you  in  word  only,  but  also  in  power,  and  in 
the  Holy  Ghost,  and  in  much  assurance ;  as  ye  know  what  manner  of  men  we 
were  among  you  for  your  sake.  —  1  Thess.  1 :  5. 

ON  one  occasion,  the  celebrated  Rowland  Hill  was  preach- 
ing in  the  open  air  in  that  suburban  portion  of  the  city 
of  London  denominated  Moorfields.  An  immense  assemblage 
was  present.  His  text  was  taken  from  the  Song  of  Solomon 
1 :  5,  "  I  am  black,  but  comely."  The  text  he  regarded  as 
having  application  to  the  church,  which,  in  the  estimation  of 
the  world,  was  black, — "black  as  the  tents  of  Kedar,"  —  but  in 
the  estimation  of  her  glorified  Head,  comely  "  as  the  curtains 
of  Solomon."  While  discussing  these  themes  with  his  accus- 
tomed earnestness,  it  so  happened,  in  the  providence  of  God, 
that  Lady  Anne  Erskine,  in  an  equipage  corresponding  with 
her  high  position  in  society,  passed  that  way.  Seeing  the 
immense  multitude,  she  asked  one  of  her  attendants  the  cause 
of  that  assemblage.  She  was  informed  that  the  renowned 
Rowland  Hill  was  preaching  to  the  people.  Lady  Anne  re- 
plied she  had  often  wished  to  hear  that  eccentric  preacher, 
and  she  would  avail  herself  of  the  present  opportunity  to 
gratify  that  cherished  desire,  and  requested  her  charioteer 
to  place  her  carriage  as  near  to  the  preacher's  stand  as  pos- 
sible, so  that  she  might  hear  every  word  that  he  uttered.  Ac- 


NEW   TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  673 

cordingly,  in  a  few  moments  she  found  herself  accommodated 
immediately  in  the  rear  of  the  temporary  pulpit  from  which 
the  speaker  addressed  the  listening  throng,  that  being  the 
only  unoccupied  position  within  reach  of  his  voice.  The 
splendor  of  the  equipage,  and  the  sparkling  appearance  of 
the  illustrious  personage  that  occupied  it,  soon  attracted  the 
attention  of  many  of  the  people  from  the  sermon  to  the  gor- 
geous accession  which  had  just  been  made  to  the  audience  by 
the  advent  of  Lady  Anne.  The  observant  eye  of  Rowland 
Hill  soon  detected  this  diversion,  and  his  inventive  mind  at 
once  suggested  a  hazardous  but  an  effective  remedy.  Paus- 
ing in  the  discussion  of  his  subject,  and  elevating  his  voice 
beyond  its  usual  pitch,  he  exclaimed,  — 

"  My  brethren,  I  am  now  going  to  hold  an  auction,  or  vendue, 
and  I  bespeak  your  attention  for -a  few  moments.  I  have  here 
a  lady  and  her  equipage  to  expose  to  public  sale  ;  but  the  lady 
is  the  principal,  and  the  only  object,  indeed,  that  I  wish  to 
dispose  of  at  this  present  j  and  there  are  already  three  earnest 
bidders  in  the  field.  The  first  is  the  world.  Well,  and  what 
will  you  give  for  her  ?  1 1  will  give  riches,  honor,  pleasure.' 
'  That  will  not  do.  She  is  worth  more  than  that ;  for  she  will 
live  when  the  riches,  honors,  and  pleasures  of  the  world  have 
passed  away  like  a  snow-wreath  beneath  a  vernal  shower. 
You  can  not  have  her.'  The  next  bidder  is  the  devil.  Well, 
and  what  will  you  give  for  her  ?  '  I  will  give  all  the  king- 
doms of  the  earth,  and  the  glory  of  them.'  '  That  will  not  do  ; 
for  she  will  continue  to  exist  when  the  kingdoms  of  the  earth 
and  the  glory  of  them  have  vanished  like  the  shadows  of  the 
night  before  the  orient  beams  !  You  can  not  have  her.' 

"  But  list !  I  hear  the  voice  of  another  bidder  ;  and  who 
is  that  ?  Why,  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ.  Well,  what  will  you 
give  for  her  ?  1 1  will  give  grace  here  and  glory  hereafter  ; 
an  inheritance  incorruptible,  undefiled,  and  that  fadeth  not 
away.'  Well !  well !  "  said  the  preacher,  "  blessed  Jesus,  it  is 
just  as  I  expected ;  just  the  noble  gen.erosity  which  thou  art 
wont  to  display.  I  will  place  her  at  your  disposal.  *  She 
is  black,  but  comely,'  and  you  shall  be  the  purchaser.  Let 
heaven  and  earth  authenticate  this  transaction." 

And  then,  turning  to  Lady  Anne,  who  had  listened  to  this 
85 


674  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

adventurous  digression  with  the  commingled  emotions  ot' 
wonder  and  alarm,  the  speaker,  with  inimitable  address,  ex- 
claimed, — 

"  Madam  !  madam  !  do  you  object  to  this  bargain  ?  Remem- 
ber you  are  Jesus  Christ's  property  from  this  time  henceforth 
and  for  evermore.  Heaven  and  earth  have  attested  the  solemn 
and  irreversible  contract !  Remember  you  are  the  property  of 
the  Son  of  God.  He  died  for  your  rescue  and  your  purchase. 
Can  you,  will  you,  dare  you  object  ?  " 

The  arrow  thus  sped  at  a  venture,  under  the  guidance  of 
the  divine  Spirit,  found  its  way  to  the  heart  of  Lady  Anne, 
and  she  was  submissively  led  to  the  cross  of  Messiah,  that  the 
hand  which  was  pierced  for  our  salvation  might  extract  the 
barbed  shaft,  and  heal  the  wound  which  had  been  so  unexpect- 
edly inflicted.  She  became  subsequently  identified,  to  a  con- 
siderable extent,  with  Lady  Huntingdon  in  her  deeds  of  noble 
charity,  and  having  served  her  day  and  generation,  she,  like 
her  illustrious  associate,  sweetly  fell  asleep  in  Jesus. 


"WRATH  TO  COME." 

And  to  wait  for  his  Son  from  heaven,  whom  he  raised  from  the  dead,  even 
Jesus,  which  delivered  us  from  the  wrath  to  come.  —  1  Thess.  1 :  10. 

THE  learned  and  pious  Burkitt,  in  his  very  valuable  com- 
mentary, says,  "  Note  here  a  soul-affecting  description 
of  that  wrath  which  doth  await  every  wicked  and  impeni- 
tent sinner :  it  is  a  l  wrath  to  come.'  After  thousands,  yea, 
millions  of  years,  that  sinners  have  lain  under  it,  still  it  is  a 
wrath  to  come ;  and  they  are  as  far  from  being  delivered  from 
it  as  the  first  hour  they  fell  under  it ;  and  Jesus  Christ  de- 
livered up  himself  to  death  that  he  might  be  a  Saviour  and 
deliverer  to  his  people  from  'this  wrath."  Christianity,  as  it 
appears  in  this  life,  is  an  unsettled  account  between  God  and 
the  world.  The  Christian  works  on  credit ;  his  faith  in  the 
truth  of  God  guarantees  the  payment ;  now  he  is  waiting  for 
the  Son  of  God  to  come  from  heaven  to  close  up  the  long- 
standing account,  and  reward  his  faithfulness  with  the  "  crown 
of  life."  Largely  that  reward  will  consist  of  deliverance  from 


NEW   TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  675 

"  the  wrath  to  come."  Dr.  Macknight  says,  "  Christ  himself, 
on  two  different  occasions,  promised  that  he  would  return  from 
heaven.  (Matt.  16  :  27  ;  John  14  :  3.)  The  angels,  likewise, 
who  attended  at  his  ascension,  foretold  the  same  things.  (Acts 
1  :  11.)  And  as  the  great  design  of  his  return  is  to  punish  his 
enemies  and  reward  his  faithful  servants,  his  second  coming 
was  always  a  principal  topic  on  which  the  apostles  insisted  in 
their  discourses  ;  consequently  it  was  a  principal  article  of 
the  faith  and  hope  of  the  first  Christians,  a  frequent  subject 
of  their  conversation,  and  a  powerful  source  of  consolation  to 
them  in  all  their  afflictions  and  troubles.  May  it  ever  be  the 
object  of  our  faith  and  hope,  and  the  source  of  our  consolation, 
especially  at  death  !  "  So  great  is  the  reward,  we  can  afford  to 
wait  for  the  Son  of  God  from  heaven ;  every  promise  of  his 
word,  every  blessing  of  his  grace,  every  victory  of  his  cross, 
every  triumphant  death,  are  so  many  pledges  that  he  will 
come. 

Are  we  ready  to  meet  him  ? 


PREACH  SO  AS  TO  PLEASE  GOD. 

But  as  we  were  allowed  of  God  to  be  put  in  trust  with  the  gospel,  even 
so  we  speak ;  not  as  pleasing  men,  but  God,  which  trieth  our  hearts.  — 
1  Thess.  2  :  4. 

THERE  is  a  story  of  that  holy  martyr  of  Jesus  Christ,  Bishop 
Latimer,  that  having,  in  a  sermon  at  court  in  Henry  the 
Eighth's  days,  much  displeased  the  king,  he  was  commanded 
next  Sunday  after,  to  preach  again,  and  make  his  recantation^ 
According  to  appointment,  he  comes  to  preach,  and  prefaceth 
to  his  sermon  with  a  kind  of  dialogism  in  this  manner :  Hugh 
Latimer,  dost  thou  know  to  whom  thou  art  this  day  to  speak  ? 
to  the  high  and  mighty  monarch,  the  king's  most  excellent 
majesty,  &c.,  that  can  take  away  thy  life  if  thou  offend :  there- 
fore take  heed  how  thou  speak  a  word  that  may  displease  ; 
but,  as  it  were  recalling  himself,  Hugh,  Hugh,  saith  he,  dost 
know  from  whence  thou  comest,  upon  whose  message  thou 
art  sent  ?  and  who  it  is  that  is  present  with  thee  and  be- 
holdeth  all  thy  ways  ?  Even  the  great  and  mighty  God,  that 


C76  NEW   TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

is  able  to  cast  both  body  and  soul  into  hell  for  ever ;  therefore 
look  about  thee,  and  be  sure  that  thou  deliver  thy  message 
faithfully,  &c. ;  and  so  comes  on  to  his  sermon,  and  what  he 
had  delivered  the  day  before  he  confirms  and  urgeth  with 
more  vehemency  than  ever.  Sermon  being  done,  the  court 
was  full  of  expectation  what  would  be  the  issue  of  the  matter: 
after  dinner,  the  king  calls  for  Latimer,  and,  with  a  stern 
countenance,  asked  him  how  he  durst  ,be  so  bold  as  to  preach 
after  that  manner.  He  answered,  that  duty  to  God  and  his 
prince  had  enforced  him  thereunto,  and  now  he  had  discharged 
his  conscience  and  duty  both,  in  what  he  had  spoken,  his  life 
was  in  his  majesty's  hands.  Upon  this  the  king  rose  from  his 
feet,  and;  taking  the  good  man  from  off  his  knees,  embraced 
him  in  his  arms,  saying,  he  blessed  God  that  he  had  a  man  in 
his  kingdom  that  durst  deal  so  plainly  and  faithfully  with  him. 
Thus,  did  but  all  men,  especially  ministers,  preachers  of  the 
word,  such  as  are  immediately  employed  by  God,  seriously 
take  notice  of  his  omnipresence,  and  continually  remember 
how  his  eye  is  always  upon  them,  0,  how  diligent !  how  confi- 
dent !  how  abundant  would  it  make  them  in  the  work  of  the 
Lord  !  how  faithful !  how  courageous  !  how  unbiased  !  how 
above  the  frowns  and  smiles  of  the  greatest  of  the  sons  of 
men  !  &c.  —  M.  Newcomen's  Sermon  at  Westminster,  1647. 


ILLUSTRIOUS  SCHOLARS  GIVE  A  UNITED  TESTIMONY. 

For  this  cause  also  thank  we  God  without  ceasing,  because,  when  ye 
received  the  word  of  God  which  ye  heard  of  us,  ye  received  it  not  as  the 
word  of  men,  but,  as  it  is  in  truth,  the  word  of  God,  which  effectually  work- 
eth  also  in  you  that  believe.  —  1  Thess.  2  :  13. 

IT  is  difficult  for  us  now  to  comprehend  the  trepidation  once 
awakened  by  the  simple  collation  of  manuscripts.  When 
Brian  Walton,  in  his  Polyglott,  gave  a  summary  of  various 
readings,  he  was  assailed  by  John  Owen  for  undermining  the 
faith  of  the  churches ;  and  Mill's  thirty  years'  labor  upon  the 
text  met  with  the  same  treatment  from  Whitby.  Bengel  de- 
clared himself  to  have  been  "  horribly  tormented  "  by  these 
investigations.  Wetstein  was  not  suffered  to  publish  his  crit- 
ical results  in  any  part  of  Switzerland. 


NEW   TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  677 

These  things  have  passed  away.  A  line  of  illustrious  schol- 
ars have  bestowed  a  hundred  and  fifty  years,  at  least,  of  con- 
tinuous toil  upon  the  text  of  the  New  Testament  alone.  The 
fathers  of  five  centuries  have  been  hunted  through ;  ancient 
versions  accumulated  ;  every  nook  and  corner  of  Europe  ran- 
sacked for  manuscripts  ;  while  Scholz  and  Tischendorf  have 
pushed  their  search  to  the  Libyan  desert,  the  mountains  of 
Arabia,  the  shores  of  the  Dead  Sea,  and  all  between. 

The  results  I  need  not  detail ;  variations  seemingly  numer- 
ous, such  as  they  are,  though  scarcely  more  in  those  thousand 
manuscripts  than  are  sometimes  found  in  three  or  four  manu- 
scripts of  a  classic  author ;  fewer  than  could  be  found  in  King 
James'  version,  similarly  treated  ;  seriously  affecting  the  sense 
of  fewer  passages  of  the  entire  New  Testament,  so  it  is  said, 
than  the  important  and  disputed  readings  of  any  one  of  Shak- 
speare's  thirty- seven  plays.  "  Nineteen  of  every  twenty  are 
to  be  dismissed  at  once,"  says  Professor  Norton,  "  as  palpable 
oversights  ;  and  of  the  remainder  the  great  majority  are  entire- 
ly unimportant,"  rising,  perhaps,  no  higher  than  a  question  of 
spelling,  of  collocation,  or  of  grammar ;  often  too  slight  to  be 
indicated  in  translation.  By  the  total  result,  Orthodoxy  loses 
nothing —  scarcely  even  the  famous  text  of  the  "three  heav- 
enly witnesses ; "  for  that  did  not  appear  in  the  first  two 
editions  of  Erasmus.  We  part,  perhaps,  with  one,  and  it  may 
be  two  of  the  texts  in  which  Christ  is  called  God  (Acts  20  :  22  ; 
1  Tirn.  3:16),  and  possibly  receive  another  in  their  place  (John 
1  :  18)  ;  while  all  the  passages  that  ascribe  to  him  the  works, 
attributes,  glory,  and  worship  of  the  supreme  God  remain  un- 
modified. —  Professor  Bartlett,  in  the  Bibliotheca  Sacra. 


AVOIDING  TEMPTATION. 

For  this  cause,  when  I  could  no  longer  forbear,  I  sent  to  know  your  faith, 
lest  by  some  means  the  tempter  have  tempted  you,  and  our  labor  be  in  vain.  — 
1  Thess.  3  :  5. 

REV.  T.  DE  WITT  TALMAGE,  in  his  sermon  The  Gospel 
Trumpet,  thus  speaks  of  keeping  out  of  the  way  of  temp- 
tation :  — 


G78  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

"  This  gospel  trumpet  is  also  one  of  retreat.  It  is  folly  for  a 
hundred  men  to  attack  ten  thousand.  It  is  the  part  of  good 
generalship,  sometimes,  to  blow  the  trumpet  of  retreat.  There 
is  no  need  of  your  trying  to  face  certain  temptation.  You  are 
foolhardy  to  try  it.  Your  only  safety  is  in  flight.  It  is  as 
fifty  against  five  thousand.  If  you  be  given  to  appetite, 
escape  the  presence  of  decanter  and  demijohn.  If  you  are 
given  to  pride,  go  not  amid  things  that  flatter  it.  If  your 
proclivity  be  toward  uncleanness,  like  Job  make  a  covenant 
with  your  eyes,  that  you  look  not  upon  a  maid.  You  know 
how  the  city  of  Ai  was  taken.  Joshua's  forces  went  up  to 
capture  it,  but  were  miserably  cut  to  pieces.  The  next  time 
they  hit  upon  this  stratagem :  The  host  was  to  advance  to  the 
city,  and  when  the  assault  was  made  upon  them,  they  were  to 
fly.  And  so  they' did,  until  the  people  of  Ai  came  out  to  follow 
them,  and  then,  at  the  holding  up  of  Joshua's  spear,  the  re- 
treating host  rallied  and  took  the  city.  So,  sometimes  it  is 
as  necessary  to  fly,  as  at  others  it  is  to  advance.  I  blow  the 
trumpet  of  retreat  for  those  of  you  who  are  tempted.  '  Lead 
me  not  into  temptation,'  be  your  morning  and  evening  prayer. 
No  need  of  your  trying  with  one  round  of  buckshot  to  meet 
an  enemy  with  ammunition-wagons  of  grape  and  canister.  No 
use  in  trying  with  a  North  River  schooner  to  run  down  the 
Great  Eastern.  Washington's  retreats  were  sometimes  his 
grandest  successes  ;  and  while  God  generally  calls  upon  us  to 
advance,  at  other  times  he  bids  us  flee.  The  lion-tamer  puts 
his  head  into  the  monster's  mouth,  and  the  people  applaud  ; 
but  it  is  a  foolish  thing  to  do.  The  shaggy  monster  after  a 
while  forgets  his  placidity,  and  the  lion-tamer  puts  in  his  head 
once  too  often." 

NOT  WHAT  I  WANT  NOW. 

Night  and  day  praying  exceedingly  that  we  might  see  your  face,  and  might 
perfect  that  which  is  lacking  in  your  faith.  —  1  Thess.  3  :  10. 

WHEN  Archbishop  Seeker  was  laid  on  his  dying  bed,  his 
friend,  Mr.  Talbot,  came  to  see  him.     He  felt   it  was 
their  last  meeting  together  ;  so  he  said,  — 

"  You  will  pray  with  me,  Talbot,  before  you  go  away  ?  " 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  679 

Mr.  Talbot  rose,  and  went  to  look  for  a  prayer  book. 

"  That  is  not  what  I  want  now,"  said  the  dying  prelate  ; 
"  kneel  down  by  me,  and  pray  for  me  in  the  way  I  know  you 
are  used  to  do." 

So  the  good  man  knelt  by  his  friend's  bedside,  and  poured 
out  his  soul  for  him  before  his  heavenly  Father  in  such  words 
as  his  heart  dictated.  The  Holy  Spirit  blessed  them  to  the 
comfort  of  the  dying  man.  There  was  a  life  and  spirit  in  them 
that  he  could  not  find  in  forms,  however  excellent. 

When  we  come  to  that  solemn  hour,  we  shall  want  some- 
thing more  than  a  formal  religion.  It  may  have  satisfied  us 
very  well  before,  but  it  will  give  us  no  light  for  the  dark 
valley.  "  God,  be  merciful  to  me  a  sinner,"  will  have  more 
meaning  to  us  than  a  volume  of  the  most  "  beautiful  prayers," 
pronounced  with  the  most  faultless  elocution. 


THE  COMING  OF  THE  LORD. 

To  the  end  he  may  stablish  your  hearts  unblamable  in  holiness  before  God, 
even  our  Father,  at  the  coming  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ  with  all  his  saints.^ 
1  Thess.  3 :  13. 

I  HAVE  sometimes  indulged  my  imagination  by  supposing  I 
beheld  the  morning  sun  arise,  and  nature  appearing  in  all 
her  glory,  animated  beings  quitting  their  wonted  repose,  and 
every  countenance  smiling  and  looking  joyful ;  the  laborer 
returning  to  his  employ,  and  men  of  leisure  to  their  various 
recreations  ;  they  marry,  they  are  given  in  marriage  ;  and 
business  and  pleasure  occupy  the  world.  In  a  moment,  in 
the  twinkling  of  an  eye,  the  trumpet  sounds!  The  dead  arise ! 
The  artificer  drops  his  hands  !  The  man  of  pleasure  stands 
amazed  !  The  whole  earth  is  filled  with  astonishment !  And 
all  plots  and  contrivances  of  men  immediately  cease  !  In  the 
midst  of  the  heavens  the  Judge  appears  !  Ten  thousand 
thunders  roll  before  him  !  The  books  are  opened !  Every 
heart  is  searched  !  All  secrets  'are  revealed  !  An  everlast- 
ing division  is  made  between  the  followers  of  the  Lamb  and 
the  objects  of  eternal  vengeance  ;  and  both  go  away  to  their 
own  place. 


680  NEW   TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

Circumstances  apart,  a  very  little  while  will  realize  the 
scene,  drop  the  curtain,  and  hide  all  things  else  from  our  eyes 
for  ever.  Then  shall  immutability  be  written  upon  our  state, 
and  happiness  or  misery  shall  be  our  everlasting  portion. 


FULLY  SAVED. 

For  this  is  the  will  of  God,  even  your  sanctification,  that  ye  should  abstain 
from  fornication.  —  1  Thess.  4  :  3. 

WOULD  you  know  where  I  am  ?  I  am  at  home  in  my 
Father's  house,  in  the  mansion  prepared  for  me  there. 
I  am  where  I  would  be,  where  I  have  long  and  often  desired 
to  be  ;  no  longer  on  a  stormy  sea,  but  in  a  safe  and  quiet 
harbor.  My  working  time  is  done,  I  am  resting ;  my  sowing 
time  is  done,  I  am  reaping ;  my  joy  is  at  the  time  of  harvest. 

Would  you  know  hoAv  it  is  with  me  ?  I  am  made  perfect 
in  holiness  ;  grace  is  swallowed  up  in  glory  ;  the  top-stone  of 
the  building  is  brought  forth. 

Would  you  know  what  company  I  have?  Blessed  company, 
better  than  the  best  on  earth  ;  here  are  holy  angels  and  the 
spirits  of  just  men  made  perfect.  I  am  set  down  with  Abra- 
ham, and  Isaac,  and  Jacob,  in  the  kingdom  of  God,  with  the 
blessed  Paul  and  Peter,  and  James  and  John,  and  all  the 
saints;  and  here  I  meet  with  many  of  my  old  acquaintances 
that  I  fasted  and  prayed  with,  who  got  before  me  hither. 

And  lastly,  would  you  consider  how  long  this  is  to  con- 
tinue ?     It  is  a  garland  that  never  withers  ;  a  crown  of  glory 
that  fades  not  away ;  after  millions  of  millions  of  ages  it  will 
be  as  fresh  as  it  is  now  ;  and  therefore  weep  not  for  me.  — 
Matthew  Henry. 

CARRYING  ON  BUSINESS  FOR  CHRIST. 

And  that  ye  study  to  be  quiet,  and  to  do  your  own  business,  and  to  work 
with  your  own  hands,  as  we  commanded  you.  —  1  Thess.  4  :  11. 


M 


ANY  years  ago,  happening  to  be  in  South  Wales,  I  made 
the  acquaintance  of  a  Welsh  gentleman.     He  was  then 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  681 

a  landed  proprietor,  living  in  his  own  mansion,  and  in  very 
comfortable  circumstances.  He  had  before  been  carrying  on 
an  extensive  business  in  a  large  town.  By  the  death  of  a 
relative  he  had  unexpectedly  come  into  possession  of  this 
property.  After  considering  whether  he  should  retire  from 
business,  he  made  up  his  mind  he  should  still  continue  to  carry 
it  on,  though  no  longer  for  himself,  but  for  Christ.  I  could  not 
help  being  struck  with  the  gleesomenesfc  of  a  holy  mind  which 
lighted  up  his  countenance  when  he  said,  "  I  never  knew 
before  what  real  happiness  was.  Formerly  I  wrought  as  a 
master  to  earn  a  livelihood  for  myself,  but  now  I  am  carrying 
on  the  same  work  as  diligently  as  if  for  myself,  and  even  more 
so  ;  but  it  is  now  for  Christ,  and  every  halfpenny  of  profits  is 
handed  over  to  the  treasury  of  the  Lord,  and  I  feel  that  the 
smile  of  my  Saviour  rests  upon  me."  I  think  that  is  an  exam- 
ple worthy  of  being  imitated.  —  Dr.  Duff. 


CHRIST  OUR  SUBSTITUTE. 

Who  died  for  us,  that,  whether  we  wake  or  sleep,  we  should  live  together 
with  him.  —  1  Thess.  5  :  10. 

REV.  HENRY  WARD  BEECHER,  at  his  Friday  evening 
prayer-meeting,  related  the  following  :  — 

"  Not  long  since  I  found  myself  at  Cincinnati,  with  a  little 
spare  time,  and  I  thought  I  would  improve  it  by  visiting  some 
of  the  southern  battle-fields  and  burial-places.  I  first  pro- 
ceeded to  Nashville.  On  going  out  to  the  Soldiers'  Cemetery, 
I  observed  a  man  planting  a  flower  over  a  grave.  I  approached 
him,  and  asked  if  his  son  was  buried  there. 

"  l  No,'  was  the  response. 

"  l  A  son-in-law  ?  ' 

« <  No.' 

«  <  A  brother  ? ' 

"  <  No.' 

"  <  A  relative  ?  ' 

"  <  No.' 

"  '  Whose  memory,  then,  do  you  cherish  ? '  I  ventured  to  ask. 
£6 


682  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

11  After  delaying  a  moment,  and  putting  down  a  small  board 
which  he  had  in  his  hand,  he  replied,  — 

" '  Well,  I  will  tell  you.  When  the  war  broke  out  I  lived  in 
Illinois.  I  wanted  to  enlist,  but  I  was  poor,  and  a  large  family 
of  children  depended  upon  me  for  their  daily  bread.  Finally, 
as  the.  war  continued,  I  was  drafted.  No  draft  money  was 
given  me  ;  I  was  unable  to  procure  a  substitute,  and  made  up 
my  mind  to  go.  Afte*r  I  had  got  everything  in  readiness,  and 
was  just  going  to  report  for  duty  at  the  conscript  camp,  a 
young  man  whom  I  had  known  came  to  me,  and  said,  '  You 
have  a  big  family,  whom  your  wife  can  not  support  while  you 
are  gone  ;  I  will  go  for  you.'  In  the  battle  of  Chickamauga 
the  poor  fellow  was  dangerously  wounded.  Owing  to  Bragg's 
offensive  demonstrations  on  Chattanooga,  he,  along  with  others, 
was  taken  back  to  hospital  at  Nashville.  After  a  lingering 
illness  he  died  and  was  buried  here.  Ever  "since  hearing  of 
his  death  I  have  been  desirous  of  coming  to  Nashville,  and 
seeing  that  his  remains  were  properly  buried.  Having  saved 
sufficient  funds,  I  came  on  yesterday,  and  have  to-day  found 
the  poor  fellow's  grave-.' 

"  On  completing  his  story,  the  man  took  up  the  small  board, 
and  inserted  it  at  the  foot  of  the  grave.  Turning  to  look  at 
it,  I  saw  this  simple  inscription,  and  nothing  more  :  '  He  died 
for  me.' » 


GIVING  THANKS  TO  GOD. 

In  everything  give  thanks,  for  this  is  the  will  of  God  in  Christ  Jesus  con- 
cerning you.  —  1  Thess.  5  :  18. 

FWERYTHING  we  enjoy  should  be  viewed  as  coming  from 
J_J  the  liberal  hand  of  God  ;  all  was  forfeited  by  sin  ;  what  we 
receive  is  of  grace.  The  providence  that  supplies  us  is  the 
wisdom,  benevolence,  and  power  of  God  in  operation  for  us, 
as  expressive  of  his  infinite  love  and  unmerited  grace.  Tal- 
ents to  provide  supplies,  opportunities  to  obtain,  and  ability 
to  enjoy,  are  alike  from  the  Lord.  Every  mercy  increases  our 
obligation  and  deepens  our  debt.  Thanksgiving  is  the  ordi- 
nance that  God  hath  appointed,  that  we  may  express  our 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  683 

gratitude,  and  acknowledge  our  obligation  ;  and  our  thanks- 
givings are  acceptable  and  well-pleasing  in  his  sight.  Thanks- 
giving is  never  out  of  season,  for  we  have  always  much  to  be 
thankful  for.  In  everything  we  should  give  thanks,  to  that 
end  view  all  things  as  arranged  by  his  wisdom,  dependent  on 
his  will,  sanctified  by  his  blessing,  according  with  his  promises, 
and  flowing  from  his  love.  All  our  blessings  come  through 
Jesus,  and  all  our  praises  must  ascend  through  him  ;  for  our 
Father  only  accepts  what  is  presented  in  the  name  of  his  be- 
loved Son. 


QUENCHING  THE  SPIRIT. 

Quench  not  the  Spirit.  —  1  Thess.  5  :  19. 

A  FEW  years  ago,  as  I  was  laboring  in  our  western  wilds, 
J.JL  an  individual  rode  up,  and,  taking  me  by  the  hand,  in- 
quired earnestly,  — 

"  Will  you  go  and  see  a  dying  young  man?  He  is  in  agony, 
and  says  there  is  no  hope." 

There  was  no  time  to  be  lost.  I  went  with  him.  After 
climbing  many  a  rocky  ascent,  I  came  into  an  open  path, 
which  soon  conducted  me  to  the  house.  Anxious  ones  stood 
weeping  without,  and  soon  held  both  my  hands,  conducting 
me  up  a  long  flight  of  steps  to  the  room  of  the  dying  man. 
Not  a  word  was  spoken.  Other  hearts  were  too  full,  and  my 
own  was  sinking  beneath  a  weight  of  responsibility.  Earnestly 
seeking  the  divine  blessing,  I  ascended  the  steps. 

On  reaching  the  top,  a  venerable  mother  approached  me, 
saying,  — 

"  I'm  glad  you  have  come.  Do  speak  to  my  son  ;  perhaps 
he  may  yet  be  saved." 

I  pressed  the  hand  that  had  led  me  in,  and  in  a  moment  the 
most  heart-rending  scene  was  before  me  —  a  young  man  in 
.the  agonies  of  death  —  rolling  his  eyes,  and  flinging  his  arms 
wildly  about  him  —  crying  out,  — 

"  0,  I  am  lost !  Hell  is  before  me  !  Inva  few  moments  I 
shall  be  among  the  damned  ! " 

He  ceased  speaking,  and  I  feared  his  spirit  had  taken  its 


684  NEW   TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

flight  for  the  regions  of  woe.  He  soon  revived  again.  Seiz- 
ing the  opportunity,  I  repeated  slowly  the  words,  "  Believe  on 
the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  and  thou  shalt  be  saved."  "  The  blood 
of  Jesus  Christ  cleanseth  us  from  all  sin."  Seeing  that  I  had 
his  attention,  I  spoke  of  the  free,  unmerited  mercy  of  Christ, 
able  to  save  the  chiefest  of  sinners,  saying,  — 

"  There  is  hope  for  the  repenting  sinner,  even  at  the  eleventh 
hour." 

He  replied,  "  No,  there  is  no  hope.  Once  I  might  have  been 
saved  ;  but  now  it  is  too  late  —  too  late."  Then  with  a  groan 
of  the  deepest  despair  he  exclaimed,  "  0  that  I  had  heard 
them  ! " 

In  vain  I  urged  him  to  cast  himself  unreservedly  on  the 
sovereign  mercy  of  God,  as  "  able  to  save  unto  the  uttermost 
all  that  come  unto  God  through  him." 

He  only  replied,  "  I  have  resisted  the  Holy  Ghost  j  there  is 
no  hope." 

I  proposed  prayer. 

He  only  replied,  "  Pray  for  others,  not  for  me." 

I  knelt.  Perfect  silence  reigned,  save  as  a  low,  deep  moan 
came  from  the  dying  bed.  I  tried  to  commit  him  to  the  mercy 
of  Christ. 

I  spoke  to  him  again,  but  he  hopelessly  said,  — 

"  It  is  of  no  use.     Tarn  hastening  to  eternity." 

No  tear  fell.  He  manifested  no  contrition  for  sin,  no  ray  of 
hope.  A  wild,  piercing  cry  wrung  our  hearts  with  anguish, 
and  he  sank  upon  his  pillow.  Reviving  yet  again,  he  said, 
thoughtfully,  — 

"  Once  I  was  brought  to  feel  myself  a  sinner.  For  days  and 
weeks  I  was  anxious  about  my  soul.  Something  said,  *  Now 
is  the  accepted  time  :  '  my  heart  said,  '  Not  now ;  to-morrow.' 
But  when  l  to-morroW  '  came,  I  still  put  it  off.  My  gay  com- 
panions laughed  at  my  seriousness,  and  tried  to  allure  me  back 
to  the  follies  of  sin.  I  said  to  myself,  '  I  will  go  with  you  to- 
day, but  to-morrow  I  will  not.'  " 

Pleased  with  present  victory,  they  led  him  on  from  pleasure 
to  vice,  the  card-table,  and  the  social  bar.  He  took  wine,  he 
laughed,  and  was  the  gayest  of  the  gay.  Conscience  raised 
her  warning  voice,  and  bade  him  pause  ;  but  he  rushed  heed- 
lessly on. 


NE W  TESTAMENT  ILL USTRA  TIONS.  685 

He  stated,  that  one  pleasant  Sabbath  morning,  a  young  man 
met  him  when  on  his  way  to  join  his  companions,  and  taking 
him  cordially  by  the  hand,  said,  — 

"  Friend,  you  seem  to  be  enjoying  yourself;  come  with  me, 
and  we  will  have  better  enjoyment  still." 

He  joined  him  in  a  walk,  which  ended  at  the  house  of  God. 
Startled,  he  drew  back,  and  would  have  fled  from  the  sanctu- 
ary, had  not  his  friend  urged  affectionately,  — 

"  Do  come  in  a  little  while." 

He  yielded  to  the  entreaty,  resolving  it  should  be  only  a 
"  little  while,"  and  took  his  seat  among  the  worshipers.  Here 
conscience,  as  if  roused  to  a  final  conflict,  reminded  him  of 
broken  resolutions,  and  bade  him  seek  Christ  to-day.  "  No, 
not  to-day,"  was  his  response  to  the  gentle  whispers  of  the 
Spirit.  He  remained  through  the  morning  services.  His 
friend,  encouraged  by  his  stay,  drew  him  into  a  "Bible  class," 
where  the  teacher  faithfully  enforced  the  duty  of  immediate 
preparation  for  eternity.  The  young  man  was  impressed,  and 
sat  thoughtfully  revolving  the  question,  "  Shall  I,  or  not  ?  I 
will  decide  now,  or  else  put  it  for  ever  out  of  my  mind."  The 
class  was  dismissed.  The  words,  "  To-day  prepare  to  meet 
thy  God,"  rang  in  his  ears  as  he  walked  down  the  aisle. 

The  decision  was  made  :  "  Not  to-day,  but  to-morrow  I  will." 
From  that  moment  all  was  darkness,  terror,  and  dismay.  Efe 
the  night  had  passed  over  him,  he  was  seized  with  a  malig- 
nant fever,  which  in  two  days  left  him  in  the  state  I  found 
him. 

"  And  now,"  he  added,  "  I  have  cursed  my  Maker,  and  am 
dying  without  hope  —  without  hope." 

I  still .  urged  him  to  flee  to  Christ,  but  in  vain.  Despair 
only  was  his  ;  one  deep  groan  and  shriek  of  terror,  and  he  ex- 
pired with  these  fearful  words  on  his  lips,  "  Lost,  lost,  lost." 


¥ 


"DESPISE  NOT  PROPHESYINGS." 

Despise  not  prophesyings.  —  1  Thess.  5  :  20. 

E  are  apt  to  dismiss  this  short  exhortation  of  our  be- 
loved brother  Paul,  as  if  the  world  had   outgrown  its 


(586  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

application.  We  assume  that  all  the  prophets  are  dead.  We 
think  that  we  do  them  sufficient  honor  if  we  do  not  challenge 
their  utterances  as  written  in  the  word  of  God.  We  seem 
rather  to  esteem  spiritual  gifts  in  proportion  to  the  length  of 
time  since  they  were  displayed,  and  to  enhance  the  honor  which 
we  pay  to  Moses,  and  Elijah,  and  Paul,  and  Cephas  by  the  dis- 
paragement of  present  witnesses. 

Is  there  not  danger  of  falling  into  the  Pharisaic  mistake  of 
building  the  sepulcher  of  dead  prophets,  and  rejecting  the  tes- 
timony of  living  ones?  If  the  testimony  of  Jesus  is  the  spirit 
of  prophecy,  there  is  no  true  Christian  who  may  not  be  an 
imparter  of  revelations.  Union  with  Christ  gives  keen  insight 
into  spiritual  truth.  Faith  has  a  piercing  eye,  and  the  char- 
acters and  moral  purposes  of  men,  the  relation  and  value  of 
religious  movements,  the  significance  of  ecclesiastical  devel- 
opment, of  false  philosophy,  of  corruption  within  and  without 
the  church,  lie  more  plainly  open  to  those  whose  abiding  inti- 
macy with  the  Saviour  has  made  them  partakers  of  his  spirit 
and  work. 

Our  disregard  of  the  apostolic  injunction  arises  from  the 
infrequency  of  this  close  union  with  the  Saviour,  and  the  dis- 
repute brought  upon  the  modern  gift  of  prophecy  by  false 
prophets,  and  by  those  who  might  be  true  prophets,  did  they 
prophesy  according  to  the  proportion  of  faith.  No  Christian, 
who  has  in  any  measure  the  spirit  and  power  of  Elias,  will  be 
eager  to  set  the  multitude  agape  by  predictions,  or  by  the 
display  of  useless  wonders.  Notoriety  is  not  the  ambition  of 
the  humble.  But  the  bearing  of  events  upon  the  coming  of 
the  kingdom,  as  seen  by  the  few  whose  Christianity  is  a 
burning  light,  is  startling  enough,  did  we  but  comprehend  it, 
to  rank  with  the  warnings  which,  in  apostolic  times,  astonished 
those  who  had  ears  to  hear. 


T 


THE  MILLER  AND  THE  CAMEL. 

Abstain  from  all  appearance  of  evil.  —  1  Thess.  5  :  22. 

HE    Arabs  repeat  a  .fable  of  a  miller,  who   was  one  day 
awakened  by  having  the  nose  of  a  camel  thrust  into  the 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  687 

window  of  the  room  where  he  was  sleeping.  "It  is  very  cold 
out  here/'  said  the  camel ;  "  1  only  want  to  get  my  nose  in." 
The  miller  granted  his  request.  After  a  while  the  camel  asked 
that  he  might  get  his  neck  in,  and  then  he  gained  permission 
to  have  his  fore  feet  in  the  room,  and  so,  little  by  little, 
crowded  in  his  whole  body.  The  miller  found  his  rude 
companion  was  becoming  exceedingly  troublesome,  for  the 
room  was.  not  large  enough  for  both.  When  he  complained  to 
the  camel,  he  received  for  answer,  "  If  you  do  not  like  it,  you 
may  leave ;  as  for  myself,  I  shall  stay  where  I  am." 

So  it  is  with  sin.  It  comes  and  knocks  at  the  heart,  and 
pleads  for  only  a  little  indulgence,  and  so  goes  on,  increasing 
its  demand  until  it  becomes  master  in  the  soul.  What,  then, 
shall  the  young  do  but  guard  against  sin,  beware  of  its  very 
appearance,  and,  above  all,  pray  for  the  aid  of  the  Holy  Spirit, 
that  by  his  grace  they  may  be  enabled  to  keep  their  heart 
with  all  diligence,  and  to  guard  against  the  entrance  of  any- 
thing that  may  defile  or  ruin  the  soul  ? 


SANCTIFICATION  AS  VIEWED  BY  ARCHBISHOP 
USHER. 

.And  the  very  God  of  peace  sanctify  you  wholly;  and  I  pray  God  your 
whole  spirit,  and  soul,  and  body,  be  preserved  blameless  unto  the  coming  of 
our  Lord  Jesus  Christ.  —  1  Thess.  5 :  23. 

A  FRIEND  of  Archbishop  Usher  repeatedly  urged  him  to 
_/JL  write  on  sanctification  ;  which  at  length  he  engaged  to 
do ;  but  a  considerable  time  elapsing,  the  performance  of  his 
promise  was  importunately  claimed.  The  bishop  replied  to 
this  purpose  :  "  I  have  not  written,  and  yet  I  can  not  charge 
myself  with  a  breach  of  promise ;  for  I  began  to  write,  but 
when  I  came  to  treat  of  the  new  creature  which  God  formeth 
by  his  Spirit  in  every  regenerate  soul,  I  found  so  little  of  it 
wrought  in  myself,  that  I  could  speak  of  it  only  as  parrots,  or 
by  rote,  without  the  knowledge  of  what  I  might  have  ex- 
pressed ;  and  therefore  I  durst  not  presume  to  proceed  any 
further  upon  it." 

His  friend  was  amazed  to  hear  so  holy  a  man  speak  in  this 


688  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

manner.  The  bishop  added,  "  I  must  tell  you,  we  do  not  un- 
derstand what  sanctification  and  the  new  creation  are.  It  is 
no  less  than  for  a  man  to  be  brought  to  an  entire  resignation 
to  the  will  of  God,  and  to  live  in  the  offering  up  of  his  soul 
continually  in  the  flames  of  love,  as  a  whole  burnt-offering  to 
Christ.  0;  how  many  who  profess  Christianity  are  unacquaint- 
ed, experimentally,  with  this  great  work  upon  their  souls !  " 

Since  the  days  of  Archbishop  Usher,  a  dear  light  and  a 
better  experience  have  come  upon  the  church  of  Christ. 
Christians  are  learning  that  gospel  promises  may  be  Christian 
experiences  j  and  many  are  enjoying  sanctification  of  soul  and 
spirit. 

HOW  TO  MAKE  SUCCESSFUL  PASTORS. 

Brethren,  pray  for  us.  —  1  Thess.  5  :  25. 

TWERY  minister  will  be  successful,  we  believe,  who  has 
_LJ  one  member  in  his  church  given  to  constant  prayer  for 
his  success.  We  would  that  every  pastor  had  just  one  friend 
who  never  ceased  to  bear  him  and  his  work  to  the  throne  of 
grace,  and  to  supplicate  for  the  gifts  of  the  Holy  Spirit  fol- 
lowing his  labor  and  giving  his  preaching  power.  Let  facts 
such  as  the  following  speak :  — 

"  Mr.  Finney  tells  of  a  pastor  who  was  constantly  successful 
—  enjoyed  a  revival  every  year  for  twelve  years,  and  could 
not  account  for  it,  till  one  evening,  at  a  prayer  meeting,  a 
brother  confessed  that  for  a  number  of  years  past  he  had  been 
in  the  habit  of '  spending  every  Saturday  night,  until  midnight, 
in  prayer  for  his  pastor  the  next  day.'  That  explained  the 
secret,  in  part  at  least.  Such  a  man  praying  would  make  any 
ministry  successful.  The  great  John  Livingston,  of  Scotland, 
once  preached  an  ordinary  sermon  with  such  power  and  suc- 
cess that  five  hundred  were  converted  under  it ;  but  it  was 
after  a  large  company  of  Christians  had  spent  the  whole  pre- 
vious night  in  prayer  for  that  object." 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

PUNISHED  IN  PART. 

Which  is  a  manifest  token  of  the  righteous  judgment  of  God.  —  2  Thess.  1 :  5. 

GOD  sometimes  sends  his  judgments  upon  flagrant  trans- 
gressors as  part  punishment  for  great  wickedness.  A 
very  remarkable  example  of  this  occurred  with  a  man  known 
to  the  writer  many  years  ago,  in  the  State  of  Ohio,  and  in  the 
vicinity  of  the  place  where  the  writer  at  one  time  resided. 
The  present  subject  of  our  remarks,  being  addressed  on  the 
topic  of  religion,  was  filled  with  rage,  and  with  terribly  pro- 
fane expletives:  he  passionately  declared  that  if  Jesus  of  Naz- 
areth was  there  he  would  wring  his  neck ;  at  the  same  time 
lifting  his  eyes  defiantly  toward  the  heavens,  and  contorting 
his  features  into  a  grimace,  expressing  a  feeling  of  intense 
hate  and  utter  scorn.  In  a  moment  the  judgment  of  an  of- 
fended Deity  descended  upon  him;  his  distorted  features 
became  fixed,  a  violent  spasm  seized  his  neck,  so  that  it  was 
twisted  round,  and  he  rolled  his  eyes  about  so  that  they 
seemed  to  be  in  danger  of  leaving  their  sockets ;  and  he  was 
left  in  this  horridly  frightful  condition,  a  living  example  of 
outraged  omnipotence. 

A  writer  in  the  Vermont  Chronicle,  referring  to  this  terrible 
occurrence  some  time  after  it  happened,  said,  "  This  fact  was 
stated  at  a  public  meeting  in  this  vicinity,  lately,  by  a  re- 
spectable gentleman  of  the  bar  from  Ohio."  The  meeting 
spoken  of  was  held  in  Lebanon,  Ohio,  and  the  lawyer  alluded 
to  was  Mr.  Latham,  whose  statements  being  doubted,  he  pro- 
cured a  full  corroboration  of  them  from  the  Rev.  Ahab  Jinks, 
of  Delaware,  Ohio,  who  resided  in  the  immediate  vicinity  of 
the  place,  and  who  accompanied  his  corroboration  with  a  more 
minute  detail  of  the  facts,  together  with  the  names  of  other 
gentlemen  who  also  resided  in  the  neighborhood  of  the  star- 
tling providence.  —  Dr.  Dillon,  in  the  Pacific  Christian  Ad- 
vocate. 

87 


690  NEW   TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 


RIGHTEOUS  TRIBULATION  TO  TROUBLERS. 

Seeing  it  is  a  righteous  thing  with  God  to  recompense  tribulation  to  them 
that  trouble  you.  —  2  Thess.  1 :  6. 

"  A  PRIL  17, 1797, 1  was  desired,"  says  Mr.  Rhodes,  the  narra- 
j\.  tor  of  the  following  account, "  to  visit  William  Pope.  For 
some  months  he  had  been  afflicted  with  a  consumptive  com- 
plaint. At  the  same  time  the  state  of  his  mind  was.  deplorably 
wretched.  When  I  first  saw  him,  he  said,  l  Last  night  I  believe 
I  was  in  hell,  and  felt  the  horrors  and  torments  of  the  damned  ; 
but  God  has  brought  me  back  again,  and  given  me  a  little 
longer  respite.  My  mind  is  also  alleviated  a  little.  The 
gloom  of  guilty  terror  does  not  sit  so  heavy  upon  me  as  it 
did  j  and  I  have  something  like  a  faint  hope  that,  after  all  I 
have  done,  God  may  yet  bless  and  save  me.'  After  exhorting 
him  to  repentance,  and  confidence  in  the  Almighty  Saviour,  I 
prayed  with  him,  and  left  him. 

"  April  18,  I  went  to  see  William  Pope  ;  he  had  all  the  ap- 
pearance of  horror  and  guilt  which  a  soul  feels  when  under  a 
sense  of  the  wrath  of  God.  As  soon  as  he  saw  me,  he  ex- 
claimed, '  You  are  come  to  see  one  who  is  damned  for  ever.' 
I  answered,  *  I  hope  not ;  Christ  came  to  save  the  chief  of  sin- 
ners.' He  replied,  '  I  have  rejected  him,  I  have  denied  him ; 
'therefore  he  hath  cast  me  off  for  ever  !  I  know  the  day  of  grace 
is  past  —  gone  —  gone  —  never  more  to  return  ! '  I  entreated 
him  not  to  draw  hasty  conclusions  respecting  the  will  of  God  ; 
and  I  asked  him  if  he  could  pray,  or  felt  a  desire  that  God 
would  give  him  a  broken  and  contrite  heart.  He  answered, 
k  I  can  not  pray ;  my  heart  is  quite  hardened  ;  I  have  no  desire 
to  receive  any  blessing  at  the  hands  of  God ; '  and  then  im- 
mediately cried  out,  '  0,  the  hell  I  the  torment !  the  fire  that 
I  feel  within  me  !  0,  eternity,  eternity  !  To  dwell  for  ever 
with  devils  and  damned  spirits  in  the  burning  lake  must  be 
my  portion  !  and  that  justly  —  yea,  very  justly  ! ' 

"  On  Thursday  I  found  him  groaning  under  the  weight  of  the 
displeasure  of  God.  His  eyes  rolled  to  and  fro  ;  he  lifted  up 
his  hands,  and  with  vehemence  cried  out,  '  0,  the  burning 
flame  !  the  hell  !  the  pain  Libel !  Rocks,  yea,  burning  moun- 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  691 

tains  fall  upon  me,  and  cover  me  !  Ah,  no  !  they  can  not  hide 
me  from  his  presence  who  fills  the  universe  ! '  I  spoke  a 
little  of  the  justice  and  power  of  Jehovah,  to  which  he  made 
this  pertinent  reply :  '  He  is  just,  and  is  now  punishing  and 
will  continue,  to  punish  me  for  my  sins.  He  is  powerful,  and 
will  make  me  strong  to  bear  the  torments  of  hell  to  all  eterni- 
ty. You  do  not  know  what  I  have  done.  My  crimes  are  not 
of  an  ordinary  nature.  I  have  done  —  done  the  deed  —  the 
horrible,  damnable  deed  ! '  I  prayed  with  him  ;  and  while  I 
was  thus  employed,  he  said,  with  inexpressible  rage,  { I  will 
not  have  salvation  at  the  hands  of  God  !  No,  no  ;  I  will  not 
ask  it  of  him  ! '  After  a  short  pause,  he  cried  out,  '  0,  how  I 
long  to  be  in  the  bottomless  pit  1  in  the  lake  which  burns  with 
fire  and  brimstone  ! 7 

"  When  I  mentioned  the.  power  of  the  Almighty  to  save, 
'  God/'  said  he,  <  is  almighty  to  damn  me  !  He  hath  already 
sealed  my  damnation,  and  I  long  to  be  in  hell ! '  The  mel- 
ancholy affair  happened  in  the  year  1797,  and  excited  consid- 
erable attention  in  the  town  and  neighborhood  of  Bolton,  in 
Lancashire,  England,  where  he  lived." 


PUNISHED  FOR  EVER  AND  EVER. 

Who  shall  be  punished  with  everlasting  destruction  from  the  presence  of 
the  Lord,  and  from  the  glory  of  his  power.  —  2  Thess.  1:9. 

THE  following  illustration  is  from  the  pen  of  an  eloquent 
French  writer :  — 

"  When  I  endeavor  to  represent  eternity,  I  avail  myself  of 
whatever  I  can  conceive  most  firm  and  durable ;  I  heap  im- 
agination on  imagination,  conjecture  on  conjecture.  I  go  from 
our  age  to  the  time  of  publishing  the  gospel,  thence  to  the 
publication  of  the  law,  and  from  the  law  to  the  flood,  and  from 
the  flood  to  the  creation.  I  join  this  epoch  to  the  present 
time,  and  I  imagine  Adam  yet  living.  Had  Adam  lived  till 
now,  and  had  he  lived  in  misery,  had  he  passed  all  his  time  in 
a  fire,  or  on  a  rack,  what  idea  must  we  form  of  his  condition  ? 
At  what  price  would  we  agree  to  expose  ourselves  to  miseries 
so  great  ?  What  imperial  glory  would  appear  glorious,  were 


G02  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

it  followed  by  so  much  woe  ?  Yet  this  is  not  eternity  ;  all  this 
is  nothing  in  comparison  of  eternity  1 

"  I  go  further  still.  I  proceed  from  imagination  to  imagina- 
tion, from  one  supposition  to  another.  I  take  the  greatest 
number  of  years  that  can  be  imagined.  I  add  ages  to  ages, 
millions  of  ages  to  millions  of  ages.  I  form  of  all  these  one 
fixed  number,  and  I  stay  my  imagination.  After  this  I  suppose 
God  to  cre.ate  a  world  like  this  which  we  inhabit.  I  suppose 
him  creating  it  by  forming  one  atom  after  another,  and  em- 
ploying in  the  production  of  each  atom  the  time  fixed  in  my 
calculation,  just  now  mentioned.  What  numberless  ages  would 
the  production  of  such  a  world  in  such  a  manner  require  ! 
Then  I  suppose  the  Creator  to  arrange  these  atoms,  and  to 
pursue  the  same  plan  of  arranging  them  as  of  creating  them. 
What  numberless  ages  would  such  an  arrangement  require  ! 
Finally,  I  suppose  him  to  dissolve  and  annihilate  the  whole, 
observing  the  same  method  in  the  dissolution  as  he  observed 
in  the  creation  and  disposition  of  the  whole.  What  an  im- 
mense duration  would  be  consumed  !  Yet  this  is  not  eternity. 
All  this  is  only  a  point  in  comparison  of  eternity. 

"  My  God,  one  night  passed  in  a  burning  fever,  or  in  strug- 
gling among  the  waves  of  the  sea,  between  life  and  death, 
appears  of  an  immense  length  !  It  seems  to  the  sufferer  as  if 
the  sun  had  forgotten  his  course,  and  as  if  all  the  laws  of  nature 
itself  were  subverted.  What,  then,  will  be  the  state  of  those 
miserable  victims  to  divine  displeasure,  who,  after  they  shall 
have  passed  through  the  ages  which  we  have  been  describing, 
will  be  obliged  to  make  this  overwhelming  reflection :  'All  this; 
is  but  an  atom  of  our  misery  1 '  What  will  their  despair  be, 
when  they  shall  be  forced  to  say  to  themselves,  '  Again  we  must 
revolve  through  these  enormous  periods ;  again  we  must  suffer 
the  privation  of  celestial  happiness ;  devouring  flames  again  ; 
cruel  remorse  again ;  crimes  and  blasphemies  over  and  over 
again ;  for  ever,  for  ever  ! '  Ah,  how  severe  is  this  word,  even 
in  this  life  !  How  great  is  a  misfortune,  when  it  is  incapable 
of  relief  !  How  insupportable,  when  we  are  obliged  to  add/or 
ever  to  it !  These  irons  for  ever !  These  chains  for  ever  ! 
This  prison  for  ever  I  This  universal  contempt  for  ever  !  Poor 
mortals,  how  short-sighted  are  you,  to  call  sorrows  eternal 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  693 

which  end  with  your  lives  !  What,  this  life,  this  life,  which 
passeth  with  the  rapidity  of  a  weaver's  shuttle,  - —  this  life, 
which  vanisheth  like  a  sleep,  —  is  this  what  you  call  for  ever  ? 
Ah,  absorbing  periods  of  eternity,  accumulated  myriads  of 
ages ;  these  —  if  I  may  be  allowed  to  speak  so  —  these  will  be 
the  for  ever  of  the  damned  ! " 


PREACHING  TO  ONE  PASSENGER. 

That  the  name  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ  may  be  glorified  in  you,  and  ye 
in  him,  according  .to  the  grace  of  our  God  and  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ.  — 
2  Thess.  1 :  12. 

I  WAS  once  crossing  the  sea  in  a  Havre  packet.  Among  the 
passengers  was  an  intelligent  Englishman,  with  whom  I 
had  a  good  deal  of  pleasant  intercourse.  On  the  last  day  of 
the  voyage,  as  we  were  entering  the  bay  of  Havre,  I  was 
standing  apart  with  him  on  the  upper  deck.  In  a  few  hours  we 
were  to  part,  probably  for  ever,  and  I  spoke  to  him  earnestly 
about  the  salvation  of  his  soul.  As  he  received  my  words 
kindly  and  attentively,  I  pressed  the  matter  upon  his  atten- 
tion, opening  the  gospel  scheme,  —  of  which,  though  a  well- 
informed  and  thoughtful  man,  he  seemed  to  have  no  very  clear 
idea,  —  and  urging  him  by  its  great  and  solemn  motives  to  be 
reconciled  to  God  through  Jesus  Christ.  His  countenance 
showed  strong  emotion,  and  he  shed  tears.  "  I  assure  you, 
sir,"  he  said,  "  I  feel  deeply  the  truth  of  what  you  have  said, 
and  I  hope  the  time  will  come  when  —  " 

I  interrupted  him :  "  If  the  time  has  not  come  now,"  I  re- 
plied, "  there  is  no  reason  to  hope  that  it  ever  will  come.  The 
Spirit  of  God  is  striving  with  you.  He  will  not  always  strive. 
If  you  grieve  him  by  delay,  will  he  not  forsake  you  ?  Your 
heart  is  touched  with  the  force  of  divine  truth.  If  you  let  the 
melting  moment  pass  away,  will  it  return  ?  " 

I  entreated  him  to  "  yield  himself  to  God,"  and  told  him  that 
all  the  feeling  he  had  shown  would  not  give  me  hope  in  his 
behalf,  if  he  delayed  even  for  an  hour. 

I  received  a  letter  from  him  afterward,  stating  that  God 
had  blessed  these  parting  words,  and  had,  he  hoped,  given 
him  grace  from  that  hour  to  set  his  face  toward  heaven. 


694  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 


ROMANISM  OPPOSED  TO  IMPROVEMENT. 

Who  opposeth  and  exalteth  himself  above  all  that  is  called  God,  or  that  is 
worshiped;  so  that  he,  as  God,  sitteth  in  the  temple  of  God,  shewing  himself 
that  he  is  God.  —  2  Thess.  2  :  4. 

IS  there  a  solitary  instance  of  a  Roman  Catholic  country  hav- 
ing prospered  up  to  the  present  age  of  the  world  ?  or  is 
there  a  solitary  instance  of  a  country  where  popes,  cardinals, 
archbishops,  bishops,  friars,  with  their  vicegerents,  form,  de 
facto  and  de  jure,  a  controlling  influence  for  civil  govern- 
ment, having  prospered?  If  no  such  instance  can  be  dis- 
covered, is  it  not  now,  it  might  be  asked,  an  age  of  the  world 
which  seems  to  indicate  the  importance  of  deep  reflection  on 
the  part  of  the  leaders  in  that  doctrine,  as  to  whether  the 
deterioration  is  imbibed  with  the  doctrines  which  follow  in 
their  train,  the  assumed  "  holy  orders  "  of  Popery  which  pro- 
hibit its  priesthood  from  having  wives,  which  sanction  Catho- 
lic nunneries  in  which  numerous  women  are  kept  secluded, 
which  prohibit  freedom  of  speech,  which  sanction  the  shed- 
ding of  human  blood  for  opinion's  sake  in  the  horrible  secret 
cells  of  inquisitions,  which  discourage  education,  and  conse- 
quently encourage  the  miseries,  in  all  their  various  forms, 
that  result  from  the  want  of  education  ? 


EVANGELISM  AGAINST  ROMANISM. 

And  then  shall  that  Wicked  be  revealed,  whom  the  Lord  shall  consume 
witli  the  spirit  of  his  mouth,  and  shall  destroy  with  the  brightness  of  his  com- 
ing. —  2  Thess.  2  :  8. 

AT  the  Fifth  National  Camp  Meeting,  held  at  Milton  Grove, 
Oakington,  Md.,  on  the  day  when  the  dogma  of  infallibility 
was  proclaimed  in  Rome,  the  following  scene  took  place  :  — 

u  It  was  announced  that  at  about  this  time  the  pope's  in- 
fallibility was  being  promulgated  at  Rome.  Rev.  W.  H.  Boole 
arose,  and  said,  (  Brethren,  in  the  faith  of  the  Lord  Jesus 
Christ  and  his  gospel,  and  in  the  midst  of  his  church  here 
assembled,  I  put  this  sixty  acres  of  Maryland  against  all 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  695 

Rome.'     The  interest  was  intense,  while  the  immense  congre- 
gation arose  to  their  feet,  and  with  uplifted  hands  sang,  — 

'  All  hail  the  power  of  Jesus'  name ; 

Let  angels  prostrate  fall ; 
Bring  forth  the  royal  diadem, 
And  crown  him  Lord  of  all. 

*  Let  every  kindfed,  every  tribe, 

On  this  terrestrial  ball, 
To  him  all  majesty  ascribe, 
And  crown  him  Lord  of  all.' 

Then  with  long,  loud,  multitudinous  voices  the   shout  arose, 
1  We  crown  him  !     We  crown  him  !     Hallelujah  ! ; 

"  It  did  seem  that  the  final  day  of  coronation  had  come,  and 
that  the  hosts  above  had  broken  through  the  vail,  not  only  to 
listen,  but  to  join  in  placing  the  crown  on  the  brow  of  Jesus. 
Never  will  that  assembly  forget  that  scene.  It  was  quite  on 
the  verge  of  heaven." 


HIS  DOCTRINE  WAS  OLD  ENOUGH,  BUT  NOT  TRUE. 

Even  him,  whose  coming  is  after  the  working  of  Satan  with  all  power,  and 
signs,  and  lying  wonders,  and  with  all  deceivableness  of  unrighteousness  in 
them  that  perish  ;  because  they  received  not  the  love  of  the  truth,  that  they 
might  be  saved.  —  2  Thess.  2  :  9,  10. 


rPHE  publisher  of  a  Socinian  Universalist  paper  in  Milledge- 
JL  ville,  proposes  to  print  a  book,  in  which  is  proved  from 
Scripture  that  there  is  "no  devil  —  no  hell  —  no  angry  God!" 
Those  who  are  weak  enough  to  believe  the  plain  declaration 
of  the  Bible,  that  God  is  angry  with  the  wicked  every  day, 
will  be  astonished  to  hear  from  Milled  geville  that  sin  no  longer 
taints  the  moral  atmosphere  of  this  world  !  Man  has  ceased 
to  do  evil  !  There  is  no  avenging  God  !  Well  indeed  may 
the  publisher  of  such  news  declare  that  "  it  is  highly  interest- 
ing to  every  living  man  and  woman."  But  why  not  take  the 
last  step  in  this  march  of  "  reason,"  and  say  at  once  there  is 
no  God.  The  existence  of  Jehovah  is  not  more  clearly  taught 
in  the  Bible  than  is  the  future  punishment  of  the  impenitent 
and  unbelieving.  We  are  told  that  "  in  this  work  is  concen- 
trated the  wisdom  of  ages,  of  nations,  and  of  languages,  the 


696  NEW   TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

truth  of  Scripture,  and  the  words  of  God."  The  antiquity 
of  some  of  its  doctrines  will  not  be  disputed,  for  they  were 
preached  in  the  garden  of  Eden.  (See  Gen.  3  :.4.) 


ERROR  BLINDS  THE  MIND. 

But  we  are  bound  to  give  thanks  always  to  God  for  you,  brethren  beloved 
of  the  Lord,  because  God  hath  from  the  beginning  chosen  you  to  salvation 
through  sanctification  of  the  spirit  and  belief  of  the  truth.  —  2  Thess.  2 :  13. 

IN  the  following  incident  the  blinding  effect  of  error  is  very 
apparent :  — 

"  On  one  of  the  latter  days  of  a  return  voyage  across  the 
Atlantic,  we  paced  the  level  deck  beneath  a  brilliant  sun,  and 
on  a  placid  sea,  in  earnest  and  protracted  conversation  with  a 
benevolent  and  accomplished  Englishman.  He  was  sincerely 
religious  in  his  own  way  ;  and  a  part  of  his  confession  was, 
that  every  man's  religion  would  carry  him  to  heaven,  what- 
ever it  might  be  in  itself,  provided  he  sincerely  believed  it. 
He  accounted  it  rank  bigotry  to  doubt  the  safety  of  any  fellow- 
mortal  on  the  ground  of  erroneous  belief.  His  creed,  although 
he  would  probably  have  refused  to  sign  it,  if  he  had  seen  it 
written  out,  was,  '  Safety  lies  in  the  sincerity  of  the  believer, 
without  respect  to  the  truth  of  what  he  believes.'  We  plied 
him  with  the  analogy  of  nature  in  the  form  which  circum- 
stances most  readily  suggested.  '  We  are  here  coursing  over 
the  ocean  at  the  rate  of  three  hundred  miles  a  day.  We  have 
seen  no  land  since  we  left  the  shores  of  America,  nine  days 
ago.  We  are  approaching  the  coast  of  Ireland,  and  will,  no 
doubt,  pass  about  a  quarter  of  a  mile  on  the  safe  side  of  Cape 
Clear.  The  captain  and  his  officers  have  been  carefully  tak- 
ing their  observations,  and  calculating  their  course.  We  have 
confidence  in  their  capacity  and  truth.  But  if  they  should 
commit  a  mistake,  and  cast  up  an  erroneous  reckoning,  whether 
by  their  own  ignorance,  or  by  a  false  figure  in  their  tables,  or 
a  misplaced  mark  on  their  quadrant  —  whether  by  their  own 
fault,  or  the  fault  of  others  whom  they  innocently  trusted  — 
will  the  sincerity  of  their  belief  that  they  are  in  the  right 
course  save  them  and  us  from  the  consequences  of  having 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  697 

deviated  into  a  wrong  one?  If  the  ship  is  directed  right  upon 
a  rocky  shore,  will  the  rocky  shore  not  rend  the  ship  asunder, 
because  the  master  thinks  he  is  in  the  accustomed  track  ? '  Our 
friend  was  silenced,  but  he  was  not  convinced.  Argument 
alone  will  not  remove  such  an  error.  It  is  not  a  clearer  head 
that  is  needed,  but  a  softer  heart.  .When  in  conscious  un- 
worthiness  and  godly  simplicity  we  are  willing  to  have  it  so, 
we  shall  perceive  that  it  is  so.  '  Unto  the  upright  there  ariseth 
light  in  the  darkness.' ;: 

PRAY  FOR  THE  PREACHER. 

Finally,  brethren,  pray  for  us,  that  the  word  of  the  Lord  may  have  free 
course,,  and  be  glorified,  even  as  it  is  with  you.  —  2  Thess.  3  :  1. 

JOHN  LIVINGSTON,  of  Scotland,  once  spent  a  whole  night 
with  a  company  o£  his  brethren  in  prayer  for  God's  bless- 
ing, all  of  them  together  besieging  the  throne  ;  and  the  next 
day,  under  his  sermon,  five  hundred  souls  were  converted. 
All  the  world  has  heard  how  the  audience  of  the  elder  Presi- 
dent Edwards  was  moved  by  his  terrible  sermon  on  "  Sinners 
in  the  Hands  of  an  Angry  God ;  '*  some  of  them  even  grasping- 
hold  of  the  pillars  of  the  sanctuary,  from  feeling  that  their  feet 
were  actually  sliding  into  the  pit.  But  the  secret  of  that  ser- 
mon's power  is  known  to  but  very  few.  Some  Christians  in 
that  vicinity  (Enfield,  Mass.)  had  become  alarmed,  lest,  while 
God  was  blessing  other  places,  he  should  in  anger  pass  them 
by  ;  and  so  they  met  on  the  evening  preceding  the  preaching 
of  that  sermon,  and  spent  the  whole  of  the  night  in  agonizing 
prayer.  —  Dr.  H.  C.  Fish. 

STAND  BY  YOUR  CANDIDATE. 

Now  we  command  you,  brethren,  in  the  name  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ, 
that  ye  withdraw  yourselves  from  every  brother  that  walketh  disorderly,  and 
not  after  the  tradition  which  he  received  of  us.  —  2  Thess.  3  :  6. 

QUITE  a  scene  occurred  in  the  Unitarian  Church  at  Ann 
Arbor  on  Sunday  evening,  February  26,  1871,  which  is 
thus  described :  — 

"  Rev.   C.  H.   Brigham,  the   pastor,  preached   upon  '  The 

88 


698  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

Devil,'  and  defended  that  personage  against  an  assault  pre- 
viously made  upon  him  in  one  of  the  Orthodox  churches  by 
Elder  Knapp,  the  evangelist.  At  the  close  of  Mr.  Brigham's 
able  defense  of  his  Satanic  Majesty,  and  after  the  brief  ad- 
dress of  Mr.  Alcott  of  Boston,  a  stranger  (who  afterward 
turned  out  to  be  Mr.  S.  C.  String-ham)  arose,  stepped  into 
the  broad  aisle,  and  respectfully  asked  permission  to  speak. 
Mr.  Brigham  assented,  and  invited  the  stranger  to  take  the 
platform,  which,  was  respectfully  declined.  He  stated  that  he 
had  attended  nearly  all  the  meetings  which  had  been  held  in 
the  city  for  several  weeks  past,  and  had  taken  part  in  many 
of  them ;  that  three  of  the  evangelical  churches  had  con- 
centrated their  forces  at  the  Presbyterian  house  in  a  union 
effort,  and  that  other  churches  were  engaged  in  extra1  ser- 
vices in  their  respective  places  of  worship;  that  he  regarded 
the  campaign  as  now  fairly  inaugurated,  and  he  was  pleased 
to  see  the  general  interest  manifested.  He,  the  {  stranger,' 
said  it  reminded  him  of  some  of  our  political  campaigns,  when 
there  were  always  two  candidates  in  the  field.  So  it  seemed 
to  be  in  this  instance.  He  remembered  one  such  occasion, 
when  the  excitement  ran  pretty  high,  a  gentleman  passing  his 
neighbor's  residence,  who  was  on  the  opposite  side  of  politics, 
hurrahed  for  his  man.  The  other  indignantly  replied,  l  Hur- 
rah for  the  devil ! '  i  That's  right,'  replied  the  former ;  l  stick 
to  your  candidate,  and  I'll  stick  to  mine.'  '  And  so,'  said  the 
stranger, '  stick  to  your  candidate :  but  I  vote  for  God,  for  Jesus 
Christ,  and  the  Bible  ! '  " 


IDLENESS  THE  ROOT  OF  VICES. 

For  even  when  we  were  with  you,  this  we  commanded  you,  that  if  any 
would  not  work,  neither  should  he  eat.  —  2  Thess.  3  :  10. 

I  REALLY  believe,  young  friends,  that  idleness  is  the  ground 
of  most  vices.  I  am  acquainted  with  certain  young  men 
who  are  running  about  the  streets,  whom  I  see  stepping  out 
of  drinking  saloons.  Some  of  them  are  sons  of  reputable  par- 
ents. I  remember  a  short  time  since  meeting  a  young  man,  one 
of  the  best-dressed '  lads  in  the  city  —  a  young  man  whom  I 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 


699 


met  in  the  omnibus  frequently,  riding  up  and  down  ;  and  I  had 
seen  him  so  often,  and  always  with  such  a  leisurely  air,  that  I 
said  one  day,  calling  him  by  name, — 

•"  What  are  you  doing  ?  " 

"  I  have  not  any  particular  business,"  he  said. 

"  Well,  haven't  you  anything  to  do  ?  " 

"  Nothing  in  particular,"  he  answered. 

It  was  somewhat  impertinent,  but  I  said,  — 

"  Well,  I  suppose  now  you  are  out  of  school,  you  mean  to 
get  into  something  pretty  soon." 

"  Well,  I  have  not  anything  just  now  in  view,"  he  replied. 

To  make  a  long  story  short,  the  poor  fellow  has  not  any- 
thing in  view,  never  did  have  much  of  anything  in  view,  and 
never  will  have  much  of  anything  in  view.  Drifting,  drifting, 
drifting !  Down,  down,  down  1  He  is  not  the  boy  that  he 
was  when  I  conversed  with  him  last  summer.  There  is  noth- 
ing truer,  though  trite,  than  the  adage,  "  An  idle  brain  is  the 
devil's  workshop."  Unless  there  is  an  aim,  a  plan,  a  purpose 
in  a  man,  there  is  depravity,  and  app.etite,  and  lust,  and  pas- 
sion. It  is  idleness  that  fills  our  jails  and  our  prisons.  It  is 
idleness  that  rolls  up  millions  and  millions  of  dollars  for  spirit- 
uous liquors  every  year. 

Industry,  my  young  friends,  is  the  first  law  of  success. 
Some  one  asked  a  man,  who  was  counted  a  great  genius,  to 
define  genius  ;  and  he  said,  "  Genius  is  industry."  Things 
never  come  about  of  themselves.  The  man  who  writes  a 
great  book  never  wrote  it  in  a  day,  or  a  week.  The  man 
who  has  reported  a  great  invention  did  not  combine  wheel 
and  piston  in  an  hour,  or  a  month  ;  but  it  was  the  industry  of 
inquiry,  the  industry  of  application.  Industry  is  the  first  law 
of  success. 


BOYHOOD  OF  DR.  MORRISON. 

But  ye,  brethren,  be  not  wear.y  in  well-doing.  —  2  Thess.  3  :  13. 

FROM  my  boyhood  I  have  heard  of  Dr.  Morrison,  who  trans- 
lated the  Bible  into  Chinese.     Last  year  I  learned  from 
an  aged  gentleman,  who  was  acquainted  with  the   superin- 


700  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

tendent  of  a  Sunday  school  that  Morrison  first .  attended,  the 
following  particulars  :  — 

The  superintendent  saw  a  young  lady  come  into  the  school  j 
he  went  to  her  and  asked  if  she  would  like  to  be  a  teacher. 

"  If  you  have  a  class  for  me,"  she  replied. 

"  I  have  none  ;  but  how  would  you  like  to  go  into  the  street 
and  get  one  ?  " 

At  first  she  hesitated,  but  finally  consented,  went  out,  and 
found  a  company  of  ragged,  dirty  boys,  and  persuaded  them 
to  come  and  form  a  class.  The  superintendent  told  the  boys 
that  if  they  would  come  to  his  house  he  would  give  them  a 
suit  of  clothes. 

Next  Sabbath  she  found  two  there,  but  young  Morrison  was 
missing.  She  sought  him,  found  the  truant,  and  brought  him 
back  with  difficulty.  The  next  Sabbath  it  was  just  so  again, 
and  so  the  third  Sabbath.  After  the  fourth  Sabbath,  at  the 
monthly  meeting,  she  reported  that  she  could  no  longer  feel 
responsible  for  him.  The  superintendent,  however,  exhorted 
her  once  more  to  try  to. save  him.  At  last  she  replied, — 

"  Why,  sir,  the  suit  of  clothes  you  gave  him  is  all  ragged 
and  torn." 

"  Well,  if  you  go,  I'll  give  him  another  suit,  if  he  will  come 
to  school." 

So  next  Sabbath  she  hunted  him  up,  and  induced  her  truant 
boy  to  return  once  more.  He  called  upon  the  superintendent 
the  next  week  and  got  his  suit  of  clothes ;  but  lo !  the  next 
Sabbath  he  was  again  among  the  missing ;  and  so  it  proved 
again  four  weeks  more  :  so  at  the  next  monthly  meeting 
she  reported  how  unsuccessful  she  had  been.  "  I  must  give 
him  up." 

The  superintendent  said,  "  Why,  it  is  hard  to  give  him  up, 
and  let  him  go  to  ruin."  He  exhorted  the  lady  then  to  try 
one  month  longer.  She  begged  to  be  excused.  "  Why,  that 
second  suit  you  gave  him  has  shared  the  fate  of  the  first." 

"  Well,  well,  never  mind ;  if  you  will  go  and  try  it  again,  I 
will  give  him  a  third  suit." 

So  she  went  and  brought  the  boy  back  for  the  three  follow- 
ing Sabbaths  ;  but  on  the  fourth  Sabbath  she  found,  to  her  sur- 
prise, little  Morrison  there  in  his  place  of  his  own  accord ;  and 


NEW   TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  701 

from  that  time  on  he  became  a  most  interesting  scholar.  He 
was  led  to  the  Saviour,  experienced  religion,  made  great  im- 
provement, became  a  mighty  and  useful  missionary  of  the 
Christian  church. 


"VERY  INJUDICIOUS." 

Knowing  this,  that  the  law  is  not  made  for  a  righteous  man,  but  for  the 
lawless  and  disobedient,  for  the  ungodly  and  for  sinners,  for  unholy  and  pro- 
fane, for  murderers  of  fathers  and  murderers  of  mothers,  for  man-slayers,  for 
whoremongers,  for  them  that  defile  themselves  with  mankind,  for  men-stealcrs, 
for  liars,  for  perjured  persons,  and  if  there  be  any  other  thing  that  is  contrary 
to  sound  doctrine.  —  1  Tim.  1  :  9,  10. 


Congregational  Herald  says,  in  his  remarks  before  the 
JL  Congregational  board  of  publication  at  Boston,  lately,  Rev. 
Dr.  Cheever  thus  shows  up  the  doctrine  of  expediency  in 
publishing  the  gospel  :  — 

"  In  the  publication  of  books,  the  principle  and  policy  of 
omitting  a  truth  because  this  or  that  man  objects  to  it,  is  bad. 
One  man's  corn  will  be  on  his  heel,  another's  on  his  toe,  and 
another's  on  the  bottom  of  his  foot  ;  and  if  we  are  to  cut  and 
trim  to  please  each,  we  shall  cut  the  shoe  all  to  pieces.  The 
gospel  is  not  a  great  benevolent  society  —  a  book  of  one  idea. 
It  is  comprehensive.  It  embraces  all  sinners.  It  denounces 
one  class  as  '  man-stealers.'  It  is  a  little  word  ;  why  not  leave 
it  out  of  the  Bible  ?  How  unfair  to  hinder  the  circulation  of 
this  book  by  retaining  such  an  offensive  phrase  ?  The  law, 
says  Timothy,  is  not  made  for  a  righteous  man,  but  for  the  law- 
less and  disobedient  —  for  men-steers.  The  theory  of  expe- 
diency would  expunge  this  passage.  Paul,  again,  would  med- 
dle with  circumcision,  and  stir  up  the  prejudices  of  the  Jews. 
Why  could  he  not  let  that  delicate  subject  alone,  and  stick  to 
preaching  the  gospel?  And  John  —  why  not  let  Herod's  sin 
alone  ?  Why  take  up  the  case  of  the  daughter  of  Herodias, 
and  thunder  and  lighten  at  the  sin  of  dancing?  What  fanati- 
cism in  this  preacher  to  denounce  Herod's  adultery,  when  he 
knew  he  might  enrage  the  sinner  1  Could  he  not  easily  pass 


702  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

by  the  sin  of  adultery,  and  spend  his  zeal  in  preaching  the 
gospel  ?  But  no,  John  could  not  do  this  ;  he  must  declare  the 
whole  truth,  though  he  lost  his  head  by  it.  According  to  the 
expediency  doctrine,  John  was  probably  a  good  man,  but  very 
injudicious." 


LUTHER'S  ARGUMENT  WITH  THE  DEVIL. 

This  is  a  faithful  saying,  and  worthy  of  all  acceptation,  that  Christ  Jesus 
came  into  the  world  to  save  sinners ;  of  whom  I  am  chief.  —  1  Tim.  1 :  15. 

I"  UTHER  says,  "  Once  upon  a  time  the  devil  came  to  me, 
JLJ  and  said,  l  Martin  Luther,  you  are  a  great  sinner,  and  you 
will  be  damned  ! '  '  Stop  !  stop  ! '  said  I ;  '  one  thing  at  a  time  : 
I  am  a  great  sinner,  it  is  true,  though  you  have  no  right  to  tell 
me  of  it.  I  confess  it.  What  next  ?  '  <  Therefore  you  will  be 
damned.'  *  That  is  not  good  reasoning.  It  is  true  I  am  a 
great  sinner,  but  it  is  written,  "  Jesus  Christ  came  to  save 
sinners  ;  "  therefore  I  shall  be  saved.  Now  go  your  way.'  So 
I  cut  the  devil  off  with  his  own  sword,  and  he  went  away 
mourning  because  he  could  not  cast  me  down  by  calling  me 
a  sinner." 

"  If  all  the  sins  which  men  have  done, 

In  thought  or  will,  in  word  or  deed, 
Since  worlds  were  made,  or  time  begun, 

Were  laid  on  one  poor  sinner's  head, 
The  stream  of  Jesus'  precious  blood 
Could  wash  away  the  dreadful  load." 


BOASTING  IN  CHRIST. 

According  to  the  glorious  gospel  of  the  blessed  God  which  was  committed 
to  my  trust.  —  1  Tim.  1:11. 

THE  following  is  one  of  the  most  remarkable   compositions 
ever  published.     It  evinces  an  ingenuity  of  arrangement 
such  as  we  have  never  seen  before.     The  initial  capitals  spell, 
"  My  boast  is  the  glorious  cross  of  Christ."     The  words  in 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  703 

Italics,  when  read  from  top  to  bottom  and  from  bottom  to  top, 
form  the  Lord's  Prayer  complete. 

Make  known  the  gospel  truths,  Our  Father,  King ; 

Yield  us  thy  grace,  dear  Father  from  above  ; 
Bless  us  with  hearts  which  feelingly  can  sing, 

"  Our  life  thou  art  for  ever,  God  of  Love  !  " 
Assuage  our  grief  in  love,  for  Christ,  we  pray, 

Since  the  bright  Prince  of  heaven  and  glory  died, 
Took  all  our  sins,  and  hallowed  the  display, 

Infant  be  ing  first,  a  man,  and  then  was  crucified. 
Stupendous  God  !  thy  grace  and  power  make  known ; 

In  Jesus'  name  let  all  the  world  rejoice. 
New  labor  in  thy  heavenly  kingdom  own  — 

That  blessed  kingdom  for  thy  saints  the  choice. 
How  vile  to  come  to  thee  is  all  our  cry  ! 

Enemies  to  thy  self  and  all  that's  thine, 
Graceless  our  will,  we  live  for  vanity, 

Loathing  thy  very  be  ing,  evil  in  design. 
0  God,  thy  will  be  done  from  earth  to  heaven. 

Reclining  on  the  gospel  let  us  live, 
In  earth  from  sin  deliver  ed  and  forgiven. 

0  !  as  thyself  but  teach  us  to  forgive. 
Unless  it 's  power  temptation  doth  destroy, 

Sure  is  our  fall  into  the  depths  of  woe. 
Carnal  in  mind  we've  not  a  glimpse  of  joy 

Raised  against  heaven :  in  us  hope  can  flow. 
0,  give  us  grace,  and  lead  us  on  thy  way  ; 

Shine  on  us  with  thy  love,  and  give  us  peace  j 
Self  and  this  sin  that  rise  against  us  slay. 

O  !  grant  each  day  our  trespass  es  may  cease. 
Forgive  our  evil  deeds  that  oft  we  do ; 

Convince  us  daily  of  them  to  our  shame ; 
Help  us  with  heave/ily  bread ;  forgive  us,  too, 

Recurrent  lusts,  and  ice  '11  adore  thy  name. 
In  thy  forgive  ness  we  as  saints  can  die, 

Since  for  us  and  our  trespasses,  so  high, 
Thy  Son,  our  Saviour,  bled  on  Calvary. 


704  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 


CHRIST  OUR  MEDIATOR. 

For  there  is  one  God,  and  one  mediator  between  God  and  men,  the  man 
Christ  Jesus.  —  1  Tim.  2  :  5. 

IN  contemplating  the  work  of  our  Redeemer,  we  are  apt  to 
think  of  him  as  he  was  when  upon  earth,  going  about  doing 
good,  hearing  the  voice  of  man's  necessities  and  his  cries  for 
help.  We  remember,  also,  that  Christ  endured  cruel  mockings 
and  scourgings ;  and  that,  after  suffering  death  for  us,  he  arose 
from  the  grave,  and  ascended  to  heaven. 

But  the  great  fact  that  we  have  still  an  interceding  Saviour 
is  too  much  out  of  our  thoughts.  While  we  remember  what 
he  was,  let  us  think  of  what  he  is.  "  He  ever  liveth  to  make 
intercession  for  us  ;  "  as  though  this  was,  so  to  speak,  the  gov- 
erning object  of  his  present  existence.  The  governing  object  of 
a  mere  man  often  becomes  a  power  for  good  or  for  evil.  When 
we  can  say,  "  One  thing  have  I  desired  of  the  Lord ;  that  will 
I  seek  after,"  that  one  thing,  pursued  with  all  our  endeavors, 
is  most  generally  obtained.  Then  what  well-grounded  hopes 
must  cluster  around  the  concentrated  intercessions  of  a  divine 
Saviour  ! 

He  ever  liveth  to  make  intercession  for  us.  While  such  a 
voice  is  lifted  up  for  us,. close  to  the  ear  of  God,  ought  we  not 
to  cherish  the  most  joyful  hope  ? 

Poor,  afflicted  disciple !  When  it  seems  as  though  there ' 
was  no  eye  to  pity,  or  arm  to  save,  remember  that  thy  Re- 
deemer is  praying  for  thee  !  The  same  voice  that  was  lifted 
up  on  Calvary,  saying,  "  Father,  forgive  them  ! "  still  prays 
for  thee.  He  sympathized  with  all  thy  distresses  ;  he  means 
to  save  thee  from  all  thy  sins.  The  good  work  he  has  begun 
in  thee  he  will  not  leave  half  done.  He  is  praying  for  thee  ! 
Never  again  be  discouraged.  Thy  Saviour  is  praying  for 
thee! 


NEW   TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  705 

MODESTY  OF  APPAREL. 

In  like  manner,  also,  that  women  adorn  themselves  in  modest  apparel,  with 
shamefacedness  and  sobriety;  not  with  braided  hair,  or  gold,  or  pearls,  or 
costly  array.  —  1  Tim.  2  :  9. 

THE  best  bred  people  of  every  Christian  country  but  our 
own  avoid  all  personal  display  when  engaged  in  worship 
and  prayer.  Our  churches,  on  the  contrary,  are  made  places 
for  the  exhibition  of  fine  apparel  and  other  costly  and  flaunt- 
ing compliances  with  fashion,  by  those  who  boast  of  superior 
wealth  and  manners.  We  shall  leave  our  gewgawed  devotees 
to  reconcile  humiliation  in  worship  with  vanity  in  dress.  How 
far  fine  clothes  may  affect  the  personal  piety  of  the 'devotee, 
we  do  not  pretend  even  to  conjecture ;  but  we  have  a  very 
decided  opinion  in  regard  to  their,  influence  upon  the  religion 
of  others.  The  fact  is,  that  our  churches  are  so  fluttering 
with  birds  of  fine  feathers,  that  no  sorrow  fowl  will  venture  in. 
It  is  impossible  for  poverty,  in  rags  and  patches,  to  take  its 
seat,  if  it  should  be  so  fortunate  as  to  find  a  place,  by  the  side 
of  wealth  in  brocade  and  broadcloth.  The  church  being  the 
only  place  on  this  side  of  the  grave  designed  for  the  rich  and 
the  poor  to  meet  together  in  equal  humility  before  God,  it 
certainly  should  always  be  kept  free  to  all.  It  is  so  in  most 
of  the  churches  of  Europe,  where  the  beggar,  in  rags  and 
wretchedness,  and  the  wealthiest  and  most  eminent,  whose 
appropriate  sobriety  of  dress  leaves  them  without  mark  of 
external  distinction,  kneel  down  together,  equalized  by  a 
common  humiliation,  before  the  only  Supreme  Being.  The 
adoption  of  a  more  simple  attire  for  church,  on  the  part  of  the 
rich  in  this  country,  would  have  the  effect,  certainly  not  of 
diminishing  their  own  personal  piety,  but  probably  of  increas- 
ing the  disposition  for  religious  observances  on  the  part  of  the 
poor. 

MINISTERIAL  PRIDE. 

Not  a  novice,  lest  being  lifted  up  with  pride  he  fall  into  the  condemnation 
of  the  devil.  —  1  Tim.  3  :  6. 


0 


NE  of  the  most  ruinous  and  palpable  sins  is  pride.     A  sin 
this  which  has  too  much  interest  in  the  best,  but  is  more 
89 


706  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

hateful  and  inexcusable  in  us  than  in  any  ;  yet  it  is  so  preva- 
lent in  some  of  us  that  it  indites  our  discourses  ;  it  chooses 
our  company  •  it  forms  our  countenances  ;  it  puts  the  accents 
and  emphasis  upon  our  words  ;  when  we  reasonlt  is  the  de- 
terminer and  exciter  of  our  cogitations  ;  it  fills  some  men's 
minds  with  aspiring  thoughts,  desires,  and  designs  ;  it  pos- 
sesses them  with  envious  and  bitter  thoughts  against  those 
who  stand  in  their  light,  or  by  any  means  eclipse  their  glory, 
or  hinder  the  progress  of  their  idolized  reputation.  0,  what 
a  constant  companion,  what  a  tyrannical  commander,  what  a 
sly,  subtle,  and  insinuating  enemy,  is  pride !  It  goes  with  men 
to  the  draper,  the  mercer,  arid  the  tailor;  it  chooses  them  their 
cloth,  their  trimming,  and  their  fashion,  and  dresses  them  in 
the  morning.  Fewer  ministers  would  follow  the  fashion  in 
hair  and  habit  were  it  not  for  the  influence  of  this  imperious 
vice  ;  and  I  would  that  were  all ;  but,  alas  !  how  often  it  goes 
with  us  to  our  studies,  and  there  sits  with  us  and  does  our 
work  !  How  often  does  it  choose  our  subject,  and  our  words, 
and  ornaments  !  God  bids  us  be  as  plain  as  we  can,  that  we 
may  inform  the  ignorant,  and  as  convincing  and  serious  as  we 
can,  in  order  to  melt  and  change  the  unchanged  hearts  ;  but 
pride  stands  by  and  contradicts  all.  It  puts  in  toys  and 
trifles,  and  under  pretense  of  laudable  ornaments,  dishonors 
our  sermons  with  childish  conceits.  It  takes  off  the  edge  and 
life  of  all  our  teaching,  under  pretense  of  filing  off  the  rough- 
ness and  superfluity.  If  we  .have  a  plain  and  cutting  pas- 
sage, it  throws  it  away  as  rustical  or  ungraceful.  When  God 
charges  us  to  deal  with  men  as  for  their  lives,  and  beseech  them 
with  all  the  earnestness  we  are  able,  this  cursed. sin  controls 
all,  and  condemns  the  holy  commands  of  God,  calls  our  most 
necessary  duty  madness,  and  says  to  us,  "  What !  will  you 
make  people  think  you  are  mad  ?  Will  you  make  them  say  you 
rage  or  rave  ?  Can  not  you  speak  soberly  and  moderately  ?  '' 
Thus  does  pride  make  men's  sermons  ;  and  what  pride  makes, 
the  devil  makes  ;  and  what  sermons  the  devil  will  make,  and  to 
what  end,  we  may  easily  conjecture.  Though  the  matter  be 
of  God,  yet,  if  the  dress,  and  manner,  and  end  be  from  Satan, 
we  have  no  great  reason  to  expect  success. 

And  when  pride  has  made  the  sermon,  it  goes  with  them 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  707 

into  the  pulpit ;  it  forms  their  tone,  animates  them  in  their 
delivery,  takes  them  off  from  that  which  may  be  displeasing, 
however  necessary,  and  sets  them  in  pursuit  of  vain  applause; 
and  the  sum  6f  all  this  is,  that  it  makes  men,  both  in. studying 
and  preaching,  seek  themselves  and  deny  God,  when  they 
.should  seek  God's  glory  and  deny  themselves.  When  they 
should  ask,  "  What  shall  I  sa}7,  and  how  shall  I  say  it  to  please 
God  best  and  do  most  good  ? "  it  makes  them  ask,  "  What 
shall  I  say,  and  how  shall  I  deliver  it  to  be  thought  a  learned 
and  able  preacher,  and  to  be  applauded  by  all  who  hear  me  ?  " 
When  the  sermon  is  over,  pride  goes  home  with  them,  and 
makes  them  more  eager  to  know  whether  they  were  applauded 
than  whether  they  prevailed  with  any  for  the  saving  of  their 
souls.  They  could  find  it  in  their  hearts,  but  for  shame,  to  ask 
folks  how  they  liked  them.  —  Rev.  Richard  Baxter. 


"SEEN  OF  ANGELS." 

And  without  controversy  great  is  the  mystery  of  godliness.  God  was  man- 
ifest in  the  flesh,  justified  in  the  Spirit,  seen  of  angels,  preached  unto  the 
Gentiles,  believed  on  in  the  world,  received  up  into  glory.  —  1  Tim.  3  :  16. 

ANGELS  of  mercy !  you  saw  him  leave  his  seat  of  glory 
above,  and  descend  to  the  meanest  and  most  wretched  of 
his  worlds.  Ye  were  in  attendance  when  he  stooped  from  the 
height  of  his  power,  and  was  born  in  a  stable  at  Bethlehem  ! 
Ye  were  with  him  in  the  vast  howling  wilderness  when  the 
dark  hour  of  temptation  had  passed  and  he  was  left  alone.  Ye 
were  with  him  in  his  retirements,  in  the  secret  and  fervent 
pouring  forth  of  prayer,  such  as  never  man  prayed.  Ye  were 
with  him  in  his  hour  of  desertion  and  mocking,  of  scourging 
and  death  !  And  ye  were  with  him  in  the  sepulcher,  and  ye 
saw  the  stone  rolled  from  the  door,  the  guard  set,  and  ye 
heard  the  last  call  answered,  and  the  last  watchword  given. 
Angels  of  glory  !  ye  saw  him  burst  the  bonds  of  the  tomb, 
and  rise  triumphant !  Ye  saw  him  chain  to  his  infernal  den 
the  king  of  hell,  and  seize  the  keys  of  death  and  the  pit ! 
Through  your  shining  ranks  he  passed,  on  his  way  to  his 
Father's  mansions  !  Ye  have  seen  that  glorified  body  which 


708  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

was  pierced  for  man  !  Ye  have  bowed  before  him  in  heaven  ! 
Ye  see  him  now  above,  all  lovely  as  he  is,  and  cast  your 
crowns  before  his  throne,  and  give  him  blessing,  and  honor, 
and  glory,  and  praise,  and  power,  for  ever  and  ever. 

0,  then,  for  your  tongues  to  describe  his  sufferings  !     0  for 
your  harps  to  celebrate  his  glories  1 


JESUITICAL  HYPOCRISY. 

Speaking  lies  in  hypocrisy ;  having  their  conscience  seared  with  a  hot  iron ; 
forbidding  to  marry,  and  commanding  to  abstain  from  meats,  which  God  hath 
created  to  be  received  with  thanksgiving  of  them  which  believe  and  know  the 
truth.  —  1  Tim.  4  :  2,  3. 

IT  is  well  known  that  for  many  years  there  has  been  a  strong 
leaning  in  the  Church  of  England  toward  Roman  Catholi- 
cism, and  more  within  a  few  years  past  than  formerly.  The 
following  incident,  as  given  by  Rev.  Dr.  Jacoby,  helps  largely 
to  explain  the  cause  of  this  going  backward.  It  is  dishonora- 
ble, in  war,  to  sail  under  an  enemy's  flag,  or  wear  the  enemy's 
uniform  to  deceive.  It  is  unchristian  and  hypocritical  .to 
sanction  false  pretenses  in  appearing  to  be  Protestants,  and 
filling  Protestant  pulpits,  the  more  effectually  to  deceive.  But 
Rome  has  no  conscience. 

In  December,  1871,  a  distinguished  clergyman  died  in  Eng- 
land. He  had  appointed  his  brother,  a  British  admiral,  and 
his  friend,  also  an  admiral,  as  executors  of  his  will.  These 
two  gentlemen  were  not  able  to  meet  to  finish  this  business 
until  the  summer  of  1872.  They  found  among  the  papers  of 
the  deceased  a  well-sealed  parcel,  on  which  was  written,  "  To 
be  destroyed  without  opening."  The  two  gentlemen  consulted 
what  to  do  in  this  matter,  and  came  to  the  conclusion  that 
they,  as  executors,  should  open  this  parcel.  And  what  did  it 
contain  ?  A  dispensation  from  the  pope,  by  which  the  de- 
ceased had  permission  to  officiate  as  minister  in  the  Church 
of  England,  though  he  had  become  not  only  a  member,  but 
also  a  priest,  in  the  Church  of  Rome.  The  same  parcel  con- 
tained also  a  list  of  names  of  other  clergymen  of  the  Church 
of  England  in  the  neighborhood,  who  had  received  the  same 


NEW   TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  709 

dispensation,  and  on  whose  support  and  sympathy  the  de- 
ceased could  trust. 

That  was  a  heavy  blow  for  these  upright  seamen,  and  they 
found  it  their  duty  to  deliver  the  parcel  to  the  bishop  of  the 
diocese  in  which  these  wolves  resided.  It  is  to  be  feared  that 
he  was  not  much  surprised. 

Does  not  the  Roman  Church  openly  say,  "  Let  us  do  evil 
that  good  may  come  "  ?  But  what  says  the  apostle  ?  "  Whose 
damnation  is  just."  -  —  Dr.  Jacoby. 


TRUST  IN  GOD. 

For  therefore  we  both  labor  and  suffer  reproach,  because  we  trust  in  the 
living  God,  who  is  the  Saviour  of  all  men,  specially  of  those  that  believe.  — 
1  Tim.  4  :  10. 

SOME  years  ago,  a  pious  class  leader  in  the  Methodist  con- 
nection narrated  to  the   writer  the  following  interposition 
of  divine  Providence.     I  give  the  whole  of  it  as  correctly  as 
my  memory  will  admit. 

"Owing  to  a  severe  depression  in  trade,  I  was,  some  time 
since,  greatly  reduced  in  my  circumstances.  The  s*tate  of  my 
affairs  affected  both  my  mind  and  my  body  to  such  a  degree 
that  my  health  suffered  a  serious  injury.  One  day,  when 
I  went  into  my  shop  to  work,  I  felt  so  remarkably  feeble, 
owing  to  the  want  of  food,  that  I  could  not  proceed  in  busi- 
ness ;  I  therefore  returned  to  my  house.  After  a  short  pause, 
I  said  to  my  wife,  '  What  have  we  in  the  house  to  eat  ? '  She 
instantly  replied,  '  All  that  you  see  upon  the  table.'  I  looked 
—  there  was  nothing.  The  poor  woman  felt  the  weight  of 
our  trying  condition,  but  it  is  to  be  feared  that  she  had  not 
learned  with  submission  to  make  a  sanctified  use  of  it.  '  James,' 
said  the  impatient  female,  l  you  have,  for  a  considerable  period 
of  time,  made  a  profession  of  religion ;  but  I  fear  you  are  a 
hypocrite.  If  you  were  sincere,  the  Lord  would  not  leave 
you  to  suffer  as  you  do.'  This  was  speaking  daggers  to  my 
heart.  While  my  mind  was  engaged  in  agitating  the  question, 
I  very  abruptly  said,  '  Stand  still,  and  see  the  salvation  of 
God.'  But  no  sooner  had  I  uttered  this  sentence,  than  my 


710  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

feelings  were  roused,  and  my  surprise  greatly  excited  at  my 
temerity.  Where,  thought  I,  can  immediate  help  be  obtained  ? 
I  fear  that  I  have  said  too  much.  My  dullness,  however,  was 
soon  reproved.  A  person  suddenly  opened  the  door  and  in- 
quired, '  James,  have  you  such  a  number  of  pipes  on  hand  ? ' 
1  No,  sir.'  '  Can  you  make  me  that  quantity  in  the  course  of  a 
few  days  ? '  I  answered  in  the  affirmative.  t  Then,'  said  he, 
1  in  order  to  secure  them,  I  will  pay  you  down  the  money.' 
He  instantly  handed  me  the  sum  ;  I  went  and  purchased  food, 
and,  blessed  be  God,  I  have  never  wanted  bread  since  ! " 


PURITY  THE  BEAUTY  OF  THE  SOUL. 

Let  no  man  despise  thy  youth ;  but  be  thou  an  example  of  the  believers,  in 
word,  in  conversation,  in  charity,  in  spirit,  in  faith,  in  purity.  —  1  Tim.  4 :  12. 

THE  beauty  that  sets  off  a  soul  in  God's  eye  is  purity  of 
heart.  The  most  beautiful  person  is  but  a  spiritual  leper 
till  he  becomes  pure  in  heart.  God  is  pleased  with  the  pure 
heart,  for  he  sees  his  own  picture  drawn  there.  Holiness  is  a 
beam  of  God  ;  it  is  the  angels'  glory ;  they  are  pure  virgin 
spirits.  Take  away  purity  from  an  angel,  and  he  is  no  more 
an  angel,  but  a  devil.  Those  who  are  pure  in  heart  have  the 
angels'  glory  shining  in  them ;  they  have  the  embroidery  and 
workmanship  of  the  Holy  Ghost  upon  them.  The  pure  heart 
is  God's  paradise,  where  he  delights  to  walk  ;  it  is  his  lesser 
heaven.  The  dove  delights  in  the  purest  air ;  the  Holy  Ghost, 
who  descended  in  the  likeness  of  a  dove,  delights  in  the  purest 
soul.  God  saith  of  the  pure  in  heart  as  of  Sihon  (Psalm  132  : 
14),  "  This  is  my  rest  for  ever  ;  here  will  I  dwell."  God  loves 
the  holy  soul ;  the  pure  in  heart  is  Christ's  bride,  decked  and 
bespangled  with  the  jewels  of  holiness.  "  Thou  hast  ravished 
my  heart  with  one  of  thine  eyes."  (Cant.  4:9.)  Thine  eyes, — 
that  is,  thy  graces,  —  these  as  a  chain  of  pearl  have  drawn  my 
heart  to  thee.  Of  all  hearts  God  loves  the  pure  heart  best. 
Thou  who  dressest  thyself  by  the  glass  of  the  word,  and  adorn- 
est  the  hidden  man  of  thy  heart,  art  most  precious  in  God's 
eyes.  Though  thou  mayest  be  blear-eyed  as  Leah,  or  lame  as 
Barzillai,  yet,  being  pure  in  heart,  thou  art  the  mirror  of 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  7U 

beauty,  and  inayest  say,  "  Yet  shall  I  be  glorious  in  the  eyes 
of  the  Lord."  How  may  this  raise  the  esteem  of  purity  ! 
This  is  a  beauty  which  never  fades,  and  which  makes  God 
himself  delighted  with  us. 


DOCTRINAL  PREACHING. 

Till  I  come  give  attendance  to  reading,  to  exhortation,  to  doctrine.  — 
1  Tim.  4  :  13. 

IN  these  days  I  fear  that  good,  sound,  old-fashioned,  stout, 
doctrinal  preaching  is  going  out  of  vogue.  I  beg  of  you, 
do  not  yield  to  this  unhappy  drift  —  no,  not  for  an  hour ! 
Sound  doctrine  is  the  backbone  of  truly  successful  preaching. 
The  mightiest  discourses  that  have  shaken  vast  assemblies, 
and  sent  sinners  trembling  to  the  cross  of  Christ,  have  been 
vitalized  by  some  stupendous  "  doctrina"  or  revealed  teaching. 
of  Almighty  God.  My  brilliant  neighbor,  Beecher,  has  un- 
wisely said  that  "  doctrine  is  only  the  skin  of  truth  set  up  and 
stuffed. "  Just  imagine  St.  Paul  writing  to  Timothy,  "  Give 
attendance  to  —  the  stuffed  skin  of  truth  I  " 

If  you  are  ever  dry,  never  be  dry  in  your  doqtrinal  ser- 
mons. Always  preach  doctrine  with  intense  emotion.  Heat 
your  argument  red  hot.  Introduce  all  the  lively  and  pic- 
turesque illustrations  you  can  into  your  doctrinal  discourses;  it 
will  make  them  interesting,  and  the  truth  will  become  picto- 
rial to  the  mind's  eye  and  to  the  memory.  This  was  our 
Saviour's  method.  What  a  matchless  discourse  on  the  doctrine, 
of  God's  mercy  to  the  sinner  is  the  parable  of  the  Prodigal 
Son !  A  good  minister  is  nourished  in  the  words  of  faith  and 
of  good  doctrine.  —  Rev.  Dr.  Cuyler. 


MEDITATION  AS  A  MORAL  DUTY. 

Meditate  upon  these  things.  —  1  Tim.  4 :  15. 

CjCRIPTURE  truth  becomes  more  profitable  by  meditation, 
kj  The  promises  are  flowers,  growing  in  the  paradise  of 
Scripture  ;  meditation,  like  the  bee,  sucks  out  the  sweetness 


7 1 2  NEW   TESTAMENT  ILL USTRA  TIONS. 

of  them.  The  promises  are  of  no  use  or  comfort  to  us  till 
they  are  meditated  upon.  For  as  the  roses  hanging  in  the 
garden  may  give  a  fragrant  perfume,  yet  their  sweet  water 
is  distilled  only  by  the  fire,  so  the  promises  are  sweet  in 
reading  over,  but  the  water  of  these  roses  —  the  spirit  and 
quintessence  of  the  promises  —  is  distilled  into  the  soul  only 
by  meditation.  The  incense,  when  it  is  pounded  and  beaten, 
smells  sweetest.  Meditating  on  a  promise,  like  the  beating 
of  the  incense,  makes  it  most  odoriferous  and  pleasant.  The 
promises  may  be  compared  to  a  golden  mine,  which  then  only 
enricheth  when  the  gold  is  dug  out.  By  holy  meditation  we 
dig  out  that  spiritual  gold  which  lies  hid  in  the  mine  of  the 
promise,  and  so  we  come  to  be  enriched.  Cardan  saith, 
"  There  is  no  precious  stone  but  hath  some  hidden  virtue  in 
it."  The}7  are  called  "  precious  promises."  (2  Peter  1:4.) 
When  they  are  applied  by  meditation,  then  their  virtue  ap- 
pears, and  they  become  precious  indeed. — Wcctson's  Saints' 
Spiritual  Delight,  1657. 


THEOLOGICAL  PREACHING. 

Take  heed  unto  thyself,  and  unto  the  doctrine ;  continue  in  them ;  for  in 
doing  this  thou  shalt  both  save  thyself  and  them  that  hear  thee.  —  1  Tim.  4  :  1G. 

THE  conviction  has  been  gaining  ground  of  late,  with  some 
at  least,  that  a  more  decided  theological  element  would  be 
a  source  of  power  in  the  pulpit.  The  matter  is,  to  say  the 
least,  worthy  of  serious  consideration.  The  almost  entire 
absence  of  doctrinal  preaching  is  one  of  the  most  noticeable 
features  of  the  modern  pulpit.  One  seldom  hears  in  our 
churches  what  might,  with  any  propriety,  be  called  a  theo- 
logical discourse.  The  reasons  we  will  not  undertake  to 
give,  but  the  fact  is  undeniable.  It  is  certainly  a  question 
whether  this  deficiency  of  doctrinal  preaching  is  a  source  of 
weakness  or  of  strength  to  the  pulpit — whether  we  gain  in 
point  of  attractiveness  as  much  as  we  lose  in  real  power  by 
this  course. 

Many  reasons  might  be  mentioned  in  favor  of  giving  to  the 
discourses  of  the  pulpit  a  more  decidedly  theological  character; 


NEW   TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  713 

as,  e.  g.,  that  the  study  of  theological  truth  elevates  and  en- 
larges the  mind  of  the  preacher,  and  so  contributes  to  his 
power  and  efficiency  in  the  pulpit ;  that  it  contributes  to 
variety  in  his  pulpit  discourse,  by  introducing  a  wider  -range 
of  subjects,  each  requiring  distinct  and  definite  treatment ; 
that  it  instructs  and  edifies  the  hearers  as  no  other  method  of 
preaching  can  so  fully  do. 

To  urge  these  reasons,  however,  there  is  one  consideration 
not  so  obvious,  nor  so  likety  to  be  admitted,  to  which  we  would 
call  attention ;  and  that  is,  that  theological  preaching  —  by 
which  we  mean  the  discussion  of  the  leading  doctrines  of 
the  Christian  faith  —  is,  when  rightly  and  Avell  done,  one  of  the 
surest  ways  of  interesting  the  audience.  It  gives  people  some- 
thing to  think  of —  something  definite  and  tangible  —  some- 
thing for  them  to  believe  or  disbelieve  :  in  either  case,  their 
attention  is  aroused  and  their  interest  awakened.  It  is  a 
great  mistake  to  suppose  that  people  will  be  interested  only 
in  flashy  and  sensational  discourses,  or  in  goodish  common- 
places of  pulpit  exhortation,  which  some  sharp  critic  has  very 
aptly  styled  "  gospel  and  water." 


DEATH  OF  A  BACKSLIDER. 

Having  damnation,  because  they  have  cast  off  their  first  faith.  —  1  Tim.  5  :  12. 

AS  I  approached  the  house  I  heard  the  voice  of  lamentation. 
I  entered.  It  was  the  voice  of  my  friend.  Long  had  we 
been  acquainted  with  each  other.  Often  had  we  walked  to- 
gether to  the  house  of  God  in  years  which  had  passed  by. 
Often  in  the  assembly  of  the  saints  had  our  voices  been  united 
in  songs  of  praise.  We  had  taken  sweet  counsel  together ; 
our  joys  and  our  hopes  had  once  been  one.  But  since  those 
days  she  had  been  united  to  a  man  of  the  world.  She  Jhad 
been  placed  in  circumstances  unfriendly  to  religion.  She  had 
lost  the  pearl  of  great  price,  and  had  been  seeking  happiness 
here  on  earth.  But  her  worldly  prospects  were  now  suddenly 
blighted,  and  a  dark  cloud  hung  between  her  and  a  throne  of 
grace.  She  was  arrested  by  a  fatal  disease,  and  exclaimed, 
"  I  must  die." 

90 


714  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

I  approached  her  bedside,  and  inquired  how  she  was. 

She  replied,  "  0,  my  distress  of  body,  no  one  can  tell ;  but 
that  is  nothing  compared  to  my  distress  of  mind.  Once  I  en- 
joyed* a  day  of  grace  ;  a  Saviour's  love  was  in  my  heart.  That 
day  is  gone,  for  ever  gone.  Once  I  was  united  with  Chris- 
tian people  ;  then,  if  I  had  pi'oved  faithful,  I  might  have  been 
saved  ;  but  now  salvation  is  beyond  my  reach.  I  am  just  go- 
ing into  a  world  of  spirits.  I  have  wandered  from  God,  and 
from  God  I  must  now  be  driven.  0  that  God  would  give  me 
but  one  year  more  !  I  would  repent  and  do  my  first  works 
again.  But  that  favor  I  can  not  have.  One  month,  or  even  a 
week,  might  I  stay  !  0,  how  earnestly  would  I  seek  his  mercy 
once  more  !  But  no  !  that  favor  is  denied  me  !  not  one-  day 
can  I  stay  —  I  must  die.  If  I  look  upward,  I  see  an  angry 
God.  If  I  look  downward,  I  see  a  yawning  hell  ready  to  re- 
ceive me.  Where,  0,  where  shall  I  flee  from  my  much  offend- 
ed God?" 

I  staid  with  her  several  hours  to  witness  her  sad  and  de- 
sponding lamentations  ;  but  my  endeavors  to  comfort  her  dis- 
tressed mind  were  all  in  vain.  She  rolled  from  side  to  side  in 
deepest  agony,  as  though  the  pains  of  hell  had  seized  upon 
her.  When  about  to  retire,  I  asked  her  if  I  should  call  on 
some  one  to  pray  with  her ;  she  answered,  "  Yes."  I  hastened 
to  the  house  of  the  man  of  God,  to  bear  her  last  request.  He 
went ;  but  it  was  too  late.  Stupidly  she  rolled  her  eyes,  sunk 
deep  in  death ;  and  ere  the  sun  went  down,  she  sighed  and 
breathed  her  last. 


SCANDAL. 

And  withal  they  learn  to  be  idle,  wandering  about  from  house  to  house ; 
and  not  only  idle,  but  tattlers  also,  and  busybodies,  speaking  things  which  they 
ought  not.  —  1  Tim,.  5  :  13. 

THE  story  is  told  of  a  woman  who  freely  used  her  tongue  to 
the  scandal  of  others,  and  made  a  confession  to  the  priest 
of  what  she  had  done.     He  gave  her  a  ripe  thistle  top,  and 
told  her  to  go  out  in  various  directions  and  scatter  the  seeds 
one  by  one.     Wondering  at  the  penance,  she  obeyed,  and  then 


NEW   TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 


715 


returned  and  told  her  confessor.  To  her  amazement,  he  bade 
her  go  back  and  gather  the  scattered  seeds ;  and  when  she 
objected  that  it  would  be  impossible,  he  replied  that  it  would 
be  still  more  difficult  to  gather -up  and  destroy  all  the  evil 
reports  which  she  had  circulated  about  others.  Any  thought- 
less, careless  child  can  scatter  a  handful  of  thistle  seed  before 
the  wind  in  a  moment,  but  the  strongest  and  wisest  man  can 
not  gather  them  again. 


DOCTRINAL  AND  PRACTICAL  PREACHING. 

Let  the  elders  that  rule  well  be  counted  worthy  of  double  honor,  especially 
they  who  labor  in  the  word  and  doctrine.  —  1  Tim.  5  :  17. 

IN  Dr.  Pond's  recent  address  to  the  graduating  class  of  the 
Bangor  Theological  Seminary,  we  find  the  following  truth- 
ful paragraph  under  the  designation  of  "  Good  Preachers : j; 

"  First  of  all,  then,  let  me  say,  that  we  wish  you  to  become 
good  preachers;  and  this,  you  know,  involves  a  great  deal. 
What  is  good  preaching  ?  Good  preaching  is  scriptural 
preaching ;  including,  as  to  the  matter  of  it,  both  the  doctri- 
nal and  -the  practical,  and  each  in  due  method  and  propor- 
tion. A  doctrinal  sermon,  with  no  practical  application,  is  a 
skeleton  without  flesh,  or  rather  a  basis  without  superstruc- 
ture. A  practical  sermon,  without  doctrine,  is  a  superstructure 
without  a  base  ;  a  soap-bubble,  a  will-of- the -wisp,  beautiful  it 
may  be  to  the  sight,  but  destined  soon  to  disappear,  and  leave 
not  a  trace  behind.  Every  direction  or  exhortation  of  the 
Bible  is  based  upon  some  doctrine,  and  has  no  application  or 
meaning  without  it.  l  Flee  from  the  wrath  to  come.'  l  Be- 
lieve on  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  and  thou  shalt  be  saved.' 
1  Repent  and  be  converted,  that  your  sins  may  be  blotted 
out.'  How  much  important  doctrine  is  involved  in  exhorta- 
tions such  as  these  !  And  how  can  the  exhortations  be  ap- 
plied and  enforced,  so  as  to  leave  an  abiding  impression,  unless 
the  implied  doctrines  are  believed  and  inculcated  ?  " 


716  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

FAITHFUL  RESISTANCE  TO  EVIL. 

Them  that  sin  rebuke  before  all,  that  others  also  may  fear.  —  1  Tim.  5  :  20. 

MORE  tlian  forty  years  ago,  a  young  man  was  preceptor  of 
Bradford  Academy  who  had  just  become  interested  in 
religion.  He  was  invited  to  a  social  party,  to  spend  the  even- 
ing. After  tea  the  tables  were  prepared  for  card-playing. 
This  young  man  was  very  much  tried  when  he  saw  this  prepa- 
ration. Several  of  the  company  were  young  ladies  who  were 
members  of  his  school,  and  he  felt  a  responsibility  respecting 
the  influence  which  he  should  exert  upon  them.  He  made  up 
his  mind  that  he^would  not  engage  in  the  amusement,  and  re- 
tired to  another  room.  The  young  ladies  asked,  "  Where  it* 
the  preceptor  ?  "  They  all  gathered  around  him,  and  entreat- 
ed him  to  join  them  in  card-playing.  He  told  them  he  could 
not,  and  gave  them  his  reasons.  This  afforded  him  an  oppor- 
tunity to  enter  into  a  free  conversation  on  the  subject  of  per- 
sonal religion.  Among  the  young  ladies  present  that  evening 
was  Harriet  Atwood,  who  was  afterward  Harriet  Newell,  of 
the  first  company  of  missionaries  who  went  from  this  country. 

The  faithful  conversation  of  that  young  man  resulted  in  her 
conversion.  Through  the  blessing  of  God,  an  entire  revolu- 
tion was  wrought  in  her  feelings  and  purposes. 

She  devoted  herself  to  preaching  the  gospel  to  the  heathen. 
She  had  it  in  her  heart  to  do  this  work,  but  lived  only  to  come 
in  sight  of  heathen  land.  Her  Memoir,  prepared  and  published 
by  Dr.  Woods,  has  done  a  great  work.  She,  being  dead,  yet 
speaketh.  Hundreds  have  been  baptized  into  her  name,  as  well 
as  imbued  with  her  spirit.  Her  example  will  live,  and  con- 
tinue to  exert  an  influence,  until  earth's  remotest  nations  shall 
have  learned  Messiah's  name. 

The  young  man  who  took  this  stand  has  been  a  successful 
pastor  in  New  Hampshire  more  than  forty  years.  The  good 
accomplished  by  the  decided  stand  which  he  took  that  night 
will  never  be  fully  understood  until  the  secrets  of  all  hearts 
shall  be  revealed.  How  important  that  Christians  be  decided  ! 


NtiW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  717 


HANDSOMELY  DECLINED. 

Lay  hands  suddenly  on  no  man,  neither  be  partaker  of  other  men's  sins ; 
keep  thyself  pure.  —  1  Tim.  5  :  22. 

THE  late  Bishop  Doane,  of  New  Jersey,  was  strongly  opposed 
to  temperance,  and  his  sideboard  and  tables  were  loaded 
with  brandy,  wine,  &c. 

On  one  occasion  Rev.  Mr.  Perkins,  of  the  Sons  of  Temper- 
ance, dined  with  the  bishop,  who,  pouring  out  a  glass  of  wine, 
desired  him  to  drink  with  him. 

"  Can't  do  it,  bishop  :  '  Wine  is  a  mocker.'  ; 

"  Take  a  glass  of  brandy,  then." 

"  Can't  do  it,  bishop :  '  Strong  drink  is  raging.'  r 

By  this  time  the  bishop,  becoming  somewhat  restive  and 
excited,  remarked  to  Mr.  Perkins,  — 

"  You'll  pass  the  decanter  to  the  gentleman  next  to  you." 

"  No,  bishop,  I  can't  do  that :  '  Woe  unto  him  that  putteth 
the  bottle  to  his  neighbor's  lips.'  " 


EXPOSITORY  PREACHING. 

If  any  man  teach  otherwise,  and  consent  not  to  wholesome  words,  even  the 
words  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  and  to  the  doctrine  which  is  according  to 
godliness.  —  1  Tim.  6  :  3. 

NEXT  to  the  baptism  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  which  itself  can  be 
anticipated  only  in  connection  with  the  faithful  proclama- 
tion of  the  truth,  we  regard  expository  preaching  as  the  great 
need  of  the  church.  Not  more  government,  not  a  more  elabo- 
rate ritual,  not  better  music,  but  more  truth,  is  what  we  want 
—  the  truth  of  God,  as  such  in  all  its  native  power,  directness, 
and  simplicity,  in  all  its  divine  fullness  and  proportion,  pressed 
home  upon  the  hearts  and  consciences  of  men.  Textual  and 
topical  preaching  has  its  advantages,  but  its  exclusive  adop- 
tion has  been  a  great  injury  to  the  church.  It  has  led  to 
forms  of  address  by  which  the  church  has  for  a  while  been 
stimulated,  leading  in  the  end,  however,  to  a  reactionary  lan- 
guor, decay,  and  death.  The  word  of  God  is  the  divinely- 


718  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

appointed  food  of  souls.  They  must  have  a  bountiful  supply, 
not  once  or  twice  a  week,  the  poor  dribblet  of  a  verse,  ham-1 
me  red  out  into  platitudes,  thin  and  unsubstantial,  but  whole 
paragraphs  or  chapters,  their  contents  carefully  analyzed,  and 
presented  in  all  their  native  richness. 


«  BE  NOT  BURDENED. 

For  we  brought  nothing  into  this  Avorld,  and  it  is  certain  we  can  carry 
nothing  out ;  and  having  food  and  raiment,  let  us  be  therewith  content.  — 
1  Tim.  6:7,8. 

VHEN  Cortez  entered  Mexico,  he  believed  the  conquest 
of  the  city  easj7.  •  But  on  the  night  of  July  7,  1620,  he 
found  it  much  too  hot  for  him.  A  forced  escape,  sword  in 
hand,  through  a  narrow  path,  beset  on  either  side  by  great 
numbers  of  infuriated  natives,  was  the  only  one  possible.  Im- 
mense treasures,  for  which  he  had  ventured  into  his  perilous 
condition,  lay  about  him.  Notwithstanding  the  midnight  trial 
of  nimble  feet  and  skillful  sword  arms,  some  of  his  followers 
began  to  load  themselves  with  gold  and  silver.  "  He  travels 
safest  who  travels  lightest !  "  exclaimed  the  commander.  But 
the  Spaniards,  being  willing,  as  the  majority  of  men  of  every 
age  have  been,  to  run  great  risks  for  gold,  went  forth  to  the 
conflict  with  the  fatal  encumbrance.  About  half  of  them 
perished  by  the  way.  Those  who  reached  in  safety  the  open 
country  had  at  last  been  obliged  to  strip  themselves  for  the 
flight. 

Gold,  beyond  what  secures  the  food  and  raiment  with  which 
we  are  commanded  to  be  content,  is  an  occasion  of  fatal  stum- 
bling. It  is  said  that  the  companions  of  Cortes,  who,  on  that 
terrible  night,  were  known  to  carry  treasures,  were  the  objects 
of  the  most  numerous  and  sharpest  arrows.  So  do  riches  in- 
vite our  enemy's  "  fiery  darts." 

Christian  brother,  inquire  whether  better  spiritual  progress 
could  not  be  made  by  you,  if  you  parted,  for  Christ's  sake, 
with  more  of  your  worldly  substance.  Lighten  your  load  by 
feeding  the  hungry*  clothing  the  naked,  giving  wings  to  the 
Bible,  and  a  voice  to  the  gospel  in  heathen  lands.  It  may  be 


7V?T  W   TESTAMENT  ILL  USTRA  TIONS.  7 1 9 

you  have  too  much  set  apart  for  home  expenditures,  too  much 
for  worldly  gratification,  to  insure  good  progress  heavenward. 
Christian  woman,  do  you  travel  as  safely  in  the  path  of  life 
as  you  would  if  traveling  lighter?  Dress,  made  specially 
attractive  in  the  eyes  of  the  world,  is  a  favorable  mark  to  him 
who  ever  seeks  through  it  to  wound  the  soul.  Costly  apparel 
entangles  the  feet  in  the  narrow  way.  Jewels  weigh  down 
the  higher  life. 


LOVING  SILVER  THE  ROOT  OF  ALL  EVIL. 

For  the  love  of  money  is  the  root  of  all  evil ;  which  while  some  coveted 
after,  they  have  erred  from  the  faith,  and  pierced  themselves  through  with 
many  sorrows.  —  1  Tim.  6  :  10. 

THE  direct  and  literal  rendering  of  Paul's  famous  proverb 
about  money  is,  "  The  root  of  all -evil  is  love  of  silver  "  — - 
that  is,  covetousness.  The  thing  it  speaks  of  is  a  passion  of 
the  soul,  and  not  a  possession  in  the  hands.  It  belongs  to  the 
pauper  as  well  as  to  the  millionaire.  Covetousness  may  burn 
as  fiercely  in  the  breast  of  a  man  without  a  cent  in  his  pocket, 
as  of  one  whose  check  is  good  for  millions.  If  a  man  will,  he 
can  drown  himself  in  a  shallow  brook  as  effectually  as  in  the 
ocean.  It  is  a  disposition,  and  not  the  success  or  failure  at- 
tending its  exercise,  which  is  anathematized. 

The  sweeping  statement  concerning  this  passion  is,  that  it 
is  "  the  root  of  all  evil ;  "  not,  of  course,  of  each  particular  sin 
ever  committed,  but  of  all  sorts  of  evil.  There  is  no  kind  of 
bitter  fruit  which  does  not,  in  innumerable  instances,  grow 
from  this  prolific  root.  The  love  of  money  causes  the  viola- 
tion of  every  command  in  the  Decalogue.  It  puts  "  Mammon  " 
above  God.  It  "  is  idolatry."  It  moves  men  to  take  God's 
name  in  vain,  to  violate  the  Sabbath,  to  dishonor  parents,  to 
kill,  to  commit  adultery,  to  steal,  to  bear  false  witness,  and  it 
is  the  specific  violation  of  the  tenth.  One  might  say  of  it  as 
Robert  Hall  said  of  war,  "  It  is  a  virtual  repeal  of  the  Ten 
Commandments."  —  Rev.  Cyrus  D.  Foss. 


720  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

EARNEST  FAITH. 

Fight  the  good  fight  of  faith,  lay  hold  on  eternal  life.  —  1  Tim.  6  :  12. 

A  SEA  captain  related  at  a  prayer  meeting  in  Boston,  a 
short  time  ago,  a  thrilling  incident  in  his  own  experience. 
"  A  few  years  ago,"  said  he,  "  I  was  sailing  by  the  Island  of 
Cuba,  when  the  cry  ran  through  the  ship,  l  Man  overboard  !  ' 
It  was  impossible  to  put  up  the  helm  of  the  ship ;  but  I  in- 
stantly seized  a  rope  and  threw  it  over  the  ship's  stern,  cry- 
ing out  to  the  man  to  seize  it  as  for  his  life.  The  sailor 
caught  the  rope  just  as  the  ship  was  passing.  I  immediately 
took  another  rope,  and  making  a  slipnoose  of  it,  attached  it 
to  the  other,  and  slid  it  down  to  the  struggling  sailor,  and 
directed  him  to  pass  it  over  his  shoulders  and  under  his  arms, 
and  he  would  be  drawn  on  board.  He  was  rescued ;  but  he 
had  grasped  that  rope  with  such  firmness,  with  such  a  death- 
grip,  tliat  it  took  hours  before  his  hold  relaxed,  and  his  hand 
could  be  separated  from  it.  With  such  eagerness,  indeed,  he 
had  clutched  the  object  that  was  to  save  him,  that  the  strands 
of  the  rope  became  embedded  in  the  flesh  of  his  hands  1 " 

And  so  it  seems  as  if  God  had  let  down  from  heaven  a  rope 
to  every  sinner  on  the  earth,  that  every  strand  was  a  precious 
promise,  and  that  we  ought  to  be  so  intensely  eager  to  secure 
these  promises  as  to  lay  hold  on  them  as  if  for  our  lives,  and 
suffer  neither  the  powers  of  earth  nor  hell  to  shake  our  confi- 
dence or  disturb  our  hope. 


GLIMPSES  OF  THE  UNAPPROACHABLE  LIGHT. 

Who  only  hath  immortality,  dwelling  in  the  light  which  no  man  can  ap- 
proach unto ;  whom  no  man  hath  seen  nor  can  sec ;  to  whom  be  honor  and 
power  everlasting.  Amen.  —  1  Tim.  6  :  16. 

SOME  years  ago,  in  the  city  of  Brooklyn,  it  was  my  great 
privilege  to  pay  frequent  pastoral  visits  to  a  saint  on  the 
eve  of  her  translation.     Her  room  was  always  an  open  gate 
of  heaven.     One  day  I  received  a  message  from  her  that  she 
was  in  trouble,  and  wished  to  see  me.     Wondering  what  final 


NEW   TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  721 

art  the  arch  enemy  might  be  using  against  her,  I  hastened  to 
her  bedside.  She  said,  "  I  can  not  pray  any  more.  As  soon 
as  I  begin,  my  prayers  are  all  turned  into  hallelujahs.  I  would 
have  esteemed  it  a  privilege  if  God  would  have  permitted  me 
to  spend  my  remaining  days  in  supplications  for  my  friends  ; 
but  as  soon  as  I  open  my  mouth,  it  is  all  glory,  glory,  glory  ! " 
I  congratulated  her  on  being  drafted  into  the  employment  of 
the  celestial  choir  before  the  time.  She  lived  for  two  weeks 
in  a  gust  of  praise,  and  so  she  died.  It  seemed  as  though  the 
"  light  which  no  man  can  approach  unto  "  had  streamed  out 
over  the  walls  of  jasper,  and  come  down  to  earth  to  linger 
about  that  humble  cot.  "  Let  me  die  the  death  of  the  right- 
eous." —  Rev.  C.  D.  Foss,  D.  D. 


HARDSHIPS  OF  THE  RICH. 

Charge  them  that  are  rich  in  this  world  that  they  be  not  high-minded,  nor 
trust  in  uncertain  riches,  but  in  the  living  God,  who  giveth  us  richly  all  things 
to  enjoy.  —  1  Tim.  6 :  17. 

THE  rich  often  have  it  very  hard.  The  care  of  a  great  es- 
tate or  an  extensive  business  is  a  great  burden.  It  de- 
prives of  sleep,  and  sometimes  ruins  health.  When  men  are 
in  this  condition  they  are  apt  to  think  the  state  of  the  poor 
very  enviable.  It  is  said  that  "  Seneca,  with  two  millions  of 
pounds  out  on  usury,  wrote  on  a  table  of  gold  in  favor  of  pov- 
erty." No  wonder.  The  poor  man  must  have  been  perplexed 
to  death  to  collect  so  much  interest  money  !  It  is  undoubt- 
edly true  that  God  has  made  man  in  reference  to  gold  as  in 
reference  to  food.  Beyond  a  reasonable  amount  it  cloys  and 
nauseates.  0,  if  all  our  rich  men  did  but  understand  God's 
plan !  He  gives  to  us  unceasingly  that  we  may  enjoy  the 
luxury  of  giving  to  others  unceasingly.  One  of  the  sweetest 
pleasures  of  life  is  to  give.  How  few  understand  it !  How 
many  carry  a  burden  which  might  instantly  be  transformed 
into  a  delight !  Jesus  expresses  this  truth  with  an  emphasis 
unsurpassed  when  he  says,  "  It  is  more  blessed  to  give  than  to 
receive"  —  Watchman  and  Reflector. 
91 


722  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 


RIGHT  AND  WRONG  RELATIONS  TO  MONEY. 

That  they  do  good,  that  they  be  rich  in  good  works,  ready  to  distribute, 
willing  to  communicate.  —  1  Tim,.  6  :  18. 


is,  doubtless,  in  point  of  fact,  very  great  wrong 
JL  attaching  to  the  getting  of  wealth  in  most  cases.  The 
wrong,  however,  is  not  in  the  thing  itself,  but  in  its  circum- 
stances and  connections  ;  not  in  the  fact  of  getting  wealth, 
but  in  getting  it  wrongly,  in  setting  the  heart  on  it,  in  refus- 
ing to  part  with  a  due  proportion  for  benevolent  uses,  and  in 
getting  too  much.  No  doubt  accumulation  is  a  sin  to  some 
men.  The  demands  of  Providence  on  them  are  such  that 
they  ought  to  spend  every  dollar  of  their  income,  and  content 
themselves  with  a  moderate  competency. 

But,  having  made  these  qualifications,  we  now  repeat  that 
the  amassing  of  wealth  is  not  in  itself  wrong. 

Look  into  human  nature  :  men  are  very  differently  endowed  ; 
and  among  the  special  endowments  God  has  bestowed  is  the 
"  power  to  get  wealth."  Some  men  are  just  as  clearly  made 
to  be  merchants  as  others  are  to  be  mathematicians  or  authors. 
Are  these  special  gifts  for  no  good  end  ?  Look  into  civilized 
society.  It  will  be  seen  that  there  is  need  for  the  use  of  this 
talent  for  acquiring  and  managing  money.  Do  not  the  inter- 
ests of  commerce,  manufactures,  science,  education,  and  reli- 
gion require  to  a  certain  extent  the  existence  of  wealth  ? 
How  could  ships,  or  railroads,  or  colleges  be  built  if  there 
were  no  instances  of  large  capital  in  the  hands  of  a  few  men  ? 
Look  into  the  Bible.  In  it  wealth  is  nowhere  indiscriminately 
forbidden,  but  is  often  promised  as  a  blessing.  The  dishonest 
and  the  hasty  acquisition  of  it,  the  determination  to  get  it  at 
all  hazards,  setting  the  heart  upon  it,  trusting  in  it,  loving  it, 
hoarding  it,  and  the  various  other  abuses  of  it,  are  indeed  vis- 
ited with  the  severest  maledictions  ;  but  not  the  bare  fact  of 
possessing  wealth,  nor  of  increasing  it.  "  The  father  of  the 
faithful  "  was  "  very  rich  in  cattle,  in  silver,  and  in  gold." 
His  wealth  is  declared  to  have  been  a  blessing  from  God. 
"  Abraham  was  old,  and  well-stricken  in  years,  and  the  Lord 
had  blessed  Abraham  in  all  things."  Job  was  the  richest 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 


723 


man  in  all  the  country  round  about.  It  is  true  that  among 
other  afflictions  he  suffered  the  loss  of  all  his  possessions  ;  but 
the  Lord  restored  to  him  double. 

Many  among  the  poor  take  for  granted  that  the  rich  are 
their  natural  enemies  and  the  enemies  of  all  righteousness. 
On  the  contrary,  many  of  the  best  friends  of  the  poor  and  of 
Jesus  are  to  be  found  among  the  rich.  —  Eev.  Cyrus  D.  Foss. 


A  PIOUS  MOTHER'S  EXAMPLE. 

When  I  call  to  remembrance  the  unfeigned  faith  that  is  in  thee,  which 
dwelt  first  in  thy  grandmother  Lois,  and  thy  mother  Eunice,  and  I  am  per- 
suaded that  in  thee  also.  —  2  Tim.  1 :  5. 

A  YOUNG  infidel  was  one  night  in  bed,  contemplating 
/JL  the  character  of  his  mother.  "  I  see,"  said  he  within 
himself,  "  two  unquestionable  facts.  First,  my  mother  is 
greatly  afflicted  in  circumstances,  body  and  mind ;  and  I  see. 
that  she  cheerfully  bears  up  under  all  by  the  support  she 
derives  from  constantly  retiring  to  her  closet  and  her  Bible. 
Secondly,  that  she  has  a  secret  spring  of  comfort  of  which  I 
know  nothing ;  while  I,  who  give  an  unbounded  loose  to  my 
appetites,  and  seek  pleasure  by  every  means,  seldom  or  never 
find  it.  If,  however,  there  is  any  such  secret  in  religion,  why 
may  not  I  attain  to  it  as  well  as  my  mother  ?  I  will  immedi- 
ately seek  it  of  God."  Thus  the  influence  of  Christianity, 
exhibited  in  its  beauty  by  a  living  example  before  him,  led 
Richard  Cecil  to  know  Christ  himself,  and  to  glorify  him  by  a 
life  of  most  successful  devotion  to  his  service.  —  Morse. 


REMARKABLE  PROOF  OF  THE  IMMORTALIT?  OF 
THE  SOUL. 

But  is  now  made  manifest  by  the  appearing  of  our  Saviour  Jesus  Christ, 
who  hath  abolished  death,  and  hath  brought  life  and  immortality  to  light 
through  the  gospel.  —  2  Tim.  1 :  10. 

C\  ENNADIUS,  a  physician,  a  man  of  eminence  in  piety  and 
VJ    charity,  had,  in  his-  youth,  some  doubts  of  the  reality  of 


724  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

another  life.  He  saw  one  night,  in  a  dream,  a  young  man  of 
celestial  figure,  who  made  him  follow  him.  The  apparition 
led  him  into  a  magnificent  city,  in  which  his  ears  were  charmed 
by  melodious  music,  which  exceeded  the  most  enchanting  har- 
mony he  had  ever  heard.  To  the  inquiry  from  whence  came 
these  ravishing  sounds,  his  conductor  answered  that  they  were 
the  hymns  of  the  blessed  in  heaven,  and  disappeared.  Gen- 
nadius  awoke,  arid  the  impression  of  the  dream  was  dissipated 
by  the  transactions  of  the  day.  The  following  night  the  young 
man  appeared,  and  asked  whether  he  recollected  him.  "  The 
melodious  songs  which  I  heard  last  night,"  answered  Genna- 
dius,  "  are  now  brought  again  to  my  memory." 

"  Did  you  hear  them/'  said  the  apparition,  "  dreaming,  or 
awake  ?  " 

"I  heard  them  in  a  dream." 

"  True,"  replied  the  young  man,  "  and  our  present  conver- 
sation is  a  dream ;  but  where  is  your  body  while  I  am  speaking 
to  you  ?  " 

"  In  my  chamber." 

"  But  know  you  not  that  your  eyes  are  shut,  and  that  you 
can  not  see  ?  " 

"  My  eyes  are  indeed  shut." 

"How,  then,  can  you  see?"  Gennadius  could  make  no 
answer.  "  In  your  dream,  the  eyes  of  your  body  are  closed 
and  useless,  but  you  have  others  with  which  you  see  me. 
Thus,  after  death,  although  the  eyes  of  your  flesh  are  deprived 
of  sense  and  motion,  you  will  remain  alive  and  capable  of  sense 
and  motion  by  your  spiritual  part.  Cease,  then,  to  entertain 
a  doubt  of  another  life  after  death." 

By  this  occurrence,  Gennadius  affirms,  he  became  a  sincere 
believer  in  the  doctrine  of  a  future  state. 


A  TOUCH  OF  THE  WHIP. 

For  the  which  cause  I  also  suffer  these  things ;  nevertheless  I  am  not 
ashamed,  for  I  know  whom  I  have  believed,  and  am  persuaded  that  he  is  able 
to  keep  that  which  I  have  committed  unto  him  against  that  day.  —  1  Tim.  2  :  12. 

f"  NOTICED,  when  once  riding  on  the  top  of  a  stage-coach,  that 
J.  the  driver,  at  certain  points  on  the  road,  gave  one  of  his 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  725 

forward  horses  a  slight  touch  of  his  whip.  And,  as  the  horses 
were  going  at  a  fair  pace,  I  asked  him  why  he  did  it.  Ho 
replied  that  that  horse  had  been  in  the  habit  of  starting  and 
sheering  at  something  seen  or  imagined  at  those  places,  and  a 
touch  of  the  whip,  just  before  arriving  there,  gave  him  some- 
thing to  think  of,  so  that  he  passed  by  without  noticing  what 
had  before  startled  him. 

And  is  it  too  much  to  believe  that  He  who  is  conducting 
many  sons  and  daughters  to  glory,  notices  all  the  perilous 
points  they  pass,  and,  when  the  case  requires  it,  diverts 
their  thoughts  and  purposes  from  dangerous  directions  by 
giving  them  such  things  to  think  of  as  will  break  the  force 
of  temptation,  and  secure  them  from  wandering?  A  sad 
bereavement,  a  bitter  disappointment,  a  serious  illness,  a  pe- 
cuniary loss,  as  the  hour  of  temptation  is  at  hand,  is  the  touch 
of  the  whip.  It  awakens  serious  thought.  It  drives  the 
soul  to  prayer.  It  dims  the  false  brightness  of  things  earthty, 
and  gives  fresh  vividness  and  power  to  things  heavenly  and 
eternal ;  so  that,  under  such  spiritual  influences,  the  points  of 
danger  are  safely  passed,  and  the  rest  of  life's  journey  is  trav- 
eled all  the  more  safely,  and  the  prospects  of  heaven  are  made 
all  the  brighter. 


THE  BIBLE  TRIED  BY  A  JURY. 

Wherein  I  suffer  trouble,  as  an  evil-doer,  even  unto  bonds ;  but  the  word 
of  God  is  not  bound.  —  2  Tim.  2  :  9. 

IN  Lower  Canada,  some  time  ago,  a  French  Canadian  bought 
a  New  Testament  from  one  of  the  agents  or  missionaries 
of  the  French  Canadian  Missionary  Society.  The  man,  very 
much  alarmed  by  being  told  next  day  by  several  persons 
that  it  was  a  Protestant  book,  and  ought  to  be  burned,  as  the 
priest  directed,  hit  upon  a  singular  expedient  to  solve  his 
doubts,  and  invited  all  the  neighbors  to  come  to  his  house 
the  next  evening  to  decide  whether  the  book  was  good  or 
bad.  Being  met,  they  sat,  like  a  jury,  upon  the  New  Testa- 
ment, and  it  was  agreed  that  if  the  book  was  found  bad,  it 
would  be  immediately  committed  to  the  flames ;  but  if  pro- 


726  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

uounced  good,  the  owner  should  be  allowed  to  keep  it  undis- 
turbed. The  whole  evening  was  spent  in  reading  it  aloud, 
and  the  unanimous  decision  was,  that  the  book,  being  good, 
should  be  kept. 


SUFFERING  AND  REIGNING  JOINED  TOGETHER. 

If  we  suffer,  we  shall  also  reign  with  him ;  if  we  deny  him,  he  also  will 
deny  us.  —  2  Tim.  2  :  12. 

BUFFERING  here  with  Christ,  that  we  may  reign  with  him 
U  in  glory,  is  a  law  of  the  moral  government  of  God,  which 
many  persons  hav^  not  learned,  and  are  slow  to  learn.  Cole- 
ridge remarked,  that  the  temper  of  the  present  age  inclines  it 
to  every  enervating  indulgence.  Men  appear  to  think  the 
Christian  armor  an  unnecessary  encumbrance  j  they  have  no 
desire  to  engage  in  any  combat,  to  undergo  any  trial :  if  re- 
ligion is  to  be  cultivated,  it  must  be  as  one  of  the  fine  arts  —  as 
an  element  of  belles-lettres  ;  they  forget,  or  despise,  the  saying 
of  Bishop  Patrick,  that  there  is  no  passage  to  celestial  glory 
but  by  some  cross  ;  that  we  must  suffer  with  Christ,  as  well  as 
confess  him^if  we  would  be  with  him  in  paradise. 


SUCCESSFUL  PREACHING. 

Study  to  shew  thyself  approved  unto  God,  a  workman  that  needeth  not  to 
be  ashamed,  rightly  dividing  the  word  of  truth.  —  2  Tim.  2 :  15. 

SUCH  an  earnestness  as  becomes  the  Christian  minister 
will  lead  him  to  "  study  to  shew  "  himself  "  approved  unto 
God,  a  workman  that  needeth  not  to  be  ashamed,  rightly  divid- 
ing the  word  of  truth."  The  ministry,  therefore,  which  the 
Lord  requires,  is  a  studious  ministry,  and  one  given  to  "  read- 
ing ;  "  but  all  study  and  all  reading  should  have  direct  refer- 
ence to  the  approval  of  God  in  the  great  work  of  saving  souls, 
that  the  minister  may  be  able  rightly  to  divide  the  word  of 
truth,  making  such  an  application  of  it  to  saint  and  sinner, 
awakened  and  unawakened,  ignorant  and  enlightened,  as  shall 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  727 

be  applicable  to  the  case.  That  kind  of  preaching  which  will 
save  the  most,  and  that  alone,  is  to  be  a  subject  of  earnest; 
prayerful,  and  persevering  "  study."  That  is  the  best  sermon 
which  best  answers  the  ends  of  preaching.  Sometimes  the 
remark  is  made,  that  such  a  man  "  is  a  very  good  sermonizer, 
but  not  a  very  successful  preacher."  Such  a  declaration 
is  a  monstrous  perversion  of  language,  and  at  war  with  all 
common  sense,  as  applied  to  everything  else  than  preaching. 
It  is  like  saying  a  man  has  very  good  eyes,  but  he  can  not  see 
much ;  he  has  a  very  good  watch,  but  it  is  not  a  very  good 
time-keeper ;  and  he  himself  is  a  very  good  physician,  but  he 
is -not  successful  among  the  sick  —  that  is  to  say,  he  is  a  very 
good  doctor  when  nothing  is  the  matter  !  We  can  not  right- 
fully pronounce  anything  whatever  to  be  good,  only  in  so  far 
as  it  answers  the  end  intended.  "  The  tree  is  known  by  its 
fruit."  A  minister  has  no  right  to  study  to  please  men,  any 
further  than  their  pleasure  is  compatible  with  their  salvation. 
The  Saviour  himself  could  not  please  all  men,  and  "  it  is  enough 
that  the  disciple  should  be  as  his  Lord." 


THOROUGHNESS  IN  PREACHING. 

In  meekness  instructing  those  that  oppose  themselves,  if  God,  peradven- 
ture,  will  give  them  repentance  to  the  acknowledging  of  the  truth.  — 
2  Tim.  2  :  25. 

THE  best  ministers  can  not  always  preach  great  sermons. 
It  is  unwise  for  them  to  attempt  it,  and  folly  for  their 
hearers  to  expect  it.  Nor  is  it  good  policy  to  expend  the 
hours  of  study  in  each  week  in  preparation  for  the  next  Sab- 
bath's sermons.  It  is  far  better  to  condense  occasionally  into 
a  single  sermon,  or  a  series  of  sermons,  the  hard  study  of 
months,  and  give  to  one's  people  the  result  of  a  thorough 
mastery  of  some  great  subject. 

An  exchange  gives  an  instructive  illustration  of  this  method 
of  working.  A  pastor  devoted  a  long  period  to  a  careful  study 
of  the  subject  of  sin  —  its  nature,  and  effects,  and  cure.  The 
fruits  of  this  study  were  given  to  his  people  in  sermons  which 
awakened  interest  by  their  freshness  and  power.  Soon  after, 


7>  NEW   TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

lie  treated  the  subject  of  the  divinity  and  work  of  the  Holy 
Spirit  in  the  same  thorough  way.  A  revival  followed,  in  which 
a  hundred  and  fifty  persons  professed  conversion,  and  their 
views  of  doctrine  and  the  Christian  life  were  remarkably  clear 
and  sound. 

In  forming  a  general  plan  for  the  year's  labor,  would  it  not 
be  well  for  every  minister  to  select  some  great  doctrine  for 
special  investigation,  and  for  sermons  of  a  high  order  of  merit  ? 
The  thorough  study  needed  for  a  mastery  of  the  subject  would 
furnish  the  best  kind  of  intellectual  discipline ;  and  sermons 
prepared  in  this  way  might  profit  a  congregation  more  than 
half  a  year's  ordinary  preaching.  In  our  day,  when  unbelief 
pervades  the  popular  literature,  it  is  important  that  the  people 
be  instructed  in  the  great  doctrines  of  the  Bible  by  men  qual- 
ified to  teach,  because  they  have  studied  them  profoundly  in 
all  their  relations  and  bearings. 


THE  SNARE  OF  THE  DEVIL. 

And  that  they  may  recover  themselves  out  of  the  snare  of  the  devil,  who 
are  taken  captive  by  him  at  his  will.  —  2  Tim.  2  :  26. 

HERE  are  men  in  the  snare  of  the  devil,  and  to  recover 
them  out  of  it  is  the  object  of  gospel  labor. 

1.  The  devil  has  a  snare.     This  snare  may  be  infidelity ;  it 
may  be  the   pursuit  of  worldly  wealth ;  it  may  be  worldly 
pleasure,  the  pride  of  life,  pursuit  of  power  and  greatness ; 
it  may  be  vicious  habits,  or  vicious  and  evil  company  ;  but 
whatever  form  this  snare  takes,  it  is  in  all  cases  the  means  by 
which  Satan  holds  the  soul  in  bondage  to  sin. 

2.  This  snare  has  its  lure.     The  lure,  or  bait,  is  that  which 
entices  the  unsuspecting  animal  into  the  snare.     The  lure  of 
Satan  is  that  promise  of  good  in  this  life  which  entices  silly 
souls  to  forsake  the  path  of  righteousness  and  to  sin  against 
God.     The  devil  promises  the  sinner  honor,  wealth,  happiness, 
ease,  gratification  of  carnal  desires,  great  success  in  this  life, 
and  indemnity  against  punishment  in  the  life  to  come.     He 
promised  mother  Eve  wisdom  and  knowledge,  and  exemption 
from  death  ;  he  promised  Christ  the  kingdoms  of  this  world  ; 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  729 

and  he  promised  Achan  and  Judas  riches,  and  success  in  their 
schemes.  He  promises  the  philosophic  skeptic  great  freedom 
of  reason,  exalted  wisdom,  and  a  contented  mind.  All  this  is 
to  draw  men  into  his  snare.  He  tells  the  half-hearted  profess- 
or there  is  an  easier  way  to  heaven  than  that  which  Moses, 
Daniel,  and  Paul  trod  ;  and  he  tells  the  impenitent  sinner  there 
is  time  enough  yet. 

3.  This  snare  is  covered  up.     "  In  vain  is  the  snare  spread 
in  the  sight  of  any  bird."     The  devil  covers  his  snare,  and 
keeps  it  out  of  sight.     If  it  is  a  doctrinal  snare,  he  covers  it 
with  sophistry,  and  makes  error  look  plausible  ;  but  in  any 
case,  the  lust  of  the  flesh,  the  lust  of  the  eye,  and  the   pride 
of  life,  give  false  gildings,  make  sin  appear  pleasing,  attractive, 
and  desirable. 

4.  No  wonder,  then,  that  souls  are   taken  captive   by  him. 
The  word  literally  means,  "  taken  olive  by  him."     Ah !  yes. 
They  are  taken  in  the  full  possession  of  their  responsible 
faculties.     They  are  taken  while  they  are  thinking,  planning, 
desiring,  choosing,  and  full  of  hope  and  anticipation,  alive  to 
all  but  God,  alive  in  the  awful  responsibilities  of  a  moral  agent, 
but  not  alive  to  them. 

5.  They  are  taken  by  him  "  at  his  will,"  so  completely  are 
they  in  the  power  of  the  devil ;  so  completely  are  they  charmed, 
and  lulled,  and  deceived  by  Satan.     His  will  is  their  will !  so 
entirely  disarmed  of  fear,  drawn  along  by  desire,  and  overcome 
by  fatal  persuasion  !  so  attracted  are  they  by  the  "  baits  of 
pleasing  ill ;  "  and  so  enervated  in  their  power  to  resist,  that 
the  will  and  desire  of  the  great  seducer,  not  their  own  judg- 
ment or  conscience,  govern  them.     Such  is  their  state. 

Reader,  art  thou  in  the  devil's  snare  ?  Be  alarmed  and  cry 
mightily  to  God.  Art  thou  tempted  by  his  lure  ?  Stop  short, 
and  fly  back  to  Christ.  —  Eev.  F.  G.  Hibbard,  D.  D. 


DENYING  CHRIST  THROUGH  COVETOUSNESS. 

For  men  shall  lie  lovers  of  their  own  selves,  covetous,  boasters,  proud, 
blasphemers,  disobedient  to  parents,  unthankful,  unholy.  —  2  Tim.  3  :  2. 

CORRESPONDENT  of  one  of  our  religious  exchanges 
says,  "  I  once  heard  a  conversation  between  a  church 
92 


A 


730  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

member  and  an  infidel.  After  arguments  were  urged  at  some 
length  on  both  sides,  the  infidel  observed  to  his  friend  that 
they  might  as  well  drop  the  subject  of  conversation  ;  i  for/ 
said  he,  '  I  do  not  believe  a  single  word  you  say,  and  more 
than  this,  I  am  satisfied  that  you  do  not  really  believe  it  your- 
self; for  to  my  certain  knowledge  you  have  not  given,  for  the 
last  twenty  years,  as  much  for  the  spread  of  Christianity  — 
such  as  the  building  of  churches,  foreign  and  domestic  mis- 
sions —  as  your  last  Durham  cow  cost.  Why,  sir,  if  I  believed 
the  one  half  of  what  you  say  you  believe,  I  would  make  the 
church  my  rule  for  giving,  and  my  farm  the  exception.'  " 
Many  a  covetous  professor  can  profit  by  this  rebuke. 


FORM  OF  GODLINESS  WITHOUT  THE  POWER. 

Having  a  form  of  godliness,  but  denying  the  power  thereof;  from  such 
turn  away.  —  2  Tim.  3  :  5. 

IT  was  late  in  the  autumn  of  1867  that  two  sisters  left  their 
home  in  the  west  of  England  to  obtain  medical  advice  in 
London  for  the  younger,  who  had  been  a  sufferer  for  many 
years.  The  elder  sister's  mind  was  full  only  of  anxious 
thought  concerning  the  invalid,  so  that  when  the  physician 
told  her  that  she  herself  was  the  patient  most  needing  all  his 
skill  and  care,  she  almost  refused  to  believe  it. 

But  before  many  days  had  passed  away,  her  increasing  ill- 
ness proved  the  truth  of  his  opinion :  then  it  was  broken  to 
her  that  she  had  only  a  few  more  weeks  to  live  ;  and  the  sud- 
den sentence  of  death  filled  her  soul  with  astonishment  and 
alarm. 

"  It  is  kind  of  you  to  come  to  me,"  she  said,  at  our  first 
meeting  ;  "  but  it  is  in  vain.  It  is  too  late  to  do  anything  for 
me  now.  Mine  has  been  a  Christless  Christianity,  and  I  must 
abide  by  the  consequences." 

It  was  some  time  before  she  gave  an  explanation  of  this  de- 
spairing conviction  ;  but  after  a  while  she  added,  — 

"  I  have  been  a  good  Church  woman,  and  have  passed  for  a 
good  Christian.  I  have  been  diligent  in  my  attendance  at 
church,  and  have  cared  for  an  excellent  ministry.  I  have 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  731 

never  willingly  passed  by  an  opportunity  of  partaking  of  the 
holy  communion.  I  have  given  largely  to  religious  and 
charitable  causes.  I  have  admired  Christianity,  and  have 
tried  to  bring  its  precepts  into  my  practice.  But  I  have 
never  cared  to  know  a  living  Saviour,  to  make  a  personal 
acquaintance  with  him,  nor  to  know  from  him  that  my  sins 
are  forgiven.  It  is  too  late  to  seek  it  now.  I  have  had  the 
form  of  godliness  without  the  power  of  it.  I  am  lost  —  lost 
for  ever." 

It  is  to  be  feared  that  the  sad  condition  of  this  English  lady 
describes  that  of  many  nominal  professors  in  this  country  — 
strict  observers  of  forms  of  worship,  but  ignorant  of  that  sav- 
ing grace  which  alone  makes  the  gospel  of  Christ  the  power 
of  God  unto  salvation. 


GOD'S  PROVIDENCE  AND  POOR  JACK. 

Persecutions,  afflictions,  which  came  unto  me  at  Antioch,  at  Iconium,  at 
Lystra;  what  persecutions  I  endured;  but  out  of  them  all  the  Lord  delivered 
me. —2  Tim.  3:  11. 

THE  following  account  is  given  by  the  Rev.  Legh  Richmond, 
as  having  been  related  by  a  minister  in  a  meeting  of  the 
British  and  Foreign  Bible  Society  :  — 

A  drunkard  was  one  day  staggering  in  drink  on  the  brink 
of  the  sea.  His  little  son  by  him,  three  years  of  age,  being 
very  hungry,  solicited  him  for  something  to  eat.  The  misera- 
ble father,  conscious  of  his  poverty,  and  of  the  criminal  cause 
of  it,  in  a  kind  of  rage  occasioned  by  his  intemperance  and 
despair,  hurled  the  little  innocent  into  the  sea,  and  made  off' 
with  himself.  The  poor  little  sufferer,  finding  a  floating  plank 
by  his  side  in  the  water,  clung  to  it.  The  wind  soon  wafted 
him  and  the  plank  into  the  sea. 

A  British  man-of-war,  passing  by,  discovered  the  plank  and 
child ;  and  a  sailor,  at  the  risk  of  his  own  life,  plunged  into 
the  sea,  and  brought  him  on  board.  He  could  inform  them 
little  more  than  that  his  name  was  Jack.  They  gave  him  the 
name  of  Poor  Jack.  He  grew  up  on  board  that  man-of-war, 
behaved  well,  and  gained  the  love  of  all  the  officers  and  men. 
He  became  an  officer  of  the  sick  and  wounded  department. 


732  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

During  an  action  of  the  late  war,  an  aged  man  came  under  his 
care,  nearly  in  a  dying  state.  He  was  all  attention  to  the 
suffering  stranger,  but-  could  not  save  his  life. 

The  aged  stranger  was  dying,  and  thus  addressed  this  kind 
young  officer  :  "  For  the  great  attention  you  have  shown  me,  I 
give  you  this  only  treasure  that  I  am  possessed  of — present- 
ing him  with  a  Bible,  bearing  the  stamp  of  the  •'  British  and 
Foreign  Bible  Society/  It  was  given  me  by  a  lady,  has  been 
the  means  of  my  conversion,  and  has  been  a  great  comfort  to 
me.  Read  it  and  it  will  lead  you  in  the  way  you  should  go." 
He  went  on  to  confess  the  wickedness  and  profligacy  of  his 
life  before  the  reception  of  his  Bible  ;  and,  among  other  enor- 
mities, how  he  once  cast  a  little  son,  three  years  old,  into  the 
sea,  because  he  cried  to  him  for  needed  food. 

The  young  officer  inquired  of  him  the  time  and  place,  and 
found  here  was  his  own  history.  Reader,  judge,  if  you  can, 
of  his  feelings  to  recognize  in  the  dying  old  man  his  father, 
dying  a  penitent  under  his  care  !  And  judge  of  the  feelings 
of  the  dying  penitent  to  find  that  the  same  young  stranger 
was  his  own  son,  the  very  son  whom  he  had  plunged  into  the 
sea,  and  had  no  idea  but  that  he  had  immediately  perished  ! 
A  description  of  their  mutual  feelings  will  not  be  attempted. 
The  old  man  soon  expired  in  the  arms  of  his  son.  The  latter 
left  the  service,  and  became  a  pious  preacher  of  the  gospel. 
On  closing  this  story,  the  minister  in  the  meeting  of  the  Bible 
Society  bowed  to  the  chairman,  and  said,  "  I  am  Poor  Jack." 


VOLTAIRE  AS  A  TRANSLATOR. 

But  evil  men  and  seducers  shall  wax  worse  and  worse,  deceiving  and  being 
deceived.  —  2  Tim.  3  :  13. 

PRESUMPTUOUS  individuals,  who  venture  to  attack  the 
J7  Holy  Scriptures  with  unpurified  hearts  and  mere  scholas- 
tic learning,  without  being  enlightened  by  the  Holy  Spirit, 
are  punished  with  confusion,  blindness,  and  delusion.  Vol- 
taire was  once  daring  enough  to  versify  that  affecting  peni- 
tential Psalm,  the  fifty-first.  -Everything  went  well  until  lie 
came  to  the  tenth  verse,  where  it  is  said,  "  Create  in  me  a 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  733 

clean  heart,  0  God."  But  his  pride  and  truly  infernal  hatred 
against  God  and  his  worshipers  did  not  permit  him,  with  the 
royal -penitent,  to  entreat  of  God  a  pure  and  sincere  heart; 
however,  he  strove  to  translate  the  verse  poetically.  But  sud- 
denly the  terrors  of  hell  seized  him ;  the  pen  refused  to  move 
beneath  the  hand  of  the  reprobate  who  had  indited  so  many 
blasphemies  and  obscenities  for  the  destruction  of  innocence 
and  the  fear  of  God.  He  sought  to  flee,  but  could  not ;  he 
fell  half  senseless  on  his  couch,  and  afterward  confessed  sev- 
eral times  to  his  friends  that  he  could  never  think  of  this  ap- 
palling occurrence  without  inward  tremor  and  uneasiness.  — 
Preface  to  Dr.  Van  Ess'  New  Testament. 


INFLUENCE  OF  THE  BIBLE. 

And  that  from  a  child  them  hast  known  the  Holy  Scriptures,  which  are  able 
to  make  thee  wise  unto  salvation  through  faith  which  is  in  Christ  Jesus.  — 
2  Tim.  3  :  15. 


"  finHE  mother  of  a  family,"  says  Rev.  Adolph  Monod,  "  was 
JL  married  to  an  infidel,  who  made  jest  of  religion  in  the 
presence  of  his  own  children  ;  yet  she  succeeded  in  bringing 
them  all  up  in  the  fear  of  the  Lord. 

"  I  asked  her"  one  day  how  she  preserved  them  from  the 
influence  of  a  father  whose  sentiments  were  so  opposed  to  her 
own.  This  was  her  answer  :  l  Because  to  the  authority  of  a 
father  I  do  not  oppose  the  authority  of  a  mother,  but  that  of 
God.  From  their  earliest  years  my  children  have  always  seen 
the  Bible  upon  my  table.  This  holy  book  has  constituted  the 
whole  of  their  religious  instruction.  I  was  silent  .that  I  might 
allow  it  to  speak.  Did  they  propose  a  question,  did  they  com- 
mit a  fault,  did  they  perform  a  good  action,  I  opened  the 
Bible,  and  the  Bible  answered,  reproved,  or  encouraged  them. 
The  constant  reading  of  the  Scriptures  has  wrought  the  prod- 
igy which  surprises  you.'  J: 


73-4  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

VARIOUS  READINGS. 

All  Scripture  is  given  by  inspiration  of  God,  and  is  profitable  for  doctrine, 
for  reproof,  for  correction,  for  instruction  in  righteousness.  —  2  Tim.  3 :  16. 

ON  the  plenary  inspiration  of  Scripture,  Dr.  Gumming  re- 
marks, — 

"  It  has  been  objected  that  there  are  various  readings  in  the 
original  of  the  New  Testament,  and  Old  Testament,  too,  and 
that  this  shows  we  can  not  hold  by  the  idea  that  the  words  are 
inspired.  Let  me  state  the  facts  of  the  case :  Michaelis,  the 
ablest  critic  perhaps  that  ever  examined  the  Scriptures,  la- 
bored thirty  years  in  critical  researches  in  the  manuscripts. 
Dr.  Kennicott  labored  ten  years,  and  consulted  five  hundred 
and  eighty-one*different  manuscripts,  and  compared  them  word 
for  word,  and  letter  for  letter.  Professor  Rossi  examined  six 
hundred  and  eighty  manuscripts ;  Griesbach  examined  three 
hundred  and  thirty-five  for  the  Gospels  alone  ;  and  Scholz  ex- 
amined six  hundred  and  seventy  four,  comparing  word  with 
word,  letter  with  letter.  What  is  the  result  of  all  ?  Literally 
nothing ;  and  the  very  nothingness  of  the  result  is  the  mag- 
nificent proof  of  the  inspiration  of  the  original.  All  they  have 
discovered  is  to  a  great  extent  that  the  aspirate  should  be 
here,  or  the  article  should  be  omitted  there,  or  a  letter  should 
be  inserted  elsewhere.  I  will  take  only  one  of  the  testimonies 
they  have  left.  Eichhorn  says, '  The  different  readings  collated 
by  Kennicott  scarcely  afford  enough  interest  to  repay  the  la- 
bor which  has  been  bestowed  upon  them.'  Now,  what  does 
this  prove  ?  It  proves  that  God  not  only  inspired  that  blessed 
book,  but  spread  over  it  the  wing  of  his  protecting  provi- 
dence from  year  to  year  and  age  to  age.  The  grand  fruit  of 
elaborate  research  is  negative.'7 


"IN  SEASON,  OUT  OF  SEASON." 

Preach  the  word :  be  instant  in  season,  out  of  season ;  reprove,  rebuke, 
exhort  with  all  long-suffering  and  doctrine.  —  2  Tim.  4  :  2. 


T 


HE  good  and  great  Dr.  Chalmers  on  one  occasion  was  the 
guest  of  a  nobleman  near  Peebles.     His  powers  of  con- 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  735 

versation  made  him  the  life  and  soul  of  the  company,  and  the 
subject  interested  the  whole  circle  —  "  Pauperism,  its  causes 
and  cure."  Among  the  guests  there  was  a  venerable  High- 
land chief,  who  listened  with  intense  interest  to  the  gifted 
speaker.  It  was  late  when  the  party  broke  up,  and  the  apart- 
ment to  which  the  doctor  was  conducted  was  exactly  opposite 
to  that  occupied  by  the  old  Highlander.  Shortly  the  doctor 
heard  an  unusual  sound  in  the  chieftain's  room,  like  a  heavy 
fall  accompanied  by  a  deep  groan.  He  hastened  to  the  apart- 
ment, and  there  beheld  a  white-haired  man  in  the  arms  of  his 
attendant,  having  sunk  in  a  fit  of  apoplexy.  The  room  was 
soon  filled  by  the  late  company,  but  they  could  do  nothing  for 
their  old  friend,  who  breathed  for  a  few  minutes,  and  then 
expired.  Dr.  Chalmers  stood  in  silence,  with  both  hands 
stretched  out,  bending  over  the  deceased,  the  picture  of  dis- 
tress. When  he  broke  silence,  it  was  to  say  to  the  assembled 
group  in  a  tremulous  voice,  "  Never  did  I  see  or  feel  till  now 
the  full  meaning  of  the  text,  '  Preach  the  word  ;  be  instant  in 
season,  out  of  season/  &c.  Had  I  known  that  our  venerable 
friend  was  on  the  threshold  of  eternity  this -evening,  I  would 
not  have  dwelt  on  the  subject  of  our  conversation.  I  would 
have  preached  to  him  and  to  you  Christ  Jesus  and  him  cruci- 
fied. You  would  have  thought  and  pronounced  it  out  of  sea- 
son ;  but  ah  !  it  would  have  been  in  season,  both  for  him  and 
for  you." 


CORRECT  VIEW  OF  THE  PULPIT. 

But  watch  thou  in  all  things,  endure  afflictions,  do  the  work  of  an  evan- 
gelist, make  full  proof  of  thy  ministry.  —  2  Tim.  4 :  5. 

ON  a  recent  Sabbath  morning,  Dr.  Armitage,  of  New  York, 
after  announcing  his  text,  made  the  following  very  excel- 
lent remarks :  — 

"  I  am  conscious  of  responsibility,  and  believe  in  banishing 
from  the  pulpit  everything  but  directness,  earnestness,  zeal, 
personal  religion,  practical  piety.  Last  Sabbath  there  sat 
there  (pointing  to  a  part  of  the  house)  a  lady  down  whose 
cheeks  tears  were  falling.  She  was  impressed  with  the  truth, 


736  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

and  took  not  her  eyes  off  the  pulpit  during  the  service.  This 
morning  her  brother  came  to  me  in  deep  distress,  and  asked 
me  if  I  would  attend  her  funeral.  l  Last  Sabbath/  said  he, 
1  she  was  with  you,  listening  to  the  word  of  God.  She  left  us 
during  the  week  in  perfect  health.  Yesterday  she  took  her 
flight  from  this  world/  Perhaps  it  may  be  so  with  some  here 
to-day." 

The  sermon  was  direct  and  very  impressive,,  and  many  men 
and  women  were  to  be  seen  weeping.  No  essay  was  read  to 
exhibit  the  art  of  dictionary  study  and  nicely-rounded  periods, 
but,  with  the  freedom  of  one  whose  heart  has  something  in  it, 
he  preached  the  word.  Several  have  been  converted,  and 
others  are  inquiring  the  way  of  life. 


PREACHING  FOR  A  CROWN. 

Henceforth  there  is  laid  up  for  me  a  crown  of  righteousness,  which  the 
Lord,  the  righteous  Judge,  shall  give  me  at  that  day  ;  and  not  to  me  only,  but 
unto  all  them  also  that  love  his  appearing.  —  2  Tim.  4  :  8. 


Rev.  H.  Davies,  sometimes  called  "  the  Welsh  apostle," 
JL  was  walking,  one  Sabbath  morning,  to  a  place  where  he 
was  to  preach.  He  was  overtaken  by  a  clergyman  on  horse- 
back, who  complained  that  he  could  not  get  above  half  a  guinea 
for  a  discourse.  "  0,  sir,  said  Mr.  Davies,  "  I  preach  for  a 
crown  !  "  "  Do  you  ?  "  replied  the  stranger  ;  "  then  you  are  a 
disgrace  to  the  cloth."  To  this  rude  observation  he  returned 
this  meek  answer  :  "  Perhaps  I  shall  be  held  in  still  greater 
disgrace,  in  your  estimation,  when  I  inform  you  that  I  am 
now  going  nine  miles  to  preach,  and  have  but  seven  pence  in  my 
pocket  to  bear  my  expenses  out  and  in  ;  but  I  Jook  forward  to 
that  crown  of  glory  my  Lord  and  Saviour  will  bestow  upon 
me  when  he  makes  his  appearance  before  an  assembled  world." 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  737 

PROVIDENTIAL  DELIVERANCE. 

Notwithstanding  the  Lord  stood  with  me,  and  strengthened  me,  that  by  me 
the  preaching  might  be  fully  known,  and  that  all  the  Gentiles  might  hear ;  and 

1  was  delivered  out  of  the  mouth  of  the  lion.  —  2  Tim.  4 :  17. 

A  DMIRAL  SIR  THOMAS  WILLIAMS,  a  straightforward 
J\.  and  excellent  man,  was  in  command  of  a  ship  crossing  the 
Atlantic  Ocean.  '  His  course  brought  him  in  sight  of  the  Island 
of  Ascension,  at  that  time  uninhabited,  and  never  visited  by 
any  ship,  except  for  the  purpose  of  collecting  turtles,  which 
abound  on  the  coast.  The  island  was  barely  descried  on  the 
horizon,  and  was  not  to  be  noticed  at  all ;  but  as  Sir  Thomas 
looked  at  it  he  was  seized  by  an  unaccountable  desire  to  steer 
toward  it. 

He  felt  how  strange  such  a  wish  would  appear  to  his  crew, 
and  tried  to  disregard  it,  but  in  vain.  His  desire  became  more 
and  more  urgent  and  distressing,  and  foreseeing  that  it  would 
soon  be  more  difficult  to  gratify  it,  he  told  his  lieutenant  to 
prepare  to  "  put  about  ship,''  and  steer  for  Ascension.  The 
officer  to  whom  he  spoke  ventured  to  respectfully  represent 
that  changing  their  course  would  greatly  delay  them  •  that 
just  at  that  moment  the  men  were  going  to  their  dinner ;  that 
at  least  some  delay  might  be  allowed. 

But  these  arguments  seemed  to  increase  Captain  Williams' 
anxiety,  and  the  ship  was  steered  toward  the  uninteresting 
little  island.  All  eyes  and  spy-glasses  were  now  fixed  upon 
it,  and  soon  something  was  perceived  on  the  shore.  "  It  is 
white  —  it  is  a  flag  —  it  must  be  a  signal !  "  And  when  they 
•neared  the  shore,  it  was  ascertained  that  sixteen  men,  wrecked 
on  the  coast  many  days  before,  and  suffering  the  extremity  of 
hunger,  had  set  up  a  signal,  though  almost  without  hope  of 
relief. 

PAUL  AND  TROPHIMUS. 

Erastus  abode  at  Corinth,  but  Trophimus  have  I  left  at  Miletum  sick.  — 

2  Tim.  4  :  20. 

"mROPHIMUS  have    I   left   at   Miletum    sick."     Did   you, 
_L   Paul  ?     And  why  did  you  leave  him  sick,  when  you  pos- 
93 


738  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

sessed  the  power  of  working  miracles?  Why  were  you  so 
profuse  of  your  miracles  in  Melita,  while  you  are  so  sparing 
of  them  among  your  best  friends  ?  For  the  very  reason  of 
showing  that  miracles  are  rather  for  the  proof  of  the  gospel 
than  for  the  private  benefit  even  of  the  heirs  of  glory.  God 
is  sovereign  in  this  as  well  as  in  everything  else.  Jesus  healed 
the  ear  of  the  high  priest's  servant,  while  Paul  did  not  heal 
his  friend  Trophimus. 

The  apostles  exercised  their  power,  not  by  their  discretion 
or  caprice,  but  by  the  suggestion  of  the  Holy  Spirit.  This, 
then,  is  a  providential  fact,  the  record  of  which,  though  to 
human  wisdom  trifling,  is  yet  of  great  importance  to  the  chil- 
dren of  God.  They  are  not  to  expect  that  they  will  always 
be  free  from  sickness,  or  that  their  sickness  will  be  soon  dis- 
missed. They  have  reason  to  trust  that  God  will  always  be 
with  them,  and  will  turn  everything  to  good  for  them.  But 
they  must  submit  to  him  as  a  Sovereign  who  gives  no  account 
of  his  matters.  —  Dr.  Carson. 


AN  UNFAITHFUL  PREACHER. 

But  hath  in  due  times  manifested  his  word  through  preaching,  which  is 
committed  unto  me  according  to  the  commandment  of  God  our  Saviour.  — 
Titus  1 :  3. 

DR.  SPRAGUE  tells  the  following  anecdote  of  an  evangeli- 
cal clergyman  of  the  English  Church,  named  Jones.  The 
story  was  given  him  by  the  Rev.  George  Burder. 

Mr.  Jones  had  a  college  classmate,  who  entered  the  minis- 
try at  the  same  time  with  himself,  but  was  a  mere  man  of  the 
world,  and  knew  little,  and  cared  nothing,  about  the  true  gos- 
pel. This  man,  conversing  one  day  with  Mr.  Jones,  said  to 
him,  half  jocosely,  half  seriously,  — 

"  Why  is  it  that  you  are  so  popular  as  a  preacher,  and  so 
few  come  to  hear  me,  when  everybody  knows  that  at  the 
university  I  was  considered  greatly  your  superior  ?  " 

"  Why,"  said  Mr.  Jones,  "  the  reason  is,  that  I  preach  the 
gospel." 

"  The  gospel ! "  said  the  other ;  "  so  do  I.  Almost  every 
text  I  preach  upon  is  from  Matthew,  Mark,  Luke,  or  John." 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  739 

Said  Mr.  Jones,  "  You  may  do  that,  and  yet  never  preach 
Jesus  Christ." 

"  Well,"  said  the  other,  "lend  me  one  of  your  sermons,  and 
see  what  effect  it  will  have." 

He  actually  did  lend  him  one,  and  he  preached  it,  as  he  had 
^engaged  to  do ;  and  as  he  was  coming  out  of  the  church  at 
the  clo,se  of  the  service,  he  was  accosted  by  a  man  who,  in 
listening  to  the  borrowed  discourse,  had  been  thrown  into  a 
state  of  anxiety  in  respect  to  his  salvation. 

Says  the  minister,  somewhat  confused  by  the  strange  result 
of  his  preaching,  "  Wait,  wait ;  say  nothing  about  it  till  the 
people  have  all  gone  out." 

After  the  congregation  had  retired,  the  anxious  inquirer 
began  further  to  explain  himself,  when  the  clergyman  inter- 
rupted him  by  saying,  — 

"  But  what  is  the  matter  with  you  ?  I  see  no  occasion  for 
making  yourself  so  unhappy." 

"  Matter  \ "  replied  he  ;  "  why,  your  preaching  has  made  me 
feel  like  a  condemned  criminal,  and  I  «fear  there  is  no  mercy 
for  me." 

"Well,  really,"  said  the  minister,  "I  am  very  sorry  that  I 
have  wounded  your  feelings  —  I  had  no  intention  of  domg  it ; 
but,  since  you  have  got  into  this  uncomfortable  state,  I  advise 
you  to  go  and  see  Mr.  Jones." 


HIS  MOUTH  WAS  STOPPED. 

Whose  mouths  must  be  stopped,  who  subvert  whole  houses,  teaching  things 
which  they  ought  not  for  filthy  lucre's  sake.  —  Titus  1:11. 

TRAVELING  in  the  stage,  a  short  time  since,  I  was  highly 
JL  amused  with  the  various  characters  that  came  into  contact. 
The  peculiarities  of  each  were  exhibited  in  the  clearest  point 
of  view  by  the  contrast.  My  attention  was  particularly  at- 
tracted by  the  modesty,  good  sense,  and  sound  principles  of 
a  Quaker,  who  said  little,  and  that  to  the  purpose,  while  the 
whole  company  was  exceedingly  annoyed  by  the  incessant 
prating  of  a  conceited  coxcomb,  who  knew  everything,  except 
the  very  evident  fact  that  every  person  present  was  disgusted 


710  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

with  his  conduct.  He  was  by  turns  a  farmer,  a  politician,  a 
philosopher,  and  a  divine.  From  him  we  learned  what  Satan 
has  preached  from  the  beginning — that  the  wicked  shall  not 
surely  die,  and  that  the  whole  tenor  of  Scripture  and  the  very 
nature  of  the  gospel  teach,  in  the  clearest  and  most  forcible 
manner,  the  doctrine  of  universal  salvation  ;  and  that  any  other 
system  of  doctrines  was  founded  on  ignorance  of  the  Bible.  In* 
the  course  of  his  preaching  —  for  he  was,  in  fact,  as  we  after- 
ward learned,  a  Universalist  preacher  of  much  renown  —  he 
repeatedly  boasted  of  his  knowledge  of  Scripture,  and  of  his 
ability  to  quote  more  texts  than  any  other  person  present,  or 
even  in  this  country.  After  a  while,  the  Quaker,  who  had 
hitherto  said  nothing  on  the  subject,  cast  on  him  a  countenance 
beaming  with  the  law  of  kindness.  "  Friend,"  said  he,  "  I  think 
I  heard  thee  say  thou  art  very  learned  in  the  Scriptures." 
"  Yes/'  replied  the  preacher;  "  and  who  disputes  it  ?  I'll  bet  a 
hat  that  I  can  quote  more  passages  than  all  of  you  together." 
"  Well,  friend,  then  thou  dost  doubtless  recollect  this  one  pas- 
sage :  l  Seest  thou  a  man  wise  in  his  own  conceit  ?  There  is 
more  hope  of  a  fool  than  of  him  ! '  "  The  effect  of  this  reproof 
was  instantaneous  and  astonishing.  It  was  a  word  fitly  spoken. 
The  man  appeared  to  lose  at  once  all  knowledge  of  Scripture 
and  command  of  his  tongue.  He  seemed  to  be  deaf,  and  he 
was  almost  literally  dumb,  the  remainder  of  the  journey.  I 
was  no  less  surprised  than  delighted  to  find  that  the  words 
of  the  wise  are  indeed  as  goads,  and  that  the  fool's  mouth  can 
be  so  easily  sealed  up. 


A  JUST  REBUKE. 

This  witness  is  true ;  wherefore  rebuke  them  sharply,  that  they  may  be 
sound  in  the  faith.  —  Titus  1 :  13. 

SIR  ISAAC  NEWTON  set  out  in  life  a  clamorous  infidel ; 
but,  on  a  nice  examination  of  Christianity,  he  found  reason 
to  change  his  opinions.  When  the  celebrated  Dr.  Edmund 
Halley  was  talking  infidelity  before  him,  Sir  Isaac  addressed 
him  in  this  wise :  "  Dr.  Halley,  I  am  always  glad  to  hear  you 
speak  about  astronomy,  or  other  parts  of  the  mathematics, 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  741 

because  those  are  subjects  which  you  have  studied,  and  well 
understand  ;  but  you  should  not  talk  of  Christianity,  for  you 
have  not  studied  it.  I  have,  and  I  am  certain  that  you  know 
nothing  of  the  matter/"  This  was  a  just  reproof,  and  one  that 
would  be  very  suitable  to  be  given  to  half  the  infidels  of  the  pres- 
ent day,  for  they  often  speak  of  what  they  have  never  studied, 
and  what,  in  fact,  they  are  entirely  ignorant  of.  Dr.  Johnson, 
therefore,  well  observed,  that  no  honest  man  could  be  a  Deist, 
for  the  reason  that  no  man  could  be  so  after  a  fair  examination 
of  the  proofs  of  Christianity.  On  the  name  of  Hume  being 
mentioned  to  him, "  No,  sir/'  said  he.  "  Hume  once  owned  to  a 
clergyman  in  the  bishopric  of  Durham,  that  he  had  never  read 
the  New  Testament  with  attention." 


A  PURE  HEART. 

Unto  the  pure  all  .things  are  pure ;  but  unto  them  that  are  defiled  and  un- 
believing is  nothing  pure,  but  even  their  mind  and  conscience  is  defiled.  — 
Titus  1 :  15. 

A  PURE  heart  is  more  precious  in  the  sight  of  God  than 
aught  else  on  earth.  A  pure  heart  is  a  fair,  fitly-adorned 
chamber,  the  dwelling  of  the  Holy  Ghost ;  a  golden  temple  of 
the  Godhead ;  a  sanctuary  of  the  only-begotten  Son,  wherein 
he  worships  the  heavenly  Father  ;  an  altar  of  the  grand,  divine 
sacrifice,  on  which  the  Son  is  daily  offered  to  the  heavenly 
Father.  A  pure  heart  is  the  throne  of  the  Supreme  Judge ; 
the  seat  and  secret  chamber  of  the  Holy  Trinity ;  a  lamp 
bearing  the  eternal  light;  a  secret  council-chamber  of  the 
Divine  Persons  ;  a  treasury  of  divine  riches ;  a  storehouse  of 
divine  sweetness  ;  a  panoply  of  eternal  wisdom  ;  a  cell  of  di- 
vine solitude  ;  the  reward  of  all  the  life  and  sufferings  of  Christ. 
A  pure  heart  is  a  tabernacle  of  the  Holy  Father;  a  bride  of 
Christ ;  a  friend  of  the  Holy  Ghost ;  a  delight  to  the  eyes'  of  all 
saints  ;  a  sister  of  the  angels  ;  a  cause  of  joy  to  the  heavenly 
hosts  ;  a  brother  of  all  good  men  ;  a  terror  to  the  devil ;  a  vic- 
tory and  conquest  over  all  temptation  ;  a  weapon  against  all 
assaults  ;  a  reservoir  of  divine  benefits  ;  a  treasury  of  all  vir- 
tue ;  an  example  to  all  men  ;  a  restoration  of  all  that  has  ever 


742  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

been  lost.  Now,  what  is  a  pure  heart  ?  It  is,  as  we  have  said 
before,  a  heart  which  finds  its  whole  and  only  satisfaction  in 
God  —  which  relishes  and  desires  nothing  but  God;  whose 
thoughts  and  intents  are  ever  occupied  with  God ;  to  which 
all  that  is  not  of  God  is  strange  and  jarring  j  which  keeps  itself, 
as  far  as  possible,  apart  from  all  unworthy  images,  and  joys, 
and  griefs,  and  all  outward  cares  and  anxieties,  'and  makes  all 
these  work  together  for  good  —  for  to  the  pure  all  things  are 
pure,  and  to  the  gentle  is  nothing  bitter.  —  Tauter. 


LIMITED  ATONEMENT.   . 

For  the  grace  of  God  that  bringeth  salvation  hath  appeared  to  all  men.  — 
Titus  2:  II. 

IT  is  difficult  at  the  present  day  to  conceive  to  what  extent 
the  doctrine  of  the  limited  atonement,  and  the  views  of 
election  which  accompanied  it,  were  carried.  I  once  knew  a 
popular  minister,  who  used  to  quote  the  passage,  "  God  so 
loved  the  world."  <fec.,  by  inserting  the  word  elect  before  world  : 
"  God  so  loved  the  elect  world,77  &c.  I  was,  in  the  early  part 
of  my  ministry,  settled  in  a  respectable  town  in  Massachusetts ; 
one  of  my  members,  a  very  worthy  man,  and  the  son  of  a  Bap- 
tist minister,  and  reputed  to  be  very  clear  in  the  doctrines 
(this  was  the  term  applied  to  this  form  of  belief),  had  an  inter- 
esting family  wholly  given  up  to  worldliness.  I  wished  to 
converse  with  them  on  the  subject  of  personal  religion,  and 
mentioned  to  him  my  desire.  He  kindly  but  plainly  told  me 
that  he  did  not  wish  any  to  converse  with  his  children  on  that 
subject.  If  they  were  elected,  God  would  convert  them  in  his 
own  time  ;  but  if  not,  talking  would  do  them  no  good  ;  it  would 
only  make  them  hypocrites.  —  Dr.  Wayland. 


A  RICH  POOR  MAN. 

Looking  for  that  blessed  hope,  and  the  glorious  appearing  of  the  great  God 
and  our  Saviour  Jesus  Christ.  —  Titus  2  :  13. 


0 


NE  windy  afternoon  I  went  with  a  friend  into  a  country 
almshouse.     There  was  sitting  before  a  feeble  firo  a  very 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  743 

aged  man,  who  was  deaf,  and  so  shaken  with  the  palsy  that 
one  wooden  shoe  constantly  pattered  on  the  brick  floor.  But 
deaf,  sick,  and  helpless,  it  turned  out  that  he  was  happy. 

"  What  are  you  doing,  Wisby  ?  "  said  my  friend. 

"  Waiting,  sir." 

"  And  for  what  ?  " 

"  For  the  appearing  of  my  Lord." 

"  And  what  makes  you  wish  for  his  appearing  ?  " 

"  Because,  sir,  I  expect  great  things  then.  He  has  promised 
a  crown  of  righteousness  to  all  that  love  his  appearing." 

And  to  see  whether  it  was  a  right  foundation  on  which  he 
rested  that  glorious  hope,  we  asked  old  Wisby  what  it  was. 
By  degrees  he  got  on  his  spectacles,  and  opening  the  great 
Bible  beside  him,  pointed  to  the  text,  "  Therefore,  being  justi- 
fied by  faith,  we  have  peace  with  God  through  our  Lord  Jesus 
Christ ;  by  whom  also  we  have  access  by  faith  into  this  grace 
wherein  we  stand,  and  rejoice  in  the  hope  of  the  glory  of 
God." 

Though  you  possess  untold  wealth,  if  you  have  not  old 
Wisby's  faith,  you  are  a  poor  man  ;  if  you  have  that  faith,  and 
are  "  rich  toward  God,"  count  it  all  joy  if  you  are  as  poor  as 
Lazarus  or  Wisby  in  worldly  goods.  Your  inheritance  is  as 
sure  as  God's  promise,  and  as  glorious  as  a  throne  and  a  crown 
can  make  it.  Better  have  Wisby's  hope  than  Victoria's  scep- 
ter, Lazarus'  rags  than  Dives'  purple.  Better  is  poverty  with 
piety  than  riches  with  perdition.  —  Bishop  Heber. 


REDEEMED  FROM  ALL  INIQUITY. 

Who  gave  himself  for  us,  that  he  might  redeem  us  from  all  iniquity,  and 
purify  unto  himself  a  peculiar  people  zealous  of  good  works.  —  Titus  2  :  14. 

TESUS  never  enters  the  soul  of  man  to  drive  out  one  or  two 
U  sins,  nor  even  to  overcome  a  band  of  vices  to  the  excep- 
tion of  others  :  his  work  is  perfect,  not  partial ;  his  cleansings 
are  complete  baptisms ;  his  purify  ings  tend  to  remove  all  our 
dross,  and  consume  all  our  tin.  He  sweeps  the  heart  from  its 
dust  as  well  as  its  Dagons ;  he  suffers  not  even  the  most  insig- 
nificant spider  of  lust  to  spin  its  cobweb,  with  allowance,  on 


74 i  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

the  walls  of  his  temple.  All  heinous  sins  and  private  sins, 
youthful  sins  and  manhood's  sins,  sins  of  omission  and  of  com- 
mission, of  word  and  of  deed,  of  thought  and  of  imagination, 
sins  against  God  or  against  man,  —  all  will  combine  like  a  col- 
umn of  serpents  in  the  desert  to  affright  the  new-born  child  of 
heaven  ;  and  he  will  desire  to  see  the  head  of  every  one  of 
them  broken  beneath  the  heel  of  the  destroyer  of  evil,  Jesus, 
the  seed  of  the  woman.  Believe  not  thyself  to  be  truly 
awakened  unless  thou  abhorrest  sin  in  all  its  stages,  from  the 
embryo  to  the  ripe  fruit,  and  in  all  its  shades,  from  the  com- 
monly allowed  lust  down  to  the  open  and  detested  crime. 
When  Hannibal  took  the  oath  of  perpetual  hatred  to  the 
Romans,  he  included  in  that  oath  plebeians  as  well  as  pa- 
tricians ;  so  if  thou  art  indeed  at  enmity  with  evil,  thou  wilt 
abhor  all  iniquity,  even  though  it  be  of  the  very  lowest  de- 
gree. Beware  that  thou  write  not  down  affright  at  one  sin  as 
being  repentance  for  all.  —  Spurgeon. 


OBEY  AUTHORITIES. 

Put  them  in  mind  to  be  subject  to  principalities  and  powers,  to  obey  magis- 
trates, to  be  ready  to  every  good  work.  —  Titus  3  :  1. 

DURING  the  inauguration  of  General  Taylor,  at  Washing- 
ton,  D.  C.,  March  4,  1849,  the  police  regulations,  as  usual, 
required  that  after  the  speech  of  the  new  president  had  com- 
menced, the  gates  of  the  Capitol  grounds  should  be  closed,  and 
no  carriage  of  any  kind  allowed  to  pass  until  the  speech  was 
finished,  to  prevent  confusion. 

The  minister  of  all  the  Russias,  M.  Bodisco,  was  very  late, 
and  after  the  speech  had  begun,  drove  up  to  the  gate  in 
great  haste,  the  horses  covered  with  foam,  when  the  coach- 
man shouted  to  the  guard,  — 

"  Open  ze  gates,  iv  you  please." 

The  footman  next  called  out,  "  Will  you  open  ze  gates  for  ze 
Russian  minister  ?  " 

The  guard  again  shook  his  head,  without  answering  a  word- 
Next  the  grand  minister  put  his  head  out  of  the  carriage  win- 
dow, and  called  to  the  guard,  — 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  745 

"  Open  ze  gates  to  ze  gran  minister  of  all  ze  Russias,  Min- 
ister Plenipotentiary,  M.  Bodisco ;  I  am  ze  minister."  * 

There  was  a  great  crowd  around  the  gates  within  and  with- 
out, and  all  this  fuss  created  quite  a  stir.  The  guard  drew 
himself  up,  and  in  a  firm  but  pleasant  manner,  replied,  — 

"  If  you  were  a  free-born  American  citizen  of  these  United 
States  of  America,  you  could  not  pass  the  gate  in  a  carriage." 

The  crowd  came  very  near  giving  three  cheers  for  the 
guard,  but  better  manners  prevailed  j  and  M.  Bodisco  stepped 
out  of  his  elegant  equipage,  and  entered  the  side  gate  with 
the  sovereign  people,  his  carriage  remaining  outside  until  all 
the  ceremonies  were  over. 


"WE  HAVE  A  MERCIFUL  GOD." 

Not  by  works  of  righteousness  which  we  have  done,  but  according  to  his 
mercy  he  saved  us,  by  the  washing  of  regeneration,  and  renewing  of  the  Holy 
Ghost ;  which  he  shed  on  us  abundantly  through  Jesus  Christ  our  Saviour.  — 
Titus  3  :  5,  6. 

HOW  often  do  we  hear  the  expression  from  the  lips  of 
wicked  persons,  when  conversed  with  on  the  subject  of 
religion,  "  We  have  a  merciful  God 7/t !     They  say  this  without 
any  proper  comprehension  of  the  plan  of  salvation,  or  how  the 
mercy  of  God  saves  the  sinner. 

True,  we  have  a  merciful  God ;  but  nowhere  in  the  Bible  is 
there  the  least  intimation  that  the  mercy  of  God  flows  out  in- 
discriminately upon  a  world  of  sinners  to  the  extent  of  secur- 
ing their  salvation.  Temporal  blessings  and  a  gracious  pro- 
bation show  the  mercy  of  God  very  clearly  ;  but  salvation 
from  sin  and  its  consequences  is  regulated  by  the  law  of 
God's  moral  government.  The  mercy  of  God  is  as  much 
directed  by  the  divine  law  as  the  justice  of  God.  It  was  the 
mercy  of  God  that  provided  "  a  way  to  escape  "  by  the  atone- 
ment for  sin  which  was  made  by  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ.  God 
is  now  approachable,  and  heaven  obtainable,  through  this  new 
and  living  way.  But  to  that  sinner  who  despises  the  Lord 
Jesus  Christ  and  refuses  obedience  to  him,  the  mercy  of  God 
does  not  avail.  St.  Paul  said,  "  Our  God  is  a  consuming  fire." 
94 


746  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

(Heb.  12  :  29.)  It  would  be  neither  mercy  nor  justice  for  God 
to  takfc  into  heaven  that  man  who,  through  all  his  life,  had  re- 
pudiated God's  plan  of  saving  the  sinner,  which  is  "  by  repent- 
ance toward  God  and  faith  in  the*  Lord  Jesus  Christ." 

The  divine  government  reveals  no  way  into  heaven  but  by 
the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  and  our  faith  in  him  is  essential  to  our 
induction  into  that  way.  Hence  St.  Paul  said  to  the  jailer  at 
Philippi,  "  Believe  in  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  and  thou  shalt  be 
saved."  "  There  is  none  other  name  under  heaven  given 
among  men.  whereby  we  must  be  saved."  "  No  man  cometh 
unto  the  Father  but  by  me."  And  St.  Paul  declares  that 
those  who  "  obey  not  the  gospel  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ 
shall  be  punished  with  everlasting  destruction  from  the  pres- 
ence of  the  Lord  and  from  the  glory  of  his  power."  (2  Thess. 
1  :  8,  9.)  The  mercy  of  God  neither  closes  hell  nor  opens 
heaven  to  that  sinner  who  is  not  "  putting  on  the  Lord  Jesus 
Christ." 


LOVE  FOR  THE  SAINTS. 

Hearing  of  thy  love  and  faith  which  thou  hast  toward  the  Lord  Jesus  and 
toward  all  saints.  —  Phil.  5. 

A  RICH  merchant  in  St.  Petersburg,  at  his  own  cost,  sup- 
ported a  number  of  native  missionaries  in  India,  and  gave 
like  a  prince  to  the  cause  of  God  at  home.  He  was  asked  one 
day  how  he  could  do  it.  He  replied,  "  When  I  served  the 
devil,  I  did  it  on  a  grand  scale,  and  at  princely  expense ;  and 
when,  by  his  grace,  God  called  me  out  of  darkness,  I  resolved 
Christ  should  have  more  than  the  devil  had  had.  But  how  I 
can  give  so  much  you  must  ask  of  God,  .who  enables  me  to  give 
it.  At  my  conversion,  I  told  the  Lord  his  cause  would  have 
a  part  of  all  that  my  business  brought  me  in  ;  and  every  year 
since  I  made  that  promise,  it  has  brought  me  in  about  double 
that  it  did  the  year  before :  so  that  I  can  and  do  double  my 
gifts  in  his  cause."  Bunyan  said,  — 

"  A  man  there  was,  —  some  called  him  mad,  — 
The  more  he  cast  away,  the  more  he  had." 

—  Fosters  Cyclopedia. 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  747 


JOY  FROM  REFRESHING  THE  SAINTS. 

For  we  have  great  joy  and  consolation  in  thy  love,  because  the  bowels  of 
the  saints  are  refreshed  by  thee,  brother.  —  Phil.  7. 


clergy  of  Amida,  at  the  instigation  of  the  bishop,  sold 
_L  all  the  gold  and  silver  vessels  of  their  churches  in  order 
to  supply  the  wants  of  seven  thousand  Persian  prisoners  who 
were  thrown  into  that  city  by  the  Romans  in  a  most  destitute 
condition.  A  certain  cardinal  once  took  pity  upon  a  poor 
woman  who  applied  to  him  for  five  crowns  to  pay  her  rent, 
and  he  gave  her  five  hundred  because  of  her  virtue,  honesty, 
and  piety.  Pisistratus,  the  Athenian,  always  had  a  servant 
near  him  with  a  bag  of  silver  coin,  from  which  he  always  sup- 
plied the  wants  of  the  sickly,  the  insolvent,  &c.  Cyrus  said 
that  he  had  prodigious  riches  ;  and  the  chief  end  he  aimed  at 
in  the  use  of  them  was  to  reward  those  who  serve  the  public 
faithfully,  and  to  succor  and  relieve  those  that  would  acquaint 
him  with  their  wants  and  necessities.  Pliny,  a  Roman  orator, 
though  not  very  rich,  yet  by  frugality  bestowed  great  sums 
of  money  upon  his  friends.  A  friend  of  his,  who  became  in- 
solvent, he  became  responsible  for.  When  his  friend  died,  his 
daughter  would  have  given  him  all  her  father's  effects  }  but 
Pliny  generously  forgave  her  all,  and,  besides,  contributed  a 
large  sum  of  money  as  an  addition  to  her  fortune.  Julius 
Caesar  used  to  say  that  there  was  no  music  so  charming  in  his 
ears  as  the  requests  of  his  friends,  and  the  supplications  of 
those  in  want  of  assistance.  Marcus  Aurelius  says  that  he 
could  not  relish  a  happiness  which  nobody  shared  but  himself. 
Marc  Antony,  when  depressed,  and  at  the  ebb  of  fortune,  cried 
out  that  he  had  lost  all,  except  what  he  had  given  away. 
Cato,  at  the  close  of  life,  declared  to  his  friends  that  the  great- 
est comfort  of  his  old  age,  and  that  which  gave  him  the  highest 
satisfaction,  was  the  pleasing  remembrance  of  the  many 
benefits  and  friendly  offices  he  had  done  to  others.  —  L.  M. 
Stretch. 


748  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

OBEDIENCE  A  MORAL  OBLIGATION. 

Having  confidence  in  thy  obedience,  I  wrote  unto  thee,  knowing  that  thou 
wilt  also  do  more  than  I  say.  —  Phil,  21. 

TIHE  first  rule  of  the  order  which  St.  Francis  founded  was 
implicit  submission  to  the  superior.  The  legend  says  that 
one  day  a  monk  proved  refractory,  and  must  be  subdued.  By 
order  of  St,  Francis,  a  grave  was  dug  deep  enough  to  hold  a 
man ;  the  monk  was  put  into  it,  and  his  associates  began  to 
shovel  in  the  earth,  while  the  superior  looked  on  stern  as  death. 
When  the  mold  reached  the  knees  of  the  stubborn  monk,  St. 
Francis,  stooping  down,  asked  him,  "Are  you  dead  yet? 
Is  your  self-will  dead?  Do  you  yield?  "  There  was  no  an- 
swer. In  the  grave  there  seemed  to  stand  a  man  with  a  will 
as  iron  as  his  own.  The  burial  continued  to  the  middle,  to  the 
shoulders,  to  the  lips.  Once  more  St.  Francis  bent  down  to 
repeat  his  question,  "  Are  you  dead  yet  ?  "  The  suffocating 
monk  saw  no  relenting  in  the  stern  countenance  of  his  supe- 
rior. Resistance  was  useless.  A  few  moments  more  and  the 
earth  would  cover  him.  Then  the  iron  will  was  broken ;  the 
funeral  was  stayed,  and  the  submissive  monk  replied,  "I  am 
dead."  The  monk  is  the  type  of  many,  some  of  whom  yield 
in  the  last  extremity,  and  others  go  into  eternity  still  raging 
against  the  Supreme.  —  Foster's  Cydopcedia. 


UNIVERSAL  OBLIGATION. 

And  again,  when  he  bringeth  in  the  first-begotten  into  the  world,  he  saith, 
And  let  all  the  angels  of  God  worship  him.  —  Heb.  1 :  6. 

THE  command  that  all  the  angels  of  God  should  worship 
the  Lord  Jesus  Christ  would  also  make  it  the  duty  of 
men.  The  greater  would  include  the  less.  All  the  great 
duties  of  a  Christian  life  are  no  more  incumbent  upon  Chris- 
tians than  upon  other  men;  for  men  are  bound  to  be  and 
do  right  on  the  religious  scale  of  rectitude,  not  because 
they  are  Christians,  but  because  they  are  men.  Religious 
obligations  took  hold  of  us  when  we  were  born.  They 
waited  for  us  as  the  air  did.  "They  have  their  sources 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  740 

back  of  volition,  back  of  consciousness,  just  as  attraction  has. 
Though  a  man  declares  himself  an  atheist,  it  in  no  way  alters 
his  obligations.  Right  and  wrong  do  not  spring  from  the  na- 
ture of  the  church.  Obligation  lies  deeper  than  that.  The 
church  is  a  mere  organization  to  help  a  man  fulfill  his  duties ; 
it  is  not  the  source  from  whence  those  duties  sprang.  It  is 
as  much  the  worldling's  duty  to  love  God  and  obey  his  laws 
as  the  Christian's.  —  Beecher. 


DIGNITY  OF  BELIEVERS. 

Are  they  not  all  ministering  spirits,  sent  forth  to  minister  for  them  who 
shall  be  heirs  of  salvation  ?  —  Ileb.  1 :  14. 

THE  high  estimate  set  by  Heaven  on  the  true  people  of  God 
is  made  apparent  by  the  fact  that  angels  minister  unto 
them. 

The  wicked  may  revile  them,  and  point  at  them  the  finger  of 
scorn  j  but  angels,  unspotted,  noble,  glorious  angels  love  them, 
appreciate  them,  and  cheerfully  do  them  service.  The  name 
saint  in  this  world,  where  right  and  wrong  are  confounded,  and 
vice  bears  rule,  is  often  a  term  of  reproach.  0  what  a  differ- 
ent meaning  does  that  word  convey  to  the  mind  of  Him  "  who 
seeth  not  as  man  seeth,  but  who  looketh  upon  the  heart,"  and 
to  the  mind  of  intelligent  heaven !  There  are  those  now 
who  are  ashamed  to  be  considered  Christians.  Look  at  it. 
Ashamed  to  be  one  of  those  to  whom  angels  are  not  ashamed 
to  minister  !  How  ridiculous  in  the  eyes  of  angels  and  of  God 
do  such  appear  !  or  rather,  if  angels  could  blush  at  what  others 
ought  to  blush  at,  how  would  they  blush  at  such  a  spectacle  ! 
No.  "  Let  evening  blush  to  own  her  stars  ;  "  let  Satan,  apos- 
tate, abandoned  Satan,  blush  at  the  remembrance  of  his  once 
lofty  perfections  and  dignified  estate ;  but  let  no  man  blush  at 
the  name  of  Christian.  I  wonder  not  that  the  wicked  are 
represented  at  the  last  day  as  "  calling  upon  the  rocks  and 
mountains  to  fall  upon  them,'7  I  wonder  not  that,  having  been 
ashamed  of  Christians  and  the  Christian  name,  they  should 
then  be  ashamed  of  themselves,  and  "  awake  to  shame  and 
everlasting  contempt."  I*  wonder  not  at  that  expression, 


750  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

"  confusion  of  face."  I  should  think  that  there  would  be  con- 
fusion of  face  whenever  the  ungodly  looked  at  their  Maker, 
their  conduct,  or  their  company. 


NEGLECTING  SALVATION. 

How  shall  we  escape  if  we  neglect  so  great  salvation,  which  at  the  first  be- 
gan to  be  spoken  by  the  Lord,  and  was  confirmed  unto  us  by  them  that  heard 
him?—  Heb.  2:3. 

MOST  of  the  calamities  of  life  are  caused  by  simple  neglect. 
By  neglect  of  education  children  grow  up  in  ignorance. 
By  neglect  a  farm  grows  up  to  weeds  and  briers ;  by  neglect 
a  house  goes  to  decay ;  by  neglect  of  sowing  a  man  will  have 
no  harvest ;  by  neglect  of  reaping  the  harvest  will  rot  in  the 
field.  No  worldly  interest  can  prosper  where  there  is  neglect ; 
and  may  it  not  be  so  in  religion?  There  is  nothing  in  earthly 
affairs  that  is  valuable  that  will  not  be  ruined  if  it  is  not  at- 
tended to ;  and  why  may  it  not  be  so  with  the  concerns  of  the 
soul  ?  Let  no  one  infer,  therefore,  that  because  he  is  no,t  a 
drunkard,  or  an  adulterer,  or  a  murderer,  that  he  will  be  saved. 
Such  an  inference  would  be  as  irrational  as  it  would  be  for  a 
man  to  infer  that  because  he  is  not  a  murderer,  his  farm  will 
produce  a  harvest,  or  that  because  he  is  not  an  adulterer, 
therefore  his  merchandise  will  take  care  of  itself.  Salvation 
would  be  worth  nothing  if  it  cost  no  effort,  and  there  will  be 
no  salvation  where  no  effort  is  put  forth. 


SEEING  JESUS. 

But  we  see  Jesus,  who  was  made  a  little  lower  than  the  angels  for  the  suf- 
fering of  death,  crowned  with  glory  and  honor,  that  he,  by  the  grace  of  God, 
should  taste  death  for  every  man.  —  Heb.  2  :  9. 

TO  see  Jesus  clearly  with  the  eye  of  faith,  is  to  see  the  deep 
opening  a  way  from  Egypt  to  freedom's  shore ;  is  to  see 
the  water  gush  full  and  sparkling  from  the  desert  rock ;  is  to 
see  the  serpent  gleaming  on  its  pole  over  a  dying  camp ;  is  to 
see  the  life-boat  coming  when  our  bark  is  thumping  on  the 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  751 

bank,  or  ground  on  rocks  by  foaming  breakers ;  is  to  see  a 
pardon  when  the  noose  is  round  our  neck,  and  our  foot  is  on 
the  drop.  No  sight  in  the  wide  world  like  Jesus  Christ,  with 
forgiveness  on  his  lips,  and  a  crown  in  his  blessed  hand !  — 
this  is  worth  laboring  for,  praying  for,  living  for,  suffering  for, 
dying  for.  You  remember  how  the  prophet's  servant  climbed 
the  steeps  of  Carmel.  Three  years,  and  never  cloud  had  dappled 
the  burning  sky ;  three  long  yea^rs,  and  never  a  dew-drop  had 
glistened  on  the  grass,  or  wet  the  lips  of  allying  flower;  but 
the  cloud  came  at  last.  No  bigger  than  a  man's  hand,  it  rose 
from  the  sea,  it  spread ;  and  as  he  saw  the  first  lightning's 
flash,  and  heard  the  first  thunder's  roll,  how  did  he  forget  all 
his  toils,  and  would  have  climbed  the  hill  not  seven,  but  seventy 
times  seven,  times,  to  hail  that  welcome  sight !  It  is  so  with 
sinners  so  soon  as  their  eyes  are  gladdened  with  a  believing 
sight  of  Christ;  when  they  have  got  Christ,  and  with  him 
peace.  —  Dr.  Gutlirie. 

GOD  OUR  INHERITANCE. 

For  it  became  him,  for  whom  are  all  things,  and  by  whom  are  all  things, 
in  bringing  many  sons  unto  glory,  to  make  the  captain  of  their  salvation  per- 
fect through  sufferings.  —  Heb.  2  :  10. 

GOD  is  our  inheritance.     The  best,  the  richest,  the  bright- 
est, the  most  beautiful  of  all  that  is  in  God,  of  good,  and 
rich,  and  bright,  and  beautiful,  shall  be  ours.     The  glory  that 
fills  heaven  above,  the  glory  that  spreads  over  the  earth  be- 
neath, shall  be  ours. 

"  The  wise  shall  inherit  glory."  (Prov.  3  :  35.)  «  The  saints 
shall  be  joyful  in  glory."  (Psalm  149  :  5.)  That  to  which  we 
are  called  is  "eternal  glory."  (1  Peter  5  :  10.)  That  which 
we  obtain  is  "  salvation  in  Christ  Jesus,  with  eternal  glory." 
(2  Tim.  2  :  10.)  It  is  to  glory  that  God  is  "bringing  many 
sons  "  (Heb.  2  :  10) ;  so  that  as  he,  through  whom  we  are 
brought  to  it,  is  "  crowned  with  glory  and  honor,"  so  shall  we 
be."  (Heb.  2  :  9.)  We  are  not  only  "  witnesses  of  the  suffer- 
ings of  Christ,  but  partakers  of  the  glory  that  shall  be  re- 
vealed" (1  Pet.  5:1);  so  that  the  word  of  exhortation  runs 
thus:  "  Rejoice,  inasmuch  as  yc  are  partakers  of  Christ's  suf- 


752  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

fe rings  ;  that  when  his  glory  shall  be  revealed,  ye  may  be  glad 
also  with  exceeding  joy."  (1  Pet.  3  : 13.)  And  the  promise  is 
not  only,  "  If  we  suffer,  we  shall  also  reign  with  him,  "  but,  "  If 
we  suffer  with  him,  we  shall  be  also  glorified  together." 
(Rom.  8:17.)—  Dr.  Sonar. 


"NOT  ASHAMED  TO  CALL  THEM  BRETHREN." 

For  both  he  that  sanctifieth  and  they  who  are  sanctified  are  all  of  one  ;  for 
which  cause  he  is  not  ashamed  to  call  them  brethren.  —  Heb.  2:11. 


reply  once  made  by  an  English  embassador  to  a  French 
JL  king  is  regarded  as  one  of  the  finest  retorts  upon  record. 
The  King  of  England  had  instructed  his  representative  to  sue 
for  the  release  of  certain  Huguenots,  who  had  been  thrown 
into  the  Bastile  for  their  religion.  "  What  would  your  master, 
the  King  of  England,  say,  if  I  sue  for  the  release  of  the  pris- 
oners in  Newgate  ?  "  was  the  French  king's  reply.  The  em- 
bassador's  reply  was  perfect  in  Spartan  simplicity,  keen  wit, 
courtesy,  and  magnanimity.  He  said,  "  Your  Majesty  may 
have  every  one  of  them  if  you  will  claim  them  as  your  breth- 
ren." But  what  a  thought,  that  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ  makes 
precisely  this  claim  in  behalf  of  all  on  the  earth  who  trust  in 
him  ! 


STAND  FAST  WHEN  TEMPTED. 

For  in  that  he  himself  hath  suffered,  being  tempted,  he  is  able  to  succor 
them  that  are  tempted.  —  Heb.  2  :  18. 

fTVHERE  is  an  awful  intensity  of  meaning  in  the  words,  as 
JL  applied  to  Jesus,  "  He  suffered,  being  tempted  " !  Though 
incapable  of  sin,  there  was  in  the  refined  sensibilities  of  his 
holy  nature  that  which  made  temptation  unspeakably  fearful. 
What  must  it  have  been  to  confront  the  arch-traitor?  —  to 
fftand  face  to  face  with  the  foe  of  his  throne,  and  his  universe  ? 
But  the  "  prince  of  this  world  "  came,  and  found  "  nothing  in 
him."  Billow  after  billow  of  satanic  violence  spent  their  fury, 
in  vain,  on  the  Living  Rock. 


NEW   TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  753 

Reader,  you  have  still  the  same  malignant  enemy  to  contend 
with,  assailing  you  in  a  thousand  insidious  forms  ;  marvelously 
adapting  his  assaults  to  your  circumstances,  your  tempera- 
ment, your  mental  bias,  your  master-passion  !  There  is  no 
place*where  "Satan's  seat"  is  not ;  "  the  whole  world  lieth 
in  the  wicked  one."  (1  John  5  :  19.)  He  has  his  whisper 
from  the  ear  of  childhood ;  hoary  age  is  not  inaccessible  to 
his  wiles.  "  All  this  will  I  give  thee,"  —  is  still  his  bribe  to 
deny  Jesus  and  to  "  mind  earthly  things."  He  will  meet  you  in 
the  crowd  ;  he  will  follow  you  to  the  solitude  ;  his  is  a  sleepless 
vigilance  ! 

Are  you  bold  in  repelling  him  as  your  Master  was  ?  Are 
you  ready  with  the  retort  to  every  foul  suggestion,  "  Getthee 
hence,  Satan  ?  "  Cultivate  a  tender  sensitiveness  about  sin. 
The  finest  barometers  are  the  most  sensitive.  Whatever  be 
your  besetting  frailty,  —  whatever  bitter  or  baleful  passion 
you  are  conscious  aspires  to  the  mastery,  —  watch  it,  crucify 
it,  "nail  it  to  your  Lord's  cross."  You  may  despise  "the 
day  of  small  things "  —  the  great  adversary  does  not.  He 
knows  the  power  of  littles  :  that  little  by  little  consumes  and 
eats  out  the  vigor  of  the  soul.  And  once  the  retrograde 
movement  in  the  spiritual  life  begins,  who  can  predict  where  it 
may  end  ?  the  going  on  "  from  weakness  to  weakness""  instead 
of  "  from  strength  to  strength."  Make  no  compromises  ;  never 
join  in  ungodly  amusement,  or  venture  on  the  questionable 
path  with  the  plea,  "  It  does  me  no  harm."  The  Israelites, 
on  entering  Canaan,  instead  of  obeying  the  divine  injunction 
of  extirpating  their  enemies,  made  a  hollow  truce  with  them. 
What  was  the  result?  Years  upon  years  of  tedious  warfare. 
"  They  were  scourges  in  their  sides  and  thorns  in  their  eyes  !  " 
It  is  quaintly  but  truthfully  said  by  an  old  writer,  "  The  candle 
will  never  burn  clear  while  there  is  a  thief  in  it.  Sin  in- 
dulged in  the  conscience  is  like  Jonah  in  the  ship,  which 
causeth  such  a  tempest,  that  the  conscience  is  like  a  troubled 
sea,  whose  waters  can  not  rest."  —  Thomas  Brooks. 
95 


754  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

PRAYER  ANSWERED  TO  HIS  RUIN. 

Wherefore,  as  the  Holy  Ghost  saith,  To-day  if  ye  will  hear  his  voice, 
harden  not  your  hearts,  as  in  the  provocation  in  the  day  of  temptation  in  the 
wilderness.  —  Heb.  3:7,  8. 

• 

A  YOUNG  man,  whose  soul  was  passing  through  the  deep 
J\.  waters  of  conviction,  retired  to  a  grove  to  pray.  Ease 
from  his  heavy  burden  was  all  he  desired,  and  he  deliberately 
asked  God  to  give  him  quiet  by  taking  his  Holy  Spirit  from  him. 
It  was  a  fearful  prayer,  but  it  was  answered.  He  arose  with 
all  his  burden  gone.  For  twenty  years  he  lived  on,  careless 
and  unconcerned,  and  when  death  came  to  him  he  related  this 
fact  in  his  history  to  a  friend  standing  beside  him.  "  I  know," 
he  said,  "  that  I  shall  soon  be  in  hell.  Nothing  can  save  me. 
My  doom  is  sealed,  and  yet  I  am  quite  indifferent  to  the  fu- 
ture." 

Many,  who  do  not  thus  pray  to  have  the  Spirit  depart,  do 
quite  as  surely  grieve  him  away.  It  is  not  by  an  outspoken 
word  or  glaring  act  of  sin,  but  in  some  very  natural,  easy  path, 
the  tempter  leads  them  off  from  the  great  highway  they  were 
aboyt  to  enter. 

It  may  be  a  novel,  carelessly  thrown  in  their  way,  that  leads 
them  to  fbrget  their  convictions.  A  party  of  pleasure,  inno- 
cent at  another  time,  may  seal  their  doom.  Needful  cares  and 
duties  are  often  made  the  pretext  for  putting  aside,  for  the 
present,  the  concerns  of  the  soul. 

There  is  but  one  way  of  safety  for  the  awakened  soul. 
That  is,  to  lay  aside  every  weight,  and  for  the  time  give  all 
his  attention  to  seeking  the  Saviour,  in  humble  prayer  and 
in  reading  God's  word.  The  Spirit  will  not  fail  to  meet  such 
a  seeker  with  heavenly  blessings  on  his  wings.  0,  trifle  not 
with  these  strivings  of  the  Spirit ! 


DEPARTING  FROM  GOD. 

Take  heed,  brethren,  lest  there  be  in  any  of  you  an  evil  heart  of  unbelief 
in  departing  from  the  living  God.  —  Heb,  3  :  12. 

LL  our  mercies  are  to  be  traced  up  to  our  God,  and  all 
our  miseries  to  ourselves.     We   are   constantly   making 


A 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 


755 


ourselves  wretched  by  departing  from  our  God,  or  by  putting 
creatures  in  his  place.  We  often  put  persons  and  things  in 
God's  stead,  in  reference  to  our  affections,  loving  them  inordi- 
nately ;  in  reference  to  our  dependence,  trusting  them  instead 
of  him ;  in  reference  to  our  worship,  idolizing  them  instead 
of  adoring  him ;  and  in  reference  to  our  expectations,  expect- 
ing them  to  relieve,  comfort,  or  deliver,  instead  of  him.  But 
insufficiency  is  written  upon  every  created  object.  No  crea- 
ture can  fill  the  place  of  Jehovah  5  take  the  richest,  the  wisest, 
the  kindest,  the  nearest  relative  or  friend,  and  you  must  ex- 
claim, "  Vanity  of  vanities,  all  is  vanity."  But  Jehovah  can 
fill  the  place  of  all ;  he  can  be  instead  of  father,  husband, 
child,  wealth,  health,  yea,  of  all  things.  Creatures  may  say, 
Am  I  in  God's  stead?  If  not,  why  look  to  me?  Why  depend 
on  me  ?  Why  expect  from  me  ?  Why  grieve  so  to  part  with 
me  ?  Am  I  in  God's  stead  ?  If  so,  he  will  remove  me,  or  I 
shall  disappoint  you. 


INNOCENCE  AND  GUILT  PICTURED. 

But  exhort  one  another  daily,  while  it  is  called  To-day,  lest  any  of  you  be 
hardened  through  the  deceitfulness  of  sin.  —  Heb.  3  :  13. 

A  PAINTER,  who  wanted  a  picture  of  Innocence,  drew  the 
likeness  of  a  child  at  prayer.  The  little  suppliant  was 
kneeling  by  the  side  of  his  mother,  who  regarded  him  with 
tenderness.  The  palms  of  his  lifted  hands  were  reverently 
pressed  together ;  his  rosy  cheek  spoke  of  health,  and  his  mild 
blue  eye  was  upturned  with  an  expression  of  devotion  and 
peace.  This  portrait  of  young  Rupert  was  highly  prized  by 
the  painter  ;  for  he  had  bestowed  on  it  great  pains  :  he  hung 
it  up  in  his  study,  and  called  it  Innocence.  .  Years  rolled 
along,  and  the  painter  became  an  aged  man  ;  but  ,the  picture 
of  Innocence  still  adorned  his  study  walls.  Often  had  he 
thought  of  painting  a  contrast  to  his  favorite  portrait ;  but 
opportunity  had  not  served.  He  had  sought  for  a  striking 
model  of  Guilt,  but  had  failed  to  find  one.  At  last  he  effected 
his  purpose  by  paying  a  visit  to  a  neighboring  jail.  On  the 
damp  floor  of  his  dungeon  lay  a  wretched  culprit  named 


756  NEW   TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

Randal,  heavily  ironed.  Wasted  was  his  body,  worn  was  his 
cheek,  and  anguish  was  seen  in  his  hollow  eye  ;  but  this  was 
not  all :  vice  was  visible  in  his  face,  guilt  was  branded,  as  with 
a  hot  iron,  on  his  brow,  and  horrid  imprecation  burst  from  his 
blaspheming  tongue.  The  painter  executed  his  task  to  the 
life,  and  bore  away  the  successful  effort  of  his  pencil.  The 
portraits  of  young  Rupert  and  old  Randal  were  hung  side  by 
side  in  his  study,  —  the  one  representing  Innocence,  the  other 
Guilt.  But  who  was  young  Rupert,  that  knelt  in  prayer  by  the 
side  of  his  mother  in  meek  devotion?  And  who  was  old  Randal, 
that  lay  manacled  on  the  dungeon  floor,  cursing  and  blasphem- 
ing? Alas  !  the  two  were  one  !  Young  Rupert  and  old  Randal 
were  the  same.  Led  by  bad  companions  into  the  paths  of  sin, 
no  wonder  that  young  Rupert  found  bitterness  and  sorrow. 
That  brow  which  in  childhood  was  bright  with  peace  and  joy, 
in  years  became  darkened  by  guilt  and  shame  ;  and  that  heart, 
which  was  once  the  abode  of  happiness,  afterward  became  the 
habitation  of  anguish. 


STEADFASTNESS  TO  PRINCIPLE  REWARDED. 

For  we  are  made  partakers  of  Christ  if  we  hold  the  beginning  of  our  con- 
fidence steadfast  unto  the  end.  —  Heb.  3  :  14. 

IN  the  great  revival  of  1857-8,  a  young  man  in  the- State  of 
Maine,  having  given  himself  to  the  Lord,  determined  always 
to  stand  up  for  Jesus,  and  never  compromise  his  principles. 
He  soon  after  went  west.  "When  sailing  down  the  Mississippi 
River  in  a  steamboat,  one  night,  as  he  was  about  to  go  to  bed, 
he  found  a  party  of  twelve  men  playing  cards  around  a  table 
in  front  of  his  berth.  Cursing  and  swearing,  the  usual  ac- 
companiments of  card-playing,  were  freely  indulged. 

"  What  shall  I  do  ?  "  said  he  to  himself.  "  I  will  go  to  the 
captain  and  make  complaint."  He  went  as  far  as  the  gang- 
way, when  he  thought  to  himself,  "  I  will  not  complain  to  the 
captain,  but  will  go  back  and  do  my  duty:  I  will  offer  up  my 
evening  prayer  to  God." 

He  went  back  and  knelt  down  at  first  to  pray  to  himself; 
but  soon  such  a  burden  rested  on  him  for  others,  that  he  be- 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  757 

gan  to  pray  aloud  to  God  to  have  mercy  on  those  about  him. 
When  he  arose  from  prayer,  the  profane  card-players  were  all 
gone.  He  went  to  bed,  believing  he  had  done  his  duty. 

A  short  time  after  this,  he  was  walking  on  one  of  the  streets 
in  Cincinnati,  when  two  men  crossed  and  came  up  to  him,  and, 
taking  him  by  the  hand,  said,  — 

"  Do  you  not  know  us  ?  " 

The  young  man  replied,  "  No,  I  do  not." 

"  Do  you  not  remember  praying  on  a  steamboat  one  night, 
when  we  were  playing  cards  near  your  berth?  " 

"  Yes,  I  do." 

"  Well,  that  prayer  was  the  means  of  our  conversion  to  God, 
and  five  more  of  those  twelve  are  now  rejoicing  in  hope  through 
our  Lord  Jesus  Christ." 

The  Spirit  of  God  uses  man  in  saving  men.  —  Old  South 
Prayer  Meeting. 


UNBELIEF  AS  A  SLIDING  AGENCY. 

And  to  whom  swarc  he  that  they  should  not  enter  into  his  rest,  but  to  them 
that  believed  not?  —  Heb.  3  :  18. 

A  YOUNG  man  who  began  preaching  the  doctrine  of  univer- 
sal salvation,  apparently  in  sincerity,  though  soon  led  by 
divine  grace  to  renounce  it,  when  once  conversing  with  a  lead- 
ing member  of  his  church,  sustained  an  opinion  he  had  ad- 
vanced, by  saying  that  the  Bible  plainly  taught  the  same  senti- 
ment. 

"  The  Bible  !  "  said  the  parishioner  ;  "  I  don't  believe  the 
Bible  ! » 

"  Don't  believe  the  Bible  ?  "  said  the  minister,  in  astonish- 
ment. "  You  don't  believe  the  Bible  ?  Then  why  did  you 
send  for,  and  why  do  you  keep  me  here  to  preach  to  you  ?  " 

"  Well,"  said  the  other,  "  to  be  candid,  I  will  tell  you.  The 
truth  is,  both  as  to  myself  and  all 'the  leaders  of  your  congre- 
gation, that  we  don't  believe  the  Bible.  Most  of  us  are  either 
atheists  or  infidels,  and  we  would  like  to  bring  all  the  com- 
munity to  our  views.  But  such  are  the  prejudices  of  educa- 
tion and  early  impressions,  that  we  can't  and  don't  expect  to 


758  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

do  all  this  at  once.  But  we  thought,  if  we  could  get  you  to 
preach  Universalism,  and  make  people  believe  that,  they  would 
all  gradually  slide  over  to  our  views,  and  in  the  end  be  sure 
to  be  with  us." 

Such  was  the  substance  of  the  answer  actually  given,  and 
which  was  one  means  of  awakening  the  preacher  to  see  the 
error  of  his  doctrine,  and  to  renounce  it  for  the  gospel,  which 
he  now  preaches.  May  it  be  blessed  of  God  to  others. 


DELAY  DANGEROUS. 

To-day,  if  ye  will  hear  his  voice,  harden  not  your  hearts.  —  Heb.  4  :  7. 

"  fTK)-DAY,  if  ye  will  hear  his  voice,"  "  Now  is  the  accepted 
JL  time,  now  is  the  day  of  salvation,"  are  the  declarations 
of  Scripture.  There  is  no  promise  for  to-morrow ;  every  delay 
makes  it  so  much  more  likely  that  you  will  always  neglect  the 
offers  of  grace.  This  might  be  expected  from  the  law  of  habit, 
which,  as  every  one  knows,  in  a  great  degree  controls  our 
actions.  Dr.  Spencer  says,  in  one  of  his  sermons,  "  Make  up  a 
congregation  of  a  thousand  -Christians.  Divide  them  into  five, 
classes,  according  to  the  age  at  which  they  became  Christians. 
Place  in  the  first  class  all  those  converted  under  twenty  years 
of  age,  and  in  the  fifth  class  all  those  converted  between  fifty 
and  sixty.  Of  your  thousand  Christians  there  were  hopefully 
converted,  under  twenty  years  of  age,  five  hundred  and  forty- 
eight  ;  between  fifty  and  sixty  years  of  age,  three.  But,  you 
ask,  why  stop  at  sixty  ?  Ah  !  well,  then,  if  you  will  have  a 
sixth  class  —  converted  between  sixty  and  seventy  years  of 
age  —  one.  Just  one  out  of  a  thousand  Christians  converted 
over  sixty  years  old  !  What  a  lesson  on  delay  !  " 


AVOID  THE  WHIRLPOOL. 

Let  us  labor  therefore  to  enter  into  that  rest,  lest  any  man  fall  after  the 
same  example  of  unbelief.  —  Heb.  4  :  11. 

TTNBELIEF,  in  leading  on  to  open  infidelity,  is  a  whirlpool, 
U    as  destructive  to  the  souls  of  men  as  the  one  described 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  759 

in  this  incident  was  to  their  bodies.  The  following  is  related 
by  the  journalist  of  the  United  States  Exploring  Expedition, 
and  shows  with  what  fearful  suddenness  men  sometimes  pass 
unexpectedly  from  time  to  eternity  :  — 

"  Mr.  Ogden  was  descending  the  Columbia  River  in  one  of 
the  company's  boats,  with  ten  Canadian  voyagers,  all  well 
experienced  in  their  duties.  On  arriving  at  the  Dalles,  they 
deemed  it  practicable  to  run  them,  in  order  to  save  the  por- 
tage. Mr.  Ogden  determined,  however,  that  he  would  pass 
the  portage  on  foot,  believing,  nevertheless,  the  river  was  in 
such  a  state  that  it  was  quite  safe  for  the  boat  to  pass  down. 
He  was  accordingly  landed,  ascended  the  rocks,  from  which 
he  had  a  full  view  of  the  water  beneath,  and  of  the  boat  in  its 
passage.  At  first  she  seemed  to  skim  over  the  waters  like 
the  flight  of  a  bird :  but  he  soon  perceived  her  stop,  and  the 
struggle  of  the  oarsmen,  together  with  the  anxious  shout  of 
the  bowman,  soon  told  him  that  they  had  encountered  the 
whirl.  Strongly  they  plied  their  oars,  and  deep  anxiety,  if 
not  fear,  was  expressed  in  their  movements.  They  began  to 
move,  not  forward,  but  onward  with  the  whirl.  Round  they 
swept  with  increasing  velocity,  still  struggling  to  avoid  the 
now  evident  fate  that  awaited  them.  A  few  more  turns,  each 
more  rapid  than  the  last,  until  they  reached  the  center,  when 
in  an  instant  the  boat,  with  all  her  crew,  disappeared.  So 
short  had  been  the  struggle,  that  it  was  with  difficulty  Mr. 
Ogden  could  realize  that  all  had  perished.  Only  one  body  out 
of  the  ten  was  afterward  found  at  the  bottom  of  the  Dalles,  torn 
and  mangled  by  the  strife  it  had  gone  through. 


"SHARPER  THAN  A  TWO-EDGED  SWORD." 

For  the  word  of  God  is  quick,  and  powerful,  and  sharper  than  any  two- 
edged  sword,  piercing  even  to  the  dividing  asunder  of  soul  and  spirit,  and  of 
the  joints  and  marrow,  and  is  a  discernej*  of  the  thoughts  and  intents  of  the 
heart.  —  Heb.  4  :  12. 

AT  a  temperance  meeting,  held  in  Worcester,  Mass.,  April 
15,  1874,  at  which  reports  and  letters    concerning  the 
work  were  heard  and  read,  the  following  letter  from  Mrs. 


7GO  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.     . 

Lutlicr  Hills,  relating  the  facts  concerning  the  death  of  Mr. 
Simpson,  of  East  Douglas,  was  read. 

"We  went  into  Mr.  Simpson's  saloon.  I  shook  hands  with 
him,  and  introduced  the  ladies,  and  spoke  of  our  coming  in 
love  and  kindness  to  talk  with  him  -about  his  business.  After 
some  conversation,  he  was  asked  if  he  would  not  refrain  from 
selling  liquor;  he  said,  'I  can  not  promise  to;'  then  being 
asked  if  he  thought  it  right,  he  replied,  l  Just  as  ri'ght  as  to 
sell  groceries.'  I  then  said,  l  Let  us  see  what  the  word  of 
the  Lord  says.'  Opening  to  1  Cor.  6 :  10,  I  read,  '  Nor 
thieves,  nor  drunkards,  nor  revilers,  nor  extortioners,  shall  in- 
herit the  kingdom  of  God.'  He  replied,  '  I  knew  it  before, 
but  that  does  not  include  me.'  The  reply  was,  f  We  did  not 
expect  to  bring  anything  new,  only  to  call  to  remembrance. 
You  said  it  was  right  to  sell,  but  this  shuts  all  who  use  it  out 
of  the  kingdom  of  heaven  ;  and  you  don't  want  to  be  shut  out, 
Mr.  Simpson.'  Then,  turning  to  Habakkuk  2:15,  '  Woe  unto 
him  that  giveth  his  neighbor  drink,  that  puttest  thy  bottle  to 
him,  and  makest  him  drunken  also.'  Then  to  Deuteronomy 
29  :  19,  20,  (  And  it  come  to  pass,  when  he  heareth  the  words 
of  this  curse,  that  he  bless  himself  in  his  heart,  saying,  I  shall 
have  peace,  though  I  walk  in  the  imagination  of  mine  heart,  to 
add  drunkenness  to  thirst.  The  Lord  will  not  spare  him  ;  but 
then  the  anger  of  the  Lord  and  his  jealousy  shall  smoke  against 
that  man,  and  all  the  curses  that  are  written  in  this  book  shall 
lie  upon  him,  and  the  Lord  shall  blot  out  his  name  from  under 
heaven.' 

"  On  looking  up,  his  eyes  were  riveted  on  mine,  and  he  was 
very  much  agitated,  trembling  exceedingly.  No  further  words 
were  given  us  to  say ;  we  were  all  spell-bound  for  what 
seemed  a  long  time.  At  length  one  of  the  ladies  said  to  his 
partner,  <I  think  something  is  the  matter  with  him.'  No 
movement  was  made  until  urged  the  second  time.  He  was 
then  removed  from  the  counter  by  which  he  was  supporting 
himself,  when  his  tongue  saemed  to  be  loosed,  and  he  cried 
out  twice,  '  0  God,  have  mercy  on  my  soul ! ' 

"  He  was  taken  to  a  room  back.  We  were  about  to  retire, 
when  another  cry  for  mercy  arrested  our  attention  ;  those  who 
were  with  him  begging  us  to  stay  and  talk  with  him,  all 


NEW   TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  761 

saying  it  was  the  Holy  Spirit.  I  said  it  was  the  word  of  the 
Lord, (  sharper  than  any  two-edged  sword.'  Comforting  words 
quieted  his  agitation.  His  mind  was  clear,  but  he  could  not 
talk.  He  was  soon  taken  home,  and  died  about  eleven  hours 
after. 

"  I  have  since  visited  some  of  the  men  who  were  there  at 
the  time ;  one  of  them  said,  to  use  his  own  words,  l  We  were 
all  tied  up  j  there's  no  use  getting  around  that.'  They  all 
looked  very  pale.  We  proceeded  to  the  other  saloons  ;  a 
solemn  stillness  pervaded  them,  and  those  who  were  gathered 
to  slur  at  us  seemed  to  be  held  by  the  same  power.  Just  one 
week  later  the  saloons  were  all  closed,  and  the  liquor  carried 
out  of  town.  I  have  been  thus  particular  to  show  that  it  was 
not  of  us,  but  of  God  ;  and  to  him  be  all -the  glory." 

It  is  a  fearful  thing  to  fight  against  God. 


OUR  SINS  NOT  HIDDEN  FROM  GOD. 

Neither  is  there  any  creature  that  is  not  manifest  in  his  sight  ;  but  all  things 
are  naked  and  opened  unto  the  eyes  of  him  with  whom  we  have  to  do.  — 
Neb.  4  :  13. 


T)ROFESSOR  MITCHEL  was  once  taking  observations  on 
JL  the  sun,  and  as  it  neared  the  horizon,  the  great  eye  of  his 
telescope  took  in  a  hill-top,  some  seven  miles  away.  On  that 
hill  were  some  apple  trees,  and  in  one  of  them  two  boys  were 
stealing  apples.  They  looked  this  way  and  that,  but  no  one 
was  in  sight.  They  thought  themselves  unobserved  ;  but 
there,  in  his  observatory,  seven  miles  away,  sat  the  professor, 
noting  every  movement. 

What  an  illustration  of  the  power  of  that  eye  which  never 
slumbers,  but  which  compasses  "  our  down-sittings  and  up- 
risings, and  is  acquainted  with  all  our  ways."  We  may  learn 
from  it,  too,  that  unseen  eyes,  which  we  least  suspect,  are 
watching  us  all  the  time.  There  are  telescopic  eyes  which 
take  note  of  our  actions  when  we  are  far  away,  and  suppose 
that  we  are  lost  in  the  throngs  ;  but  they  know  our  goings  out 
and  our  comings  in.  We  may  go  to  the  theater  just  once,  and 
fancy  our  example  will  hurt  no  one,  for  none  of  our  acquaint- 
96 


762  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

ance  will  know  it ;  "  but  a  bird  of  the  air  shall  carry  it."  We 
may  change  our  habitation  to  one  far  remote  from  a  former 
home,  hoping  that  the  story  of  evil  deeds  will  not  follow  us ; 
but  before  we  are  aware  of  it,  all  is  open  as  the  noonday. 
The  Lord  has  detectives  ever  at  work,  whom  no  vigilance  can 
elude.  Often  in  the  moment  of  greatest  apparent  security  the 
exposure  cornes  with  overwhelming  force. 

Let  us  think  of  these  unseen  eyes  when  we  are  tempted  to 
walk  in  winding  ways,  instead  of  in  the  great  highway  of  holi- 
ness. Not  only  is  our  departure  from  the  right  set  down 
against  us  in  God's  book,  but  it  will  stand  against  us  in  the 
memory  of  many  who  will  be  encouraged  by  it  in  their  own 
evil  doings.  —  Mrs.  J.  E.  McConaugliy. 


SOMETHING  TO  HOLD  ON  BY. 

Seeing,  then,  that  we  have  a  great  high  priest,  that  is  passed  into  the  heav- 
ens, Jesus  the  Son  of  God,  let  us  hold  fast  our  profession.  —  Heb.  4  :  14. 

A  WOMAN  who  had  been  a  prominent  lecturer  on  infidelity 
came  to  her  dying  pillow.  Being  much  disturbed  in  her 
mind,  her  friends  gathered  about  her  and  exhorted  her  to  "  hold 
on  to  the  last." 

"  Yes,  I  have  no  objection  to  holding  on,"  said  the  dying  wo- 
man ;  "  but  will  you  tell  me  what  I  am  to  hold  on  by  ?  " 

These  words  so  deeply  impressed  an  infidel  standing  by,  that 
he  was  led  to  renounce  his  delusion. 

False  doctrine  may  satisfy  the  heart  when  in  health  and 
vigor,  but  it  will  not  do  "  to  hold  on  by  "  in  the  solemn  hour 
of  death. 

"  Father,"  said  a  young  man,  as  he  lay  dying,  "  I  find  eter- 
nal punishment,  which  I  have  so  long  disputed,  now  to  be  an 
awful  reality."  At  another  time  he  said,  "  As  soon  as  I  am 
dead,  write  to  brother  E.,  and  to  Z.  T.  and  S.  T.,  that  the  doc- 
trine we  have  tried  to  propagate  is  an  awful  delusion  —  that 
it  forsook  me  on  my  death-bed." 

Said  another  under  similar  circumstances,  "  For  several 
years  I  have  followed  the  doctrines  of  W.  and  B.,"  Univer- 


NEW   TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  763 

salist  preachers, — "and  believed  as  they  did;  but  I  find  it  all  a 
delusion  now.  Tell  my  old  friends  not  to  trust  in  such  a  ref- 
uge of  lies,  but  to  repent  and  be  converted." 

How  different  it  was  with  the  lovely  Dudley  A.  Tyng, 
called  away  so  suddenly  from  a  life  of  active  service  for  the 
Master.  "  0,  how  dearly  I  love  you  all ! "  he  said  to  the 
weeping  ones  around  him.  "  But  I  would  rather  be  with 
Jesus  than  with  my  dearest  ones  on  earth.  Lay  me  straight 
in  the  bed,  father,  and  cover  me  up,  and  let  me  wait  my 
Father's  time." 

And  there  he  lay,  composed  and  sweetly  at  rest,  waiting 
for  death. 


HE  WAS  TEMPTED  LIKE  AS  WE  ARE. 

For  we  have  not  a  high  priest  which  can  not  be  touched  with  the  feeling  of 
our  infirmities,  but  was  in  all  points  tempted  like  as  we  are,  yet  without  sin.  — 
Neb.  4  :  15. 


is  a  twofold  temptation  to  sin,  inward  and  outward  ; 
_L  inwardly  Christ  was  not  tempted  to  sin,  outwardly  he  was, 
and  with  the  greatest  vehemency  assaulted  both  by  men  and 
devils  to  the  worst  of  sins  that  ever  man  was  ;  but  he  always 
resisted,  and  always  overcame.  0,  what  a  consolation  is  this* 
unto  us,  under  all  our  temptations,  that  Christ  was  in  all  things 
tempted  like  unto  us,  but  without  sin  !  —  Burkitt. 

Concerning  the  temptation  of  our  Lord,  after  his  baptism  by 
John,  in  the  wilderness  of  Judea,  a  modern  commentator  has 
the  following  judicious  remarks  :  — 

1.  "In  this  threefold  temptation  there  is  noticeable  a  regu- 
lar progression.  The  first  appealed  to  the  body  ;  the  second, 
to  love  of  admiration  ;  the  third,  to  love  of  power.  The  first, 
to  a  mere  bodily  appetite  ;  the  second,  to  a  more  honorable  de- 
sire of  fame,  founded  on  human  sympathy  ;  the  third,  to  a  noble 
ambition,  which  Satan  tried  to  pervert.  The  first  called  for 
an  act  seemingly  miraculous  ;  the  second,  for  one  ostentatious 
and  presumptuous  ;  the  third,  for  one  blasphemously  wicked. 
The  first  disguised  itself  under  an  appeal  to  reason  ;  the  sec- 
ond sustained  itself  by  an  appeal  to  Scripture  ;  and  in  the 


764  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

third  all  disguise  was  cast  off,  and  Satan  revealed  himself. 
The  first  was  the  most  deceptive  ;  the  second,  the  most  plausi- 
ble ;  the  third,  the  most  audacious.  In  the  first,  Satan  tried 
to  mislead  by  hiding  the  sin  j  in  the  second,  by  sanctioning 
the  sin  because  of  a  greater  good  to  be  accomplished  by  it ;  in 
the  third,  to  compensate  for  the  sin  by  a  promised  reward. 

2.  "  Christ  receives  the  temptation  as  a  man,  and  resists  it 
as  a  man.     As  he  is  tempted  in  all  points  like  as  we  are,  so 
his  resistance  is  an  example  to  us  how  to  resist.    He  conquers 
the  temptation  through  bodily  hunger,  by  trust  in  God  ;  the 
temptation  to  presumption  and  ostentation  by  humble  obedi- 
ence  to,  and   patient  waiting   on,   God ;    the   temptation   to 
worldly  ambition  by  supreme  love   and  reverence   for   God  : 
thus  in  every  onset  it  is  faith  in  God  which  is  the  shield  that 
quenches  the  darts  of  the  adversar}r.  (Eph.  6  :  16.) 

3.  "  We  share  Christ's  first  experience  when  poverty  tempts 
us  to  violate   God's  law  that  we  may  provide   for  our  daily 
wants  ;  we  share  the  second  experience  when  we  are  tempted 
to  neglect  duties  which  God's  providence  lays  upon  us,  or  to 
run  into  needless  dangers  or  difficulties,  or  to  assume  un- 
called-for hazards,  and  trust  the  result  to  God,  or  to  make  an 
ostentatious  display  of  our  faith  in  God  j   we  share  the  third 
experience  when  we  are  tempted,  for  the   sake  .of  power, 
wealth,  or  influence,  to  conform  to  the  world,  and  to  employ 
Satan's   instruments  in  even  seeming  to  do   God's   service. 
We  yield  to  the   first   temptation  when  we    distrust    God's 
providential  care ;  we  yield  to  the  second  when  we  presume 
unwarrantably  on  his  grace,  or  make  a  show  of  our  reliance 
on  his  word  ;  we  yield  to  the  third  when  we  are  conformed  to 
this  world,  and  adopt  its  policies  and  methods,  and  imbibe  its 
spirit,  for  the  sake  of  its  rewards.     The  first  sin  is  forbidden 
by  Matt.   6  :  25,  the  second  by  6  :  1-7,  the  third  by  6  :  24. 
We  resist  the  first  temptation  when  we  seek  first  the  king- 
dom of  God  and  his  righteousness,  and  trust  food,  raiment, 
and  shelter  to  him;  we  resist  the   second  when,  in  humble 
trust  in  him,  we  do  all  that  God  has  given  us  power  to  do, 
looking  to  him  only  to  protect  us  from  ills  against  which  we 
can  not,  by  reasonable  precaution,  guard  ourselves,  and  pa- 
tiently waiting  for  him  to  bring  about  his  own  results  in  his 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  765 

own  time  and  way ;  we  resist  the  third  when  we  make 
supreme  love  to  God  the  sole  inspiration  of  our  hearts,  and 
supreme  allegiance  to  him  the  sole  rule  of  our  lives." — Rev. 
Lyman  Abbott. 


A  PULPIT  BAPTISM. 

Let  us  therefore  come  boldly  unto  the  throne  of  grace,  that  we  may  obtain 
mercy,  and  find  grace  to  help  in  time  of  need.  —  Heb.  4  :  16. 

MY  sermons  yesterday  were  almost  fully  written,  but  I  was 
too  full  of  my  subject  to  require  their  aid.  0, 1  like  new 
light  to  fall  upon  my  texts  in  the  pulpit.  It  makes  notes  ap- 
pear mean,  paltry  things.  I  remember,  when  living  with  the 
Rev.  Dr.  Dickson,  in  Edinburgh,  that  he  handed  me  a  sermon 
to  read,  and  I  went  to  church  expecting  to  hear  him  preach 
it.  He  took  the  same  text,  but  not  an  idea  of  what  he  had 
written  and  I  read  did  he  utter.  At  dinner  he  asked  if  I  had 
observed  anything  at  church  that  seemed  strange.  I  said  I 
had. 

"  What  was  it  ?  "  said  he. 

"  Why,  doctor,  you  fook  your  Sunday  evening  text,  but  ut- 
tered not  one  idea  upon  it  you  had  written  to  preach." 

"  I  thought  you  would  notice,  it,"  said  he  ;  "I  got  such  a 
new  and  precious  view  of  my  text  when  in  prayer,  that  I 
put  riot  my  sermon  on  the  Bible,  but  spoke  just  as  I  saw  and 
I  felt." 

His  wife  said,  "  Well,  doctor,  I  wish  you  would  always 
preach  as  you  see  and  feel.  I  should  see  the  truth  better, 
and  come  home  feeling  better,  than  when  you  read  what  you 
have  written  on  your  text." 

This  will  happen  sometimes,  but  not  always.  When  at 
Great  Bourton,  England,  I  once  forgot  my  text,  and  in  my  first 
prayer  had  such  a  full  and  glorious  view  given  me  of  those 
precious  words,  "  Therefore  let  us  come  boldly  to  a  throne  of 
grace,"  <fcc.,  I  could  preach  from  them  all  day,  I  saw  so  much 
and  felt  so  much  in  them. 

But  God  had  a  poor  trembling  sinner  to  save  that  day,  by 
that  word,  who  said,  "  I  could  perish  —  pray  I  dare  not." 


766  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

And  God  showed  that  trembling  penitent  then  that  there 
was  neither  necessity  to  perish  nor  to  restrain  prayer  before 
him.  0,  the  joy  that  soul  rejoiced  in  before  the  sermon  was 
ended, -to  which  full  expression  was  given  at  the  house  of  the 
pious  Deacon  Knill  at  its  close !  0,  I  love  the  pulpit  baptism. 
I  think  God  has  some  design  in  it  for  good  to  souls ;  and  that 
is  the  sugar  that  sweetens  my  soul. 


ATONEMENT  ILLUSTRATED  BY  A  SIMILE. 

And  being  made  perfect,  he  became  the  author  of  eternal  salvation  unto  all 
them  that  obey  him.  —  Heb.  5:9. 

Y/DNDER  in  the  ocean,  out  of  the  track  of  commerce,  is 
JL  an  island.  The  inhabitants,  though  never  overstocked 
with  provisions,  are,  by  an  unusually  severe  dearth,  reduced 
to  want,  and  starvation  seems  their  only  doom.  By  some 
means  their  destitution  is  known  on  the  continent,  and  the 
king  of  a  great  realm  hastens  to  afford  timely  relief.  A  store- 
house of  provisions  is  established  among  that  famishing  peo- 
ple. A  royal  proclamation  is  made  that  a  great  king  has 
come  with  stores  for  their  relief.  The  provisions  are  abun- 
dant and  free.  All  are  invited  to  come,  and  take  to  the  full 
extent  of  their  necessities.  .Some,  yea,  many,  come,  receive, 
and  live.  -But  others,  through  the  agency  of  some  evirgenius, 
are  prejudiced  unfavorably  toward  this  beneficent  king.  They 
refuse  to  learn  of  the  purity  of  his  motives,  and  they  refuse 
to  go  and  be  supplied.  They  are  urged,  messengers  are  sent 
out  to  every  part  of  the  island  to  entreat  them  to  come  ere 
they  die.  But  so  strong  is  their  hate,  they  refuse  all  entrea- 
ties in  their  behalf,  till  they  die.  This  bountiful  supply  was 
not  made  in  detail,  just  so  much  to  one,  and  more  to  another, 
but,  in  the  aggregate,  enough  for  all,  but  given  to  each,  only 
on  application. 

That  famine -stricken  island  is  our  world.  That  king  is  our 
Lord  and  Saviour.  That  storehouse  is  the  atonement.  Those 
messengers  are  the  ministers  of  Christ.  That  evil  genius  is 
the  devil.  Those  starving,  but  unwilling-to-come  islanders 
are  the  sinners  who  refuse  the  offers  of  mercy.  Those  deaths 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  767 

by  starvation,  are  not  from  any  want  of  provision  for  them, 
but  because  they  refused  to  come  and  partake.  Atonement 
does  not  mean  pardon  applied,  nor  guilt  removed,  nor  the  sin- 
ner's debt  paid,  nor  the  ultimate  ends  of  justice  satisfied  ;  but 
it  means  mercy  stored  up  for  the  ill-deserving.  Not  dispensed 
in  detail,  but  the  storehouse  of  God's  mercy  filled,  with  all  its 
excellences,  awaiting  the  approach  of  the  needy.  Without 
such  seeking  in  faith  and  humility,  the  penalty  of  the  divine 
law  is  as  sure  and  as  heavy  as  if  no  atonement  had  been 
made.  "  For  if  ye  believe  not  that  I  am  he,  ye  shall  die  in 
your  sins." 

"PRAY  THAT  SERMON." 

For  when  for  the  time  ye  ought  to  be  teachers,  ye  have  need  that  one  teach 
you  again  which  be  the  first  principles  of  the  oracles  of  God ;  and  are  become 
such  as  have  need  of  milk,  and  not  of  strong  meat.  —  Heb.  5  :  12. 

A  YOUNG  licentiate,  after  throwing  off  a  highly-wrought, 
and,  as  he  thought,  eloquent  gospel  sermon,  in  the  pulpit 
and  presence  of  a  venerable  pastor,  solicited  of  his  experienced 
friend  the  benefit  of  his  criticism  upon  the  performance. 

"  I  have  but  just  one  remark  to  make,"  was  his  reply,  "  and 
that  is,  to  request  you  to  pray  that  sermon." 

"  What  do  you  mean,  sir  ?  " 

"  I  mean  literally  just  what  I  say ;  pray  it,  if  you  can,  and 
you  will  find  the  attempt  a  better  criticism  than  any  I  can 
make  upon  it." 

The  request  still  puzzled  the  young  man  beyond  measure  ; 
the  idea  of  praying  a  sermon  was  a  thing  he  never  heard  or 
conceived  of;  and  the  singularity  of  the  request  wrought 
powerfully  on  his  imagination  and  feelings.  He  resolved  to 
attempt  the  task.  He  laid  his  manuscript  before  him,  and  on 
his  knees  before  God,  undertook  to  make  it  into  a  prayer.  But 
it  wouldn't  pray  ;  the  spirit  of  prayer  was  not  in  it,  and  that 
for  the  very  good  reason  —  as  he  then  clearly  saw  for  the  first 
time  —  that  the  spirit  of  prayer  and  piety  did  not  compose  it. 
For  the  first  time  he  saw  that  his  heart  was  not  right  with 
God ;  and  this  conviction  left  him  no  peace  until  he  had 
"Christ  formed  in  him  the  hope  of  glory."  With  a  renewed 


768  NEW   TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

heart  he  applied  himself  anew  to  the  work  of  composing  ser- 
mons for  the  pulpit,  preached  again  in  the  presence  of  the 
pious  pastor  who  had  given  such  timely  advice,  and  again  so- 
licited the  benefits  of  his  critical  remarks. 

"  I  have  no  remarks  to  make,"  was  his  complacent  reply. 
"  You  can  pray  that  sermon." 


ENDLESS  PUNISHMENT. 

Of  the  doctrine  of  baptisms,  and  of  laying  on  of  hands,  and  of  resurrec- 
tion of  the  dead,  and  of  eternal  judgment.  —  JJeb.  6  :  2. 

TNTERPRETERS  observe  that  the  doctrine  of  Origen  touch- 
_L  ing  the  period  of  the  torments  of  the  damned  is  here  con- 
demned (referring  to  Heb.  6:2);  and,  indeed,  the  primitive 
fathers,  not  Origen  himself  excepted,  taught  the  contrary. 
"  If  we  do  not  the  will  of  Christ/'  says  Clemens  Romanus, 
"  nothing  .will  deliver  us  from  eternal  punishment."  "  The 
punishment  of  the  damned,"  says  Justin  Martyr,  "  is  endless 
punishment,  and  torment  in  eternal  fire."  In  Theophilus  it  is 
"  eternal  punishment."  Irenseus,  in  his  symbol  of  faith"  makes 
this  one  article,  "  that  God  would  send  the  ungodly  and  unjust 
into  everlasting  fire."  Tertullian  declares  that  "  all  men  are 
appointed  to  torment  or  refreshment,  both  eternal."  And  "  if 
any  man,"  says  he,  "  thinks  the  wicked  are  to  be  consumed, 
and  not  punished,  let  him  remember  that  hell  fire  is  styled 
eternal  because  designed  for  eternal  punishment;  and  their 
substance  will  remain  for  ever,  whose  punishment  doth  so." 
St.  Cyprian  says,  "  The  souls  of  the  wicked  are  kept  with 
their  bodies,  to  be  grieved  with  endless  torments."  "  There 
is  no  measure  nor  end  of  their  torments,"  says  Eusebius. 
Lastly,  Origen  reckons  this  among  the  doctrines  defined  by 
the  church :  "  That  every  soul,  when  it  goes  out  of  this  world, 
shall  either  enjoy  the  inheritance  of  eternal  life  and  bliss,  if  its 
deeds  have  rendered  it  fit  for  bliss,  or  be  delivered  up  to  eter- 
nal fire  and  punishment,  if  its  sins  have  deserved  that  state." 
—  Whtiby. 

Nothing  can  be  plainer  than  the  fact  that  Clemens  Roma- 
nus, Barnabas,  Ignatius,  Polycarp,  Justin  Martyr,  Theophilus, 


NEW   TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  769 

and  Irenseus  (fathers  of  the  first  two  centuries)  believed  and 
taught  the  doctrine  of  endless  punishment. 

In  view  of  these  facts,  what  shall  we  think  of  those  who 
constantly  affirm  that  the  only  period  in  which  Universalism 
flourished  in  its  glory  was  in  the  apostolic  age  ?  —  W. 
McDonald. 


SANCTIFICATION  LOST  AND  REGAINED. 

For  it  is  impossible  for  those  who  were  once  enlightened,  and  have  tasted 
of  the  heavenly  gift,  and  were  made  partakers  of  the  Holy  Ghost,  and  have  tasted 
the  good  word  of  God,  and  the  powers  of  the  world  to  come,  if  they  shall  fall 
away,  to  renew  them  again  unto  repentance  ;  seeing  they  crucify  to  themselves 
the  Son  of  God  afresh,  and  put  him  to  an  open  shame.  —  Heb.  6  :  4-G. 

IN  that  very  excellent  little  volume,  Sanctification  Practi- 
cal, by  Rev.  J.  Boynton,  the  following  lucid  explanation 
is  given  to  that  somewhat  difficult  passage  in  Hebrews  6  :  4-6. 
It  is  given  in  the  form  of  question  and  answer. 

Question.  "  If  we  lose  the  blessing  of  sanctification,  can  we 
regain  it?" 

Answer.  "  Yes,  providing  you  have  not  fallen  so  far  as  to 
have  lost  the  grace  of  enlightenment." 

"  We  are  aware  that  many  suppose  St.  Paul  teaches  us,  in 
his  Epistle  to  the  Hebrews,  that  if  we  attain  to  this  grace,  and 
then  fall  from  it,  we  can  never  regain  it.  It  may  be  well,  in 
this  connection,  to  examine  the  text  referred  to :  '  For  it  is 
impossible  for  those  who  were  once  enlightened,  and  have 
tasted  of  the  heavenly  gift,  and  were  made  partakers  of  the 
Holy  Ghost,  and  have  tasted  of  the  good  word  of  God,  and  the 
powers  of  the  world  to  come,  if  they  shall  fall  away,  to  renew 
them  again  unto  repentance ;  seeing  they  crucify  to  them- 
selves the  Son  of  God  afresh,  and  put  him  to  an  open  shame.' 
(Heb.  6:4—6.)  Here  are  five  states  of  grace  brought  to 
view.  They  are  enlightenment,  conversion,  the  evidence  of 
conversion,  sanctification,  and  the  evidence  of  sanctification. 
We  may  illustrate  the  text  thus  :  Suppose  we  have  a  ladder 
with  five  rounds.  When  we  are  '  enlightened  '  we  stand  upon 
the  first  round.  This  grace  all  men  receive  :  l  The  grace  of  God 
which  bringeth  salvation  hath  appeared  unto  all  men.'  (Titus 
97 


770  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

2:11.)  By  improving  upon  this  grace  we  reach  the  next 
round,  and  i  taste  of  the  heavenly  gift.'  Now  we  are  con- 
verted. When  we  receive  the  evidence  of  conversion,  we  are 
made  '  partakers  of  the  Holy  Ghost.7  Now  we  stand  on  the 
third  round.  When  we  l  taste  of  the  good  word  of  God/  we 
are  sanctified,  and  stand  on  the  fourth  round.  When  we  taste 
of  the  '  powers  of  the  world  to  come/  we  have  the  evidence 
of  sanctification,  and  are  on  the  fifth  round  of  the  ladder.  And, 
by  the  way,  we  are  sure  all  who  ever  stood  there  will  agree 
in  saying  that  St.  Paul  used  exactly  the  right  words  to  express 
the  thing  itself :  <  And  have  tasted  the  good  word  of  God,  and 
the  powers  of  the  world  to  come.'  Now,  says  'Paul,  f  if  they 
fall  away  [which  teaches  that  there  is  a  possibility  of  falling 
even  from  this  high  state  of  grace  —  the  evidence  of  sanctifi- 
cation],  it  is  impossible  to  renew  them  again  unto  repentance. 
He  does  not  say,  if  they  fall  from  the  fifth  to  the  fourth,  that 
they  can  not  regain  it,  nor  does  he  say  if  we  fall  step  by  step 
until  we  again  stand  on  the  first  round,  that  we  can  not  regain 
those  from  which  we  have  fallen ;  but  he  says,  *  if  they  shall 
fall  away/  i.  e.,  if  those  fall  entirely  away,  so  as  to  lose  the  grace 
of  enlightenment,  —  when  we  lose  this  grace,  the  Spirit  of 
God  has  left  us,  and  we  are  in  darkness.  No  ray  of  light  will 
ever  penetrate  our  gloom  when  once  the  Spirit  of  God  has 
taken  its  flight ;  and  without  the  enlightening,  convincing, 
drawing,  and  melting  influences  of  the  Spirit  of  God,  we  can 
never  again  secure  those  high  states  of  grace.  When  the 
Spirit  of  God  has  taken  its  everlasting  flight,  our  damnation 
is  as  sure  as  if  we  were  already  dead,  and  shut  up  in  the  pit 
of  woe.  But,  on  the  other  hand,  while  we  are  favored  with 
the  influences  of  the  divine  Spirit,  we  can  repent,  we  can 
believe,  we  can  be  forgiven,  adopted,  sanctified.  This  we 
understand  .to  be  clearly  taught  in  the  Bible,  and  corroborated 
by  human  experience.  Hence,  we  repeat,  if  we  have  lost  the 
sanctifying  grace  of  God,  we  may  regain  it,  if  we  arc  not  so 
far  fallen  as  to  have  lost  the  grace  of  enlightenment." 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  771 

TRIALS  AND  ENDURANCE. 

And  so,  after  he  had  patiently  endured,  he  obtained  the  promise.  —  Heb.  6  :  15. 

A  BRAHAM  was  long  tried,  but  he  was  richly  rewarded. 
J\.  The  Lord  tried  him  by  delaying  to  fulfill  his  promise. 
Satan  tried  him  by  temptations ;  men  tried  him  by  jealousy, 
distrust,  and  opposition;  Hagar  tried  him  by  contemning  her 
mistress  ;  and  Sarah  tried  him  by  her  pee'vishness.  But  he 
patiently  endured.  He  did  not  question  God's  veracity,  nor 
limit  his  power,  nor  doubt  his  faithfulness,  nor  grieve  his  love  ; 
but  he  bowed  to  divine  sovereignty,  submitted  to  infinite  wis- 
dom, and  was  silent  under  delays,  waiting  the  Lord's  time. 
And  so,  having  patiently  endured,  he  obtained  the  promise. 
God's  promises  can  not  fail  of  their  accomplishment.  Patient 
waiters  can  not  be  disappointed.  Believing  expectations 
shall  be  realized.  Beloved,  Abraham's  conduct  condemns  a 
hasty  spirit,  reproves  a  murmuring  one,  commends  a  patient 
one,  and  encourages  quiet  submission  to  God's  will  and  way. 
Remember,  Abraham  was  tried ;  he  patiently  waited ;  he  re- 
ceived the  promise,  and  was  satisfied.  Imitate  his  example, 
and  you  will  share  the  same  blessing. 


FLYING  TO  CHRIST  AS  THE  ONLY  HOPE. 

That  by  two  immutable  things,  in  which  it  was  impossible  for  God  to  lie, 
we  might  have  a  strong  consolation,  who  have  fled  for  refuge  to  lay  hold  upon 
the  hope  set  before  us.  —  Heb.  6  :  18* 

T)  ROTHER  WISE  :  Another  incident  in  the  revival,  of  which' 
JJ  I  wrote  in  my  last,  may  not  be  uninteresting  to  the  lovers 
of  revivals  of  pure  religion.  One  evening,  after  the  most  part 
of  the  congregation  had  retired,  we  tarried  to  pray  with  thirty 
or  forty  broken-hearted  penitents,  when,  to  our  great  astonish- 
ment, up  rose  an  old  atheist  doctor  in  the  gallery,  and  ex- 
claimed, "  You  may  think  it  strange,  my  friends,  to  see  me  rise 
to  speak ;  but  I  am  constrained  to  confess  that  I  believe  the 
work  going  on  here  is  the  work  of  an  Almighty  God,"  and  sat 
down.  Strange  ?  Yes,  we  did  think  it  strange  to  hear  such 


772  NEW   TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

a  confession  from  the  man  who  had  been  fool-hardy  enough  to 
deny  the  being  of  God.  I  said  in  my  heart  that  God  had  put 
a  hook  in  the  jaws  of  that  Leviathan  —  and  so  it  proved. 
After  this,  little  knots  of  these  skeptics  could  be  seen  at  dif- 
ferent points,  seriously  inquiring  if  they  felt  anything  of  this 
mysterious  influence,  which  affected  a  greater  part  of  the  com- 
munity to  an  extent  never  known  before.  One  of  the  most 
influential  infidels  of  the  place  told  me,  one  day,  "  he  might 
preach  his  doctrines  till  doomsday,  and  not  see  such  great 
results."  The  old  doctor  became  very  much  alarmed,  and 
discovered  in  his  countenance  that  a  terrible  conflict  was 
going  on  in  his  soul.  He  was  asked  by  one  of  his  infidel  com- 
panions, one  morning,  how  he  felt.  "  My  life,"  he  replied, 
"  behind  me  is  black  as  hell ;  an  angry  God  is  above  me,  and 
a  yawning  perdition  beneath  me."  "  What  are  you  going  to  do 
in  such  a  case?"  was  the  inquiry.  "I'm  going  to  fly  to 'the 
Lord  Jesus  Christ ;  if  he  fails  me,  I  must  sink  to  hell."  He 
did  fly,  and  found  a  refuge  from  the  storm,  and  so  did  many 
others,  in  the  same  glorious  work.  Glory  be  to  God  for  a 
gospel  that  has  a  power  in  it  to  save  to  the  uttermost. 


THE  ANCHOR  HOLDS. 

Which  hope  we  have  as  an  anchor  of  the  soul,  both  sure  and  steadfast,  and 
which  entereth  into  that  within  the  vail.  —  lleb.  G  :  19. 

I  ONCE  stood  upon  an  eminence  above  the  sea,  and  saw  a 
home-bound  vessel  driven  by  a  fearful  tempest  toward  the 
•land.  The  waves,  now  lashed  to  fury,  broke  in  foaming  whirls 
upon  a  reef  that  ran  along  between  me  and  the  ship.  The 
wind  was. rising  to  a  perfect  gale.  The  spray  came  spattering 
over  me,  and  the  bark  was  drawing  closer  and  closer  in  upon 
the  fatal  breakers.  I  could  see  the  sailors  raise  their  hands 
to  heaven  for  mercy.  I  could  hear  faint  cries  to  God  above 
the  booming  of  the  ocean. 

In,  in  upon  the  rocks  the  great  ship  comes ;  hearts  melt  like 
wax,  and  prayers  ascend  from  thousands  on  the  shore  for  her 
salvation.  But  now  the  foaming  brine  rolls  over  her  j  she 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  773 

swings  around  alongside  of  the  deadly  breakers ;  one  wave 
more  will  dash  her  right  upon  them.  It  comes  —  the  mighti- 
est of  all ;  it  strikes  the  ship,  it  dashes  over  her,  it  breaks 
away ;  and  there,  0,  joy  and  gladness  —  she  holds  still,  and 
firm,  and  steadfast.  She  stands  to  her  position,  and  though 
wave  after  wave  comes  rolling  on,  and  breaks  with  deadening 
weight  against  her  sides,  though  the  rocks  are  but  a  cable's 
length  from  her,  she  rides  all  through  the  long,  darkling  night 
in  perfect  safety. 

What  holds  her  there  ?  No  saving  power  is  visible.  What 
prevents  the  wreck  and  ruin  ?  Her  massive  anchor  clinches 
fast  into  a  rock. 

Unseen,  but  mighty,  it  resists  the  impetus  of  the  storm,  and. 
gives  those  tars  of  ocean  to  their  homes  again. 

So,  like  that  strong  iron  anchor  is  the  Christian's  hope  in 
Jesus.  Though  not  observed  by  every  eye,  it  still  clings  fast  to 
the  "  Rock  of  Ages.'7  Wedged  into  that  immovable  foundation, 
it  holds  him  firm  and  steady  amidst  the  fluctuations  and  vicis- 
situdes of  this  mortal  life  ;  holds  him  when  amidst  the  surges 
of  temptation,  when  amidst  the  sunken  rocks  of  false  philoso- 
phy, when  buffeted  by  the  sharp  winds  of  adversity ;  holds 
him  when  the  sea  of  God's  indignation  overwhelms  the  wicked  ; 
holds  him  when  he  is  brought  alongside  of,  and  hears  the  tre- 
mendous roar  of  the  breakers  of  eternity  ;  holds  him  until  Jesus 
clasps  him  in  his  arms,  and  bears  him  to  that  golden  shore,  be- 
yond the  reach  of  ocean  storm,  or  wreck,  or  death. 


GIVING  TO  GOD  A  CONDITION  OF  RECEIVING. 

Now  consider  how  great  this  man  was,  unto  whom  even  the  patriarch  Abra- 
ham gave  the  tenth  of  the  spoils.  —  Heb.  1 :  4. 

THE  following  incident   occurred   in   England,  and  is   re- 
liable :  — 

Much  had  been  said  one  evening,  at  the  meeting  of  a  mis- 
sionary society,  on  a  blessing  which  always  seemed  to  rest  on 
those  who  gave  largely  toward  the  support  of  Christian  mis- 
sions. The  next  morning,  at  breakfast,  a  lady  gave  the  follow- 


774  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

ing  account  to  one  of  the  party,  who  were  her  visitors  on  that 
occasion :  — 

"  I  had  three  brothers,"  she  said,  "  who  had  been  brought 
up  with  much  care  by  my  excellent  father  and  mother.  They 
had  endeavored  to  impress  upon  all  their  children  the  duty 
and  the  high  privilege  of  laying  by  and  giving  even  of  their 
little  store,  to  the  spreading  of  the  kingdom  of  our  blessed 
Redeemer.  It  happened  that  each  of  these  brothers  possessed 
a  box,  in  which  he  was  accustomed  to  drop  any  small  sum  of 
money  that  might  be  given  to  him.  In  the  confusion  of  mov- 
ing from  our  residence  at to  another  house,  these  boxes 

were,  for  a  time,  mislaid,  and  were  long  looked  for  in  vain. 
Some  time'  afterward,  the  three  boxes  were  unexpectedly 
found.  The  boys  were  delighted  at  the  recovery  of  their  lost 
treasures,  and  determined  at  once  to  open  their  boxes.  It  was 
rather  a  curious  circumstance  that  the  three  boxes  contained 
almost  the  same  sum  of  money  —  about  ten  potfnds. 

"  My  eldest  brother  had  long  wished  to  possess  a  watch  ; 
and  without  hesitation  he  instantly  appropriated  the  whole  x>f 
the  contents  of  his  box  to  purchase  one. 

"  My  second  brother  was  of  a  divided  mind  ;  he  accordingly 
separated  his  money  into  two  portions ;  one  he  spent  for  his 
own  gratification,  and  the  other  portion  he  gave  to  some  re- 
ligious society. 

"  My  youngest  brother  gave  up  all ;  he  reserved  no  portion 
for  his  own  self-indulgence,  but  freely  and  joyfully  gave  the 
whole  to  the  Lord. 

"  And  now,"  added  the  lady,  "  I  must  tell  you  something  of 
the  after-life  of  each  of  my  brothers.  The  dispositions  which 
were  then  shown  in  so  marked  a  way  proved  indicative  of  the 
future  course  of  each  of  these  young  men.  The  eldest  has 
been  engaged  in  many  undertakings,  which  seemed  to  promise 
wealth,  and  he  has  expended  large  sums  of  money ;  but  he 
has  failed  in  everything  ;  and  at  the  close  of  a  long  life  he  is  a 
poor  man,  and  has  been  for  some  considerable  time  dependent 
on  the  bounty  of  his  youngest  brother. 

"  My  second  brother  is  not  poor ;  but  he  has  never  been 
rich,  nor  satisfied  with  his  very  moderate  circumstances. 

"  I  am  now  in  mourning  for  my  youngest  brother.     He  died 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  775 

lately,  leaving  one  hundred  thousand  pounds,  after  having 
freely  given  away  at  least  as  much  to  missions  among  the 
heathen,  and  to  other  works  of  love.  God  prospered  him  in 
everything  that  he  undertook  ;  and  he  ceased  not,  throughout 
the  whole  course  of  his  life,  to  give  freely  of  all  that  God  gave 
to  his  hand.  Freely  he  had  received,  and  freely  and  cheerfully 
did  he  give.'7 


BUSINESS  THAT  GOD  WILL  NOT  TAKE. 

For  he  of  whom  these  things  are  spoken  pertaincth  to  another  tribe,  of 
which  no  man  gave  attendance  at  the  altar.  —  Heb.  1 :  13. 

A  FEW  years  ago,  as  Rev.  Professor  Finney  was  holding  a 
series  of  meetings  in  the  city  of  Edinburgh,  many  persons 
called  upon  him  for  personal  conversation  and  prayer. 

One  day  a  gentleman  appeared  in  great  distress  of  mind. 
He  had  listened  to  Mr.  Finney's  sermon  on  the  previous  even- 
ing, and  it  had  torn  away  his  "  refuge  of  lies."  Mr.  Finney 
was  plain  and  faithful  with  him,  pointing  out  to  him  the  way 
of  life  clearly,  as  his  only  hope  of  salvation.  The  weeping 
man  assured  him  that  he  was  willing  to  give  up  all  for  Jesus ; 
that  he  knew  of  nothing  he  would  reserve  —  all  for  Jesus. 

"  Then  let  us  go  upon  our  knees  and  tell  God  of  that,"  said 
Mr.  Finney.  So  both  knelt  at  the  altar,  and  Mr.  Finney 
prayed:  a  0- Lord,  this  man  declares  that  he  is  prepared  to 
take  thee  as  his  God,  and  to  cast  himself  upon  thy  care  now 
and  for  ever." 

The  man  responded,  "  Amen,"  heartily. 

Mr.  Finney  continued :  "  0  Lord,  this  man  vows  that  he  is 
ready  to  give  his  wife,  family,  and  all  their  interests  up  to 
thee." 

Another  hearty  "  Amen  "  from  the  man.  ' 

He  went  on :  "0  Lord,  he  says  that  he  is  willing  to  give 
thee  his  business,  whatever  it  may  be,  and  conduct  it  for  thy 
glory." 

The  man  was  silent  —  no,  response.  Mr.  Finney  was  sur- 
prised at  his  silence,  and  asked,  "  Why  do  you  not  say  '  Amen ' 
to  this  ? ' 


770  NEW   TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

"  Because  the  Lord  will  not  take  my  business,  sir ;  I  am  in 
the  spirit  trade,"  he  answered. 

The  traffic  could  not  withstand  such  a  test  as  that.  "  The 
Lord  will  not  take  "  such  a  business  under  his  care.  He  de- 
mands its  destruction,  as  one  of  the  mightiest  obstacles  to  the 
progress  of  his  kingdom  in  the  earth. 


SAVED  ¥ITH  UTMOST  COMPLETENESS. 

Wherefore  he  is  able  also  to  save  them  to  the  uttermost  that  come  unto 
God  by  him,  seeing  he  ever  liveth  to  make  intercession  for  them.  —  Ileb.  1 :  25. 

HOW  rich  are  the  terms  Scripture  applies  to  salvation 
•  through  Jesus  !  "  He  is  able  to  save  them  to  the  utter- 
most that  come  unto  God  by  him."  What  can  go  further  than 
"  uttermost "  ?  Dr.  Clarke  says,  "  He  is  able  to  save  from  the 
power,  guilt,  nature,  and  punishment  of  sin,  to  the  uttermost, 
to  all  intents,  degrees,  and  purposes,  and  always,  and  in,  and 
through  all  times,  places,  and  circumstances ;  for  all  this  is 
implied  in  the  original  word."  The  Dutch  Bible  translates 
the  word  "  perfectly  ;  "  the  German  has  it  "  for  eve'r ;  "  Dr. 
Leander  Van  Ess  translates  "  complete ;  "  Berlenburg  Bible, 
"  most  perfectly  ;  "  Catholic  Bible  (German),  "  eternally  ;  "  Dr. 
Stier  renders  it  "  most  complete."  The  original  word  seems  to 
combine  the  two  ideas  of  continuity  and  utmost  completeness. 
Hence  Jesus  saves  for  ever  to  the  uttermost.  But  you  must 
come  unto  God  by  him,  and  keep  coming  all  the  time,  which 
implies  a  complete  separation  from  sin  and  an  entire  conse- 
cration to  God.  Here  is  full  salvation  for  you,  hungering 
poul.  Christ  offers  to  you  the  overflowing  well  of  salvation, 
thirsty  heart.  You  are  not  straitened  in  him  ;  you  may  receive 
from  his  fullness  grace  for  grace.  Come  and  be  saved  for  ever 
to  the  uttermost.  —  Evangelical  Messenger. 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  777 


ESCAPED  FROM  ROMANISM. 

Because  they  continued  not  in  my  covenant,  and  I  regarded  them  not,  saith 
the  Lord.  —  Ucb.  8:9. 

IT  was  in  the  year  1572  that  the  noise  of  battle  was  heard 
around-Jouarre.  It  came  nearer,  nearer,  to  the  very  doors 
of  the  convent.  In  vain  did  the  nuns  supplicate  their  images  ; 
the  gates  were  assailed  by  an  infuriated  soldiery ;  the  nuns 
yielded,  and,  driven  in  terror  from  their  cloistered  home, 
sought  a  temporary  shelter  in  the  neighboring  woods.  Char- 
lotte de  Bourbon  was  free  !  The  proud  self-will  of  her  ducal 
father  had  imprisoned  her  there,  but  her  gentle  mother's 
prayers  had  "  burst  the  gates  of  brass,  and  broken  the  bars 
of  iron  in  sunder."  Not  all  the  power  of  Romish  superstition, 
with  a  Bourbon  to  back  it,  could  hinder  the  accomplishment 
of  a  lonely  Christian  mother's  prayer  for  her  helpless  child. 
Yain  had  been  all  the  efforts  of  the  adversary  to  destroy  the 
seed  sown  in  secret  by  a  mother's  voice,  and  watered  by  her 
tearful  supplications ;  vain  the  enticements  of  a  gaudy  reli- 
giousness ;  vain  the  stone  walls  and  iron  gratings  of  the  gloomy 
convent ;  "  the  snare  was  broken,  and  the  prisoner  escaped." 

Adopting  various  disguises,  she  fled  through  France.  Her 
•peril  was  great ;  detection  was  death  or  life-long  imprison- 
ment ;  and  often  was  she  on  the  eve  of  being  discovered,  but 
her  mother's  prayers  were  her  protection  still.  After  many 
narrow  escapes  she  at  last  reached  Heidelberg,  where  there 
were  Christians  glad  ^o  receive  and  able  to  protect  her  from 
the  baffled  rage  of  the  Romish  priesthood,  and  the  vengeance 
of  an  angry  and  bigoted  parent.  Here  she  made  a  public  re- 
nunciation of  the  Romish  religion.  It  grieved  her  to  the  heart 
to  disappoint  her  father's  wishes  and  purposes  thus,  but  she 
was  supported  by  the  word,  "  Whoso  loveth  father  or  mother 
more  than  me  is  not  worthy  of  me."  That  a  lady  abbess,  the 
daughter  of  a  duke,  and  of  the  royal  house  of  France,  should 
thus  sacrifice  everything  for  the  truth's  sake,  and  contentedly 
enter  into  obscurity,  was  a  cause  of  joy  to  those  who  love  the 
Lord,  while  it  was  a  source  of  bitter  disappointment  to  the 
pride  of  the  Bourbons.  But  she  was  not  long  allowed  to 
98 


778  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

remain  in  the  obscurity  she  had  willingly  sought.  William, 
Prince  of  Orange,  had  heard  of  her  piety,  and  the  sacrifices 
she  had  made,  and,  being  himself  a  Protestant,  he  sought  and 
obtained  her  hand  in  marriage.  Thus  raised  to  a  position 
higher  than  that  she  had  resigned  for  the  Lord's  sake,  she  be- 
came an  example  alike  to  the  ladies  of  her  court  and  the  lowly 
mothers  in  their  families  j  and  if  the  meekness,  charity,  and 
devotion  which  characterized  the  whole  after-life  of  Charlotte 
de  Bourbon  were  blessed  to  any,  it,  too,  was  traceable  to  the 
teaching  and  prayers  of  that  mother,  who,  in  her  childhood, 
had  sought  to  lead  her  to  Him  who  said,  "  Suffer  the  little 
children  to  come  unto  me,  and  forbid  them  not." 

As  Princess  of  Orange,  and  the  highest  lady  of  rank  in  the 
Netherlands,  she  had  a  wide  sphere  of  opportunity  for  adorn- 
ing her  Christian  profession,  and  thus  giving  glory  to  Him  who 
had  loved  her,  and  bought  her  with  his  precious  blood.  And 
when  at  last  the  time  ^of  her  departure  arrived,  she  resigned 
her  spirit  into  his  hands  with  a  confidence  and  an  assured 
hope  which  nothing  but  faith  in  that  blood  could  give.  Surely 
a  Christian  mother's  prayers  proved  an  unspeakable  blessing 
to  the  abbess  of  Jouarre. 


NEGLECTED  TRUTHS. 

For  this  is  the  covenant  that  I  will  make  with  the  house  of  Israel  after 
those  days,  saith  the  Lord ;  I  will  put  my  laws  into  their  mind,  and  write  them 
in  their  hearts ;  and  I  will  be  to  them  a  God,  and  they  shall  be  to  me  a  peo- 
ple. —  Heb.  8  :  10. 

THERE  is  a  feeling  after  sacerdotalism  among  many  who 
should  know  better,  which  most  intelligent  people  regard 
with  contempt.  But  such  errors  are  the  common  avengers 
of  neglected  truths.  The  neglected  truth  is  the  priesthood 
of  all  the  saints.  Let  us  revive  and  illustrate  it.  An  idle, 
selfish,  corrupt  clergy  has  always  provoked  the  dislike  and 
scorn  of  men.  But  what  if  the  priesthood  of  the  world  neglect 
its  duties,  and  prove  unfaithful  to  its  trust?  For  we  are,  if 
saints  at  all,  "  a  peculiar  people  to  show  forth  the  praises  of 
him  who  hath  called  us  out  of  darkness  into  his  marvelous 
light."  Let  us  keep  our  vows.  Let  us  fulfill  our  calling. 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  779 

Let  us  offer  our  daily  sacrifices.  What  hope  is  there  for  the 
world  if  the  church  be  useless  ?  What  can  a  dead  world  do 
if  the  church  be  lifeless?  If  the  priests  be  recreant  to  God, 
and  set  up  the  golden  calf,  what  can  come  but  apostasy  and 
judgment?  Let  us,  in  our  homes,  our  business  relations, 
our  givings,  our  labors,  be  holy,  and  to  us  shall  be  made  the 
promise  that  binds  together  both  Testaments  and  both  worlds 
—  "  Ye  shall  be  named  the  priests  of  the  Lord ;  men  shall  call 
you  the  ministers  of  our  God."  Isaiah  61  :  6.  —  Rev.  J.  Hall, 
D.D. 


BLOOD  PURIFYING. 

And  almost  all  things  are  by  the  law  purged  with  blood ;  and  without  shed- 
ding of  blood  is  no  remission.  —  Heb.  9  :  22. 

THERE  was  a  custom  in  ancient  Phrygia,  practiced  for  the 
purpose  of  purifying,  which  evidently  came  by  tradition 
from  the  scriptural  account  of  blood  sacrifices.  When  a  per- 
son desired  to  be  purified,  he  was  placed  by  the  priests  in  a 
pit  prepared  for  the  purpose,  which  was  covered  by  a  plat- 
form. This  platform  was  perforated  with  many  small  holes  ; 
then  a  beast  for  sacrifice  was  brought  and  slain  on  this  plat- 
form, so  that  its  blood  might  flow  through  these  perforations 
upon  the  person  beneath.  As  the  blood  came  down  upon  the 
head,  the  hands,  the  feet,  the  limbs,  and  the  whole  person,  he 
was  considered  purified.  The  Bible  declares,  "  Without  shed- 
ding of  blood  is  no  remission  "  of  ^ins  ;  arid  also,  "  The  blood 
of  Jesus  Christ,  his  Son,  cleanseth  us  from  all  sin.77 


DONALD  AND  THE  DUKE. 

For  Christ  is  not  entered  into  the  holy  places  made  with  hands,  which  are 
the  figures  of  the  true,  but  into  heaven  itself,  now  to  appear  in' the  presence 
of  God  for  us.  —  Heb.  9  :  24. 

A  PROTESTANT  who  rented  a  small  farm  under  Alexan- 
der, second  Duke  of  Gordon,  having  fallen  behind  in  his 
payments,  a  vigilant  steward,  in  his  grace's  absence,  seized 


780  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

the  farmer's  stock,  and  advertised  it  to  be  sold  by  auction  on 
a  fixed  day.  The  duke  happily  returned  home  in  the  inter- 
val, and  the  tenant  went  to  him  to  supplicate  for  indulgence. 
"  What  is  the  matter,  Donald  ?  "  said  the  duke,  a^  he  saw  him 
enter,  with  sad,  downcast  looks.  Donald  told  his  sorrowful 
tale  in  a  concise,  natural  manner ;  it  touched  the  duke's  heart, 
and  he  produced  a  formal  acquittance  of  the  debt.  Donald,  as 
he  cheerfully  withdrew,  was  staring  at  the  pictures  and  im- 
ages which  he  saw  in  the  ducal  hall,  and  expressed  to  the 
duke,  in  a  homely  way,  a  wish  to  know  what  they  were. 

"  These/'  said  the  duke,  who  was  a  Roman  Catholic,  "  are 
the  saints,  who  intercede  with  God  for  me." 

"  My  lord  duke,"  said  Donald,  "  would  it  not  be  better  to  ap- 
ply yourself  directly  to  God  ?  I  went  to  muckle  Sawney  Gor- 
don, and  to  little  Sawney  Gordon;  but  if  I  had  not  come  to  your 
good  gracers  self,  I  could  not  have  got  my  discharge,  and  both 
I  and  my  bairns  had  been  turned  out  from  house  and  home." 


A  PRACTICAL  REFUTATION. 

And  as  it  is  appointed  unto  men  once  to  die,  but  after  this  the  judgment.  — 
Eeb.  9 :  27. 

A  RELIGIOUS  system  that  cowers  before  approaching 
death  will  not  stand  in  the  judgment.  A  Christian 
gentleman,  one  Colonel  Richardson,  was  in  a  boat  along  with 
two  Universalists,  on  the  river,  some  distance  above  the 
Falls  of  Niagara.  The  Universalists  began  to  rally  the  colo- 
nel on  his  belief  of  future  punishment,  and  expressed  their 
astonishment  that  a  man  of  his  powers  of  mind  should  be 
so  far  misled  as  to  believe  the  horrid  dogma.  The  colonel 
defended  his  opinions,  and  the  result  was  a  controversy,  which 
was  carried  on  so  long  and  earnestly  that  when  they,  after 
some  time,  looked  round,  they  found  that  the  boat  was  hurry- 
ing, with  great  rapidity,  towards  the  falls.  The  Universalists 
at  once  dropped  the  oars,  and  began  to  cry  to  God  to  have 
mercy  on  them.  Richardson  laid  hold  of  the  oars,  exerted  all 
his  strength,  and,  by  God's  mercy,  pulled  ashore.  When  they 
had  landed,  he  addressed  his  companions :  "  Gentlemen,  it  is  not 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  781 

long  since  you  were  railing  at  me  for  believing  in  future  pun- 
ishment. Your  opinion  is,  that  when  a  man  dies,  the  first  thing 
of  which  he  is  conscious  is  being  in  heaven :  now,  I  want  to 
know  why  you  were  so  terribly  frightened  when  you  thought 
that  in  five  minutes  more  you'd  be  over  the  falls  in  glory  ?  " 
The  Universalists  were  silent  for  some  time  ;  at  length  one  of 
them,  scratching  his  head,  said,  "  I'll  tell  you  what,  Colonel 
Richardson,  Universalism  does  very  well  in  smooth  water,  but 
it  will  never  do  to  go  over  the  Falls  of  Niagara  !  " 


HOLDING  TO  OUR  PROFESSION 

Let  us  hold  fast  the  profession  of  our  faith  without  wavering,  for  he  is 
faithful  that  promised.  —  lleb.  10  :  23. 

SOLOMON  charges  us  to  "  buy  the  truth,  and  sell  it  not." 
Purchase  it  at  any  price,  and  part  with  it  at  none.  Many 
have  refused  to  give  its  price,  and  others  have  parted  with 
it;  always  infinitely  below  its  worth.  Paul,  who  had  made 
great  Sacrifices  to  obtain  this  precious  pearl,  when  writing  to 
the  Christian  Hebrews,  who  had  also  given  their  all  for  it, 
said,  "  Let  us  hold  fast  the  profession  of  our  faith  without 
wavering  ;  for  he  is  faithful  that  promised."  Not  a  few  have 
done  this.  A  poor  girl,  who  resided  on  the  sea-coast  of  Eng- 
land, was  asked,  when  dying,  by  a  clergyman,  what  she  thought 
of  Jesus:  her  reply  was  beautiful  and  sublime  —  "  Jesus?" 
said  she  ;  <'  I  cleave  to  him  as  the  limpets  to  the  rocks."  Ex- 
cellent girl!  who  does  not  almost  envy  her?  Yes,  the  Chris- 
tian will  cleave  to  Jesus  in  spite  of  everything.  The  stormy 
ocean,  hurling  its  destructive  fury  around,  only  causes  the 
limpets  to  cleave  to  the  rocks  more  firmly.  So  was  it  with 
Job ;  the  more  heavily  his  sorrows  fell  upon  him,  the  more 
fully  did  he  determine,  "  though  he  slay  me.,  yet  will  I  trust 
in  him." 

When  tempted  to  desert  the  truth,  or  to  renounce  the  cause 
of  Christ,  "  we  may,"  says  Andrew  Fuller,  "  imagine  that  the 
martyrs  in  heaven  are  calling  to  us.  One  may  say,  '  Hold  it 
fast;  I  died  in  a  dungeon  rather  than  forego  it.'  '  Hold  it 
fast/  says  another ;  '  I  bled  for  it.'  '  Hold  it  fast,'  says  a  third  ; 
'  I  burned  for  it.'  " 


782  NEW   TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

Let  this  duty  be  considered  as  practically  devolving  ov» 
every  one  who  lias  named  the  name  of  Christ.  Let  us  boldly 
confess  Christ,  and  cleave  to  him  constantly,  that  so  we  may 
humbly  expect  that  he  will  own  us  in  the  presence  of  his  Fa- 
ther and  an  assembled  universe.  Such  a  line  of  conduct 
ennobles  us  in  the  esteem  of  all  holy  beings,  while  even  the 
most  ungodly  can  not  despise  ns ;  it  strengthens  us  for  the 
discharge  of  all  duties,  and  makes  us  blessings  to  the  world. 
We  thus  serve  the  church  while  we  live,  and  obtain  a  victory 
over  the  last  enemy  when  we  die. 


DYING  WITHOUT  HOPE. 

But  a  certain  fearful  looking  for  of  judgment  and  fiery  indignation  which 
shall  devour  the  adversaries.  —  Ileb.  10  :  27. 

DR.  SPRING,  reviewing  his  long  ministerial  career,  gives 
the  following  testimony,  which  is  instructive,  solemn,  and 
full  of  warning :  "  I  have  seen  Universalists  and  infidels  die, 
and  during  a  ministry  of  fifty-five  years  I  have  not  found  a 
single  instance  of  peace  and  joy  in  their  views  of  eternity. 
No ;  nothing  but  an  accusing  conscience  and  the  terrors  of 
apprehension.  I  have  seen  men  die  who  were  men  of  mercurial 
temperament,  men  of  pleasure  and  fun,  men  of  taste  and  liter- 
ature, lovers  of  the  opera  and  the  theater  rather  than  the 
house  of  God,  and  I  never  saw  an  instance  in  which  such  per- 
sons died  in  peace.  They  died  as  they  lived.  Life  was  a 
blank,  and  death  the  king  of  terrors;  a  wasted  life,  an  undone 
eternity  !  "  Life  that  ends  thus  was  a  great  failure,  and  fore- 
bodes the  loss  of  the  soul  for  ever. 


SHE  DIED  WITHOUT  MERCY. 

He  that  despised  Moses'  law  died  without  mercy  under  two  or  three  wit- 
nesses. —  Heb.  10  :  28. 

A  YOUNG  lady,  once  awakened,  then  becoming  careless, 
was  seized  with  consumption,  and  said  to  the  minister 
calling  upon  her, "  Such  a  time  I  had  pardon  and  salvation 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  783 

offered  me  ;  but  now  I  am  a  reprobate.  I  can  not  pray,  and 
if  I  could,  it  would  not  be  heard."  When  she  felt  the  chill 
of  death,  she  began  to  cry  aloud,  "  0,  I  can't  die ;  I  am  not 
fit  to  die;  you  must  not  let  me  die  !  If  I  die,  I  am  lost  for 
ever !  0,  send  for  the  doctor.  Can't  he  save  my  life  ? 
O,  must  I  die  in  my  guilt?'*  Her  little  brother  burst  into 
tears,  and  said,  "  Why  don't  you  pray  to  God  ?  Why  don't 
you  pray  for  mercy  ?  "  "  There  is  no  mercy  for  me,"  she  an- 
swered ;  "  I  have  abused  mercy.  When  God  offered  me  mercy, 
I  rejected  it.  Now  there  is  no  mercy  for  me.  I  have  t  shut 
the  door  of  mercy  against  myself.'  "  Thus  she  continued  her 
cries,  growing  weaker  and  weaker,  till  her  voice  was  hushed 
in  death.  Who  shall  say  that  for  her  wicked  choice  she  had 
not  been  given  over  of  God  ? 


NO  MERCY  EXCEPT  THROUGH  CHRIST. 

It  is  a  fearful  thing  to  fall  into  the  hands  of  the  living  God.  —  ffeb.  10  :  31. 

"YTOTHING  so  cold  as  lead,  yet  nothing  more  scalding  if 
-Li  molten ;  nothing  more' blunt  than  iron,  and  yet  nothing  so 
keen  if  sharpened.  The  air  is  soft  and  tender,  yet  out  of  it 
are  engendered  thunderings  and  lightnings  ;  the  sea  is  calm 
and  smooth,  but  if  tossed  with  tempests  it  is  rough  above 
measure.  Thus  it  is  that  mercy  abused  turns  to  fury  :  God, 
as  he  is  a  God  of  mercies,  so  he  is  a  God  of  judgment ;  and  it 
is  a  fearful  thing  to  fall  into  his  punishing  hands.  He  is  loth 
to  strike,  but  when  he  strikes  he  strikes  home.  If  his  wrath 
be  kindled,  yea,  but  a  little,  woe  be  to  all  those  on  whom  it 
lights ;  how  much  more  when  he  is  sore  displeased  with  a 
people  or  person  !  Who  knows  the  power  of  his  anger  ?  says 
Moses.  Let  every  one  therefore  submit  to  his  justice,  and 
implore  his  mercy.  Men  must  either  burn  or  turn  ;  for  even 
our  God  is  a  consuming  fire. 


784  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 


MELANCHOLY  AND  TEMPTATIONS. 

Cast  not  away  therefore  your  confidence,  which  hath  great  recompense 
of  reward.  —  Heb.  10  :  35. 

~l  TELANCHOLY  Christians  are  in  danger  of  Satan's  tempta- 
jLuL  tions.  Melancholy  is  defined  to  be  a  black  humor  seated 
chiefly  in  the  brain.  The  devil  works  much  with  his  tempta- 
tions upon  this  humor.  Melancholy  clothes  the  mind  in  deep 
gloom,  therefore  unfits  a  Christian  for  the  discharge  of  reli- 
gious duties.  Lute -strings  will  give  no  sound  when  wet :  so 
a  Christian  is  out  of  tune  for  spiritual  exercise  when  the  spirit 
is  sad  and  depressed.  Melancholy  sides  with  Satan  against 
God.  Satan  tells  the  saint  God  does  not  love  him,  and  the 
saint  believes  him,  and  then  casts  away  his  confidence, 
"which  has  great  recompense  of  reward.'7  Melancholy  knocks 
off  the  chariot  wheels  of  the  soul,  and  the  saint  loses  his  en- 
ergy and  the  spirit  of  perseverance  ;  that  is,  to  use  a  common 
saying,  "  he  gives  up."  Melancholy  breeds  discontent,  and 
discontent  leads  to  sin,  and  thence  to  self-murder.  And  one 
would  think  melancholy  Christians  tempt  Satan  to  tempt 
them.  God  save  us  from  melancholy  !  Give  us  happy  and 
cheerful  spirits,  sanctioned  by  grace  !  The  devil  lies  in  am- 
bush to  do  us  mischief.  He  is  not  fully  cast  into  prison,  but 
is  like  a  prisoner  on  bail.  He  is  ever  ready  to  take  his  prey. 
He  walketh  about ;  he  is  never  at  ease  ;  he  is  a  restless  spirit. 
He  is  like  a  Roman  captain  Hannibal  speaks  of:  whether  he 
was  the  conqueror  or  the  conquered,  he  never  was  quiet.  He 
works  with  his  temptations  upon  the  unbelieving.  He  who 
doubts  a  Deity,  or  denies  a  hell,  what  sin  will  not  such  a  man 
be  drawn  into  !  He  is  a  metal  that  Satan  can  cast  into  any 
mold  —  dye  him  any  color.  An  unbeliever  like  this  will 
stick  to  any  sin.  Paul  was  afraid  of  none  so  much  as  them 
that  did  not  believe  ;  he  prayed  to  be  delivered  from  the  un- 
believers in  Judea.  Still,  Satan  is  not  quiet ;  by  putting  his 
own  coloring  upon  the  unbeliever,  he  goes  about,  not  as  a 
pilgrim,  but  as  a  spy.  Satan  follows  with  his  temptations  till 
the  saint  is  about  to  set  his  foot  upon  the  deathless  shore  of 
Canaan ;  even  then  the  devil  tells  the  dying  child  of  grace 


NEW   TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  785 

that  he  is  a  hypocrite,  and  all  his  evidences,  hitherto,  of  his 
acceptance  with  God  were  counterfeit.  It  is  true  Satan  can 
not  blot  out  the  Christian's  evidence  of  the  pardoning  grace 
of  God  ;  but  he  can  throw  sand  in  the  eyes  of  faith,  so  that 
we  can  not  always  see  it.  This  Satan  often  does  when  the 
saint  is  ready  to  die.  Like  a  coward,  he  strikes  when  the 
saint  is  down  ;  while  death  is  striking  at  the  body,  he  is  strik- 
ing at  the  soul. 


SAVED  BY  BELIEVING. 

But  we  are  not  of  them  who  draw  back  unto  perdition,  but  of  them  that 
believe  to  the  saving  of  the  soul.  —  Heb.  10 :  39. 

DR.  JOHNSON  could  not  find  the  primary  meaning  nor  the 
origin  of  the  word  believe.  It  was  formed  from  the  Gothic 
Be-lifian,  which  is  something  by  which  a  person  lives.  When 
a  man  believes  anything,  he  adapts  his  life  to  it.  Hence  the 
great  significance  of  this  word.  When  a  man  professes  to  be- 
lieve Christianity,  and  fails  to  conform  his  life  to  it,  he  thereby 
shows  that  he  does  not  believe  what  he  professes.  There  are 
many  such  persons,  to  whom  Plato's  use  of  the  word  opinion 
may  be  correctly  applied.  Plato  said  that  "  opinion  is  the 
half-way  house  between  ignorance  and  knowledge  ;  "  and  a 
great  many  opinions  take  their  final  lounge  in  the  domain  of 
ignorance. 

The  important  place  which  belief  occupies  in  the  economy 
of  salvation,  is  seen  by  our  Lord  making  belief  the  condition 
of  salvation  —  "  He  that  believeth  on  the  Son  hath  life,"  <fcc. 


DEAD,  YET  LIVING. 

By  faith  Abel  offered  unto  God  a  more  excellent  sacrifice  than  Cain,  by 
which  he  obtained  witness  that  he  was  righteous,  God  testifying  of  his  gifts ; 
and  by  it  he,  being  dead,  yet  speaketh.  —  Heb.  11:4. 

THE  cedar  is  most  useful  when  dead.     It  is  the  most  pro- 
ductive when  its  place  knows  it  no  more.     There  is  no 
timber  like  it.     Firm  in  the  grain,  and  capable  of  the  finest 
99 


786  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

polish,  the  tooth  of  no  insect  will  touch  it,  and  Time  himself 
can  hardly  destroy  it.  Diffusing  a  perpetual  fragrance  through 
the  chambers  which  it  ceils,  the  worm  will  not  corrode  the 
book  which  it  protects,  nor  the  moth  corrupt  the  garment 
which  it  guards.  All  but  immortal  itself,  it  transfuses 
its  amaranthine  qualities  to  the  objects  around  it.  Every 
Christian  is  useful  in  his  life,  but  the  goodly  cedars  are  the 
most  useful  afterward.  Luther  is  dead,  but  the  Reformation 
lives.  Knox,  Melville,  and  Henderson  are  dead,  but  Scotland 
still  retains  a  Sabbath  and  a  Christian  peasantry,  a  Bible  in 
every  house,  and  a  school  in  every  parish.  Bunyan  is  dead, 
but  his  bright  spirit  still  walks  the  earth  in  its  Pilgrim's  Prog- 
ress. Baxter  is  dead,  but  souls  are  still  quickened  by  the 
Saints'  Rest.  Cowper  is  dead,  but  the  "  golden  apples  "  are 
still  as  fresh  as  when  newly  gathered  in  the  "  silver  basket  " 
of  the  Olney  Hymns.  Eliot  is  dead,  but  the  missionary 
enterprise  is  young.  Henry  Martyn  is  dead,  but  who  can 
count  the  apostolic  spirits  who,  phoenix-like,  have  started 
from  his  funeral  pile  ?  Howard  is  dead,  but  modern  philan- 
thropy is  only  commencing  its  career.  Raikes  is  dead,  but 
the  Sabbath  schools  go  on.  Wilberforce  is  dead,  but  the 
negro  will  find  for  ages  a  protector  in  his  memory.  —  Rev. 
James  Hamilton. 

A  LIFE  OF  FAITH. 

By  faith  Enoch  was  translated,  that  he  should  not  see  death ;  and  was  not 
found,  because  God  had  translated  him ;  for  before  his  translation  he  had  this 
testimony,  that  he  pleased  God.  —  Heb.  11:5. 

A  LIFE  of  religion  is  a  life  of  faith,  and  faith  is  that  strange 
faculty  by  which  man  feels  the  presence  of  the  invisible, 
exactly  as  some  animals  have  the  power  of  seeing  in  the  dark. 
That  is  the  difference  between  the  Christian  and  the  world. 
Most  men  know  nothing  beyond  what  they  see  ;  their  lovoly 
world-  is  all  in  all  to  them  —  its  outer  beauty,  not  its  hidden 
loveliness.  Prosperity,  adversity,  sadness,  it  is  all  the  same  ; 
they  struggle  through  it  all  alone,  and  when  old  age  comes, 
and  the  companions  of  early  life  are  gone,  they  feel  that  they 
are  solitary.  In  all  this  deep,  strange  world,  they  never  meet, 


NEW   TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  787 

but  for  a  moment,  the  spirit  of  it  all,  who  stands  at  their  very 
side.  And  it  is  exactly  the  opposite  of  this  that  makes  a 
Christian.  Move  where  he  will,  there  is  a  thought  and  a 
presence  which  he  can  not  put  aside  ;  he  is  "  haunted  for  ever 
by  the  eternal  mind."  God  looks  out  upon  him  from  the  clear 
sky  and  through  the  thick  darkness,  is  present  in  the  rain-drop 
that  trickles  through  the  branches,  and  in  the  tempest  that 
crashes  down  the  forest.  A  living  Redeemer  stands  beside 
him,  goes  with  him,  talks  with  him  as  a  man  with  his  friend. 
The  emphatic  description  of  a  life  of  spirituality  is,  "  Enoch 
walked  with  God." 


OUR  FAITH  PLEASING  TO  GOD. 

But  without  faith  it  is  impossible  to  please  him.  —  Heb.  11:6. 

THE  idea  of  faith  is  as  widely  spread  over  the  earth  as  the 
race  of  man,  and  is  coeval  with  his  existence  upon  it. 
Abel,  the  second  son  of  Adam,  is  spoken  of  as  having  faith  ; 
and  by  it  he  offered  a  more  acceptable  offering  to  God  than 
his  older  brother,  Cain.  The  Scriptures  speak  of  faith  oftener 
than  of  any  other  duty  required  of  man,  and  make  it  more 
prominent  in  the  Christian  life.  So  important  is  it,  that  in- 
spiration has  written,  "  But  without  faith  it  is  impossible  to 
please  him  "  (God).  There  is  no  subject  within  the  range 
of  Christian  ethics,  that  the  individual  Christian  and  the 
organized  church  so  much  need  to  study,  to  inwardly  digest, 
and  act  upon,  as  the  doctrine  of  faith.  There  are  weakness, 
loss  of  influence,  smallriess  of  success,  oft  discouragements,  - 
because  of  the  absence  of  faith  in  God,  or,  at  best,  but  "  little 
faith."  Faith  lies  at  the  foundation  of  personal  and  churchly 
success  in  the  work  of  God.  The  Christian  who  ventures 
nothing  upon  faith,  but  depends  upon  "  sight,"  —  upon  seeing 
his  way  clear,  waiting,  before  acting,  till  he  can  see  how  an 
enterprise  for  God  can  be  successfully  carried  out,  —  drops  out 
the  greatest  element  of  moral  power,  and  lets  go  his  hold  on 
Omnipotence. 

More  than  that,  to  act  in  the  cause  of  God  without  faith  is 
displeasing  to  God.     For  God  is  only  pleased  with   our  plan- 


788  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

ning  for  him,  when  we  venture,  with  a  true  regard  for  his 
glory,  out  beyond  visible  resources,  and  expect  God  to  help 
us,  on  in  that  cause  which  is  more  dear  to  the  heart  of  the 
Saviour  than  it  can  be  to  us.  There  is  no  faith  where  we 
can  see  how  the  end  can  be  reached  according  to  the  ordinary 
course  of  life,  for  faith  only  begins  where  sight  ends.  Faith 
prompts  to  progress.  The  individual  and  the  organized  body 
of  believers  must  "  go  on,"  or  go  back  in  declension  and  ruin. 
The  great  doctrine  of  the  Bible,  confirmed  by  experience,  is, 
"  Go  on/7  or  die. 

KEEP  THE  GATE  SHUT. 

By  faith  Abraham,  when  he  was  called  to  go  out  into  a  place  which  he 
should  after  receive  for  an  inheritance,  obeyed;  and  he  went  out,  not  knowing 
whither  he  went.  —  Jleb.  11:8. 

AN  English  farmer  was  one  day  at  work  in  his  fields,  when  he 
saw  a  party  of  huntsmen  riding  about  his  farm.  He  had 
one  field  that  he  was  specially  anxious  they  should  not  ride 
over,  as  the  crop  was  in  a  condition  to  be  badly  injured  by  the 
tramp  of  horses.  So  he  dispatched  one  of  his  workmen  to  this 
field,  telling  him  to  shut  the  gate,  and  then  keep  watch  over 
it,  and  on  no  account  to  suffer  it  to  be  opened.  The  boy  went 
as  he  was  bidden,  but  was  scarcely  at  his  post  before  the 
huntsmen  came  up,  peremptorily  ordering  the  gate  to  be 
opened.  This  the  boy  declined  to  do,  stating  the  orders  he 
had  received,  and  his  determination  not  to  disobey  them. 
Threats  and  bribes  were  offered  alike  in  vain ;  one  after 
another  came  forward  as  spokesman,  but  all  with  the  same 
result ;  the  boy  remained  immovable  in  his  determination  not 
to  open  the  gate.  After  a  while,  one  of  noble  presence  ad- 
vanced, and  said,  in  commanding  tones,  — 

"  My  boy,  you  do  not  know  me.  I  am  the  Duke  of  Welling- 
ton, one  not  accustomed  to  be  disobeyed ;  and  I  command  you 
to  open  that  gate,  that  I  and  my  friends  may  pass  through." 

The  boy  lifted  his  cap,  and  stood  uncovered  before  the 
man  whom  all  England  delighted  to  honor,  then  answered, 
firmly,  — 

"  I  am  sure  the  Duke  of  Wellington  would  not  wish  me  to 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  789 

disobey  orders.  I  must  keep  this  gate  shut,  nor  suffer  any 
one  to  pass  but  with  my  master's  express  permission." 

Greatly  pleased,  the  sturdy  old  warrior  lifted  his  own  hat 
and  said, — 

"  I  honor  the  man,  or  boy,  who  can  be  neither  bribed  nor 
frightened  into  doing  wrong.  With  an  army  of  such  soldiers 
I  could  conquer  not  only  the  French,  but  the  world."  And, 
handing  the  boy  a  glittering  sovereign,  the  old  duke  put  spurs 
to  his  horse  and  galloped  away,  while  the  boy  ran  off  to  his 
work,  shouting  at  the  top  of  his  voice,  — 

"  Hurrah,  hurrah  !  I've  done  what  Napoleon  couldn't  do  — 
I've  kept  out  the  Duke  of  Wellington." 

Every  boy  is  a  gate-keeper,  and  his  Master's  command  i*, 
"  Be  thou  faithful  unto  death."  Are  you  tempted  to  drink,  to 
smoke  or  chew  tobacco  ?  Keep  the  gate  of  your  mouth  fast 
closed,  and  allow  no  evil  company  to  enter.  When  evil  com- 
panions would  counsel  you  to  break  the  Sabbath,  to  lie,  to 
deal  falsely,  to  disobey  your  parents,  keep  the  gate  of  your 
ears  fast  shut  against  such  enticements ;  and  wheij  the  bold 
blasphemer  would  instill  doubts  of  the  great  truths  of  re  voli- 
tion, then  keep  the  door  of  your  heart  locked  and  barred 
against  his  infamous  suggestions,  remembering  that  it  is  only 
the  fool  who  "  hath  said  in  his  heart,  There  is  no  God." 


INSCRIPTIONS  ON  THE  TOMBS  OF  BELIEVERS. 

These  all  died  in  faith,  not  having  received  the  promises,  but  having  seen 
them  afar  off,  and  were  persuaded  of  them,  and  embraced  them,  and  confessed 
that  they  were  strangers  and  pilgrims  on  the  earth.  —  Ileb.  11 :  13. 

ONE  of  the  gloomiest  tokens  of  the  emptiness  of  all  worldly 
gayety,  fashion,  and  power,  is  in  the  uniform  tone  of  faith- 
less despondency  among  the  inscriptions  of  P£re  Lachaise  — 
itself  a  sadder  monument  than  any  in  the  field.  French 
vivacity  and  genius  have  found  no  serene  thoughts  to  chisel 
on  the  splendid  marbles  of  rank  and  fame. 

But  go  from  Paris  to  Rome ;  read  the  epitaphs  of  those  first 
Christians,  who  worshiped  and  suffered  martyrdom  in  the 
catacombs.  They  were  cut  by  unlettered  gravers,  on  rough 


790  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

rocks,  with  rude  instruments,  in  subterranean  chambers,  where 
converted  sand-diggers  nursed  the  early  church,  and  where 
the  indomitable  confessors  of  Christ  hid  from  the  fierce  cru- 
elties of  royal  persecutors.  Often  they  were  scraped  in  haste 
and  in  the  dark  j  and  the  ill-spelled  plebeian  names  show 
how  God,  as  his  economy  often  is,  chose  the  witnesses  of  his 
religion  out  of  lowly  places,  and  made  the  weak  things  of  the 
world  to  confound  the  wisdom  of  the  mighty.  For  they  have 
confounded  it. 

When  the  Cross  had  triumphed  over  the  Praetorian  eagles, 
'and  the  despised  religion  of  Nazareth  had  gone  up  to  sit  on 
the  throne  of  the  Cassars,  those  humble  gravestones  were 
lifted  from  the  shadows  of  the  catacombs  into  the  light,  and 
installed  in  honored  niches  among  the  pomps  of  the  Vatican. 
There  you  may  read,  in  impressive  contrast  with  the  formal 
flatteries  and  inflated  threnodies  of  more  artificial  days,  what 
phrases  men  who  stood  very  near  to  the  Master  thought 
worthy  to  be  stamped  on  the  sepulchers  of  their  friends. 
Simple,  as  the  Saviour's  beatitudes  !  Brief,  as  if  a  life  so 
sorely  straitened  by  trial  had  no  time  for  diffuse  eulogies ! 
Patient,  as  if  they  had  lived  long  enough  when  they  might 
go  home  to  their  God,  or  when  they  could  shed  their  blood  for 
Christ  —  words  actually  written  on  the  tomb  of  Marius,  a  young 
soldier,  slain  for  his  faith  !  No  petulant  murmurs  at  their 
losses  and  separations  ;  no  arrogant  suspicions  of  the  provi- 
dential mercy ;  no  vengeful  anathemas  on  their  murderers  ; 
but  such  sweet,  plain,  sublime  sentences  as  these,  mostly 
from  evangelists  and  apostles  :  "  In  peace  ;  "  "  In  Christ ;  " 
"  At  rest  with  God ;  "  "  Maximius,  friend  of  all  men  ;  "  "  Gor- 
gonius,  enemy  of  none  ;  "  "  Our  beautiful  boy,  Irenasus,  borne 
away  by  angels  ;  "  "  My  husband,  faithful  unto  death  ;  "  "A 
wife,  fallen  asleep  in  Jesus  ;  "  "  To  Claudius,  the  well-deserv- 
ing, who  loved  me  ;  "  "  Victorina  sleeps ;  "  "  Arethusa  in 
God  ;  "  "  Lanna3us,  Christ's  martyr,  rests  here  ;  "  "  Petronia,  a 
deacon's  wife,  the  image  of  modesty.  Spare  your  tears,  and 
believe  that  it  is  forbidden  to  weep  for  one  who  lives  for  God." 

All  speak  of  love   and  peace,  victory  and  life  eternal.  — 
Huntingdon. 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  791 


WHAT  A  COUNTRY  THAT  WILL  BE. 

But  now  they  desire  a  better  country,  that  is,  a  heavenly ;  wherefore  God 
is  not  ashamed  to  be  called  their  God,  for  he  hath  prepared  for  them  a  city.  — 
Heb.  11 :  16. 

SO  much  as  moments  are  exceeded  by  eternity,  and  the 
sighing  of  a  man  by  the  joys  of  an  angel,  and  a  salutary 
frown  by  the  light  of  God's  countenance,  a  few  frowns  by  the 
infinite  and  eternal  hallelujahs,  so  much  are  the  sorrows  of  the 
godly  to  be  undervalued  in  respect  to  what  is  deposited  for 
them  in  the  treasures  of  eternity.  Their  sorrows  can  die,  but 
so  can  not  their  joys.  And,  if  the  blessed  martyrs  and  con- 
fessors were  asked  concerning  their  past  sufferings,  and  their 
present  rest,  and  the  joys  of  their  certain  expectations,  you 
should  hear  them  glory  in  nothing  but  in  the  mercies  of  God 
and  in  the  cross  of  the  Lord  Jesus.  Every  chain  is  a  ray  of 
light,  and  every  prison  is  a  palace,  and  every  loss  is  the  pur- 
chase of  a  kingdom,  and  every  affront  in  the  cause  of  God  is 
an  eternal  honor,  and  every  day  of  sorrow  is  a  thousand  years 
of  comfort,  multiplied  with  a  never-ceasing  numeration  ;  days 
without  nights,  joys  without  sorrows,  sanctity  without  sin, 
charity  without  stain,  possession  without  fear,  society  without 
envying,  communication  of  joys  without  lessening ;  and  they 
shall  dwell  in  a  blessed  country,  where  an  enemy  never  en- 
tered, and  from  whence  a  friend  never  went  away.  —  Jeremy 
Taylor. 

REPROACH  IS  WEALTH. 

Esteeming  the  reproach  of  Christ  greater,  riches  than  the  treasures  in 
Egypt;  for  he  had  respect  unto  the  recompense  of  the  reward.  —  Heb.  11 :  26. 

THE  Christian  finds  wealth  in  reproach  far  greater  than  the 
riches  of  Egypt.  Those  riches  of  Egypt  have  all  passed 
away.  Pharaoh's  chariots  and  cavalry  are  buried  in  the  depths 
of  the  Red  Sea.  The  stores  of  the  Ishmaelite  merchants,  once 
so  large,  have  disappeared.  The  pyramids  of  Egypt  alone 
remain,  as  if  to  mark  the  height  to  which  the  tide  of 'its  mag- 
nificence rose;  and  to  be  instructive  proofs  to  future  genera- 


792  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

tions  how  thoroughly  it  has  ebbed  away.  Where  the  glories 
of  Egypt  once  were,  are  now,  few  and  far  between,  caravans 
passing  through  the  desert,  or  pilgrims  of  Mecca  going  to  the 
tomb  of  the  false  prophet.  The  riches  of  Egypt  have  fled 
away ;  but  the  wealth  of  Moses  endures,  for  unsearchable 
riches  never  fade.  Moses  does  not  repent  beside  the  throne, 
nor  regret  for  one  moment  that  he  preferred  the  reproach  of 
Christ  to  all  the  treasures  of  Egypt ;  "  for,"  it  is  added,  in  the 
next  place,  "  he  had  respect  unto  the  recompense  of  the  re- 
ward." —  Humming. 


MARTYRDOM  AT  ROME. 

And  others  had  trial  of  cruel  moekings  and  scourgings,  yea,  moreover,  of 
bonds  and  imprisonment.  —  Jleb.  11:  36. 

A  CORRESPONDENT  of  the  New  York  Crusader,  writing 
from  Rome,  says, — 

"  The  prisons  of  Diocletian  are  deep,  narrow,  and  damp. 
No  daylight  shines  into  these  caves ;  no  pure  air  is  breathed 
by  the  unfortunate  inmates.  The  food  is  of  the  worst  kind, 
and  better  victuals  can  not  be  obtained  even  with  money. 
The  prisoners  are  not  allowed  a  spoon,  fork,  or  knife  ;  they 
are  compelled  to  eat  like  brutes,  and  are  not  permitted  to  see 
any  friend  or  relative.  These  jails  may  be  compared  to  hell 
on  earth ;  the  keepers  are  cruel,  without  any  feeling.  Here 
are  chained  hundreds  of  political  criminals. 

"  A  young  man  from  Bologna,  full  of  genius  and  promising 
success,  called  Gavazzi,  and  a  nephew  to  the  illustrious  Cru- 
sader of  Italy,  had  been  imprisoned  in  the  Baths  of  Diocletian 
for  five  years.  Being  reduced  by  tortures  and  privations 
almost  to  a  skeleton,  the  physician  applied  to  the  cardinal- 
vicar  to  grant  him  a  more  healthy  abode,  asserting  that  the 
poor  youth  could  not  live  longer  in  his  present  prison.  The 
favor  was  refused.  At  last,  on  the  night  of  February  1,  the 
patient  grew  worse  ;  the  doctor  was  called  for,  who,  on  ex- 
amining the  languishing  patriot,  exclaimed  that  all  was  lost, 
and  there  was  no  more  hope  of  saving  life. 

"  The  poor  victim  smiled  at  the  idea  of  his  physician,  and 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  793 

said,  '  If  the  body  is  lost,  the  soul  will  be  saved.7  The  chap- 
lain, a  Capuchin  friar,  came  to  administer  the  sacraments,  and 
to  read  prayers ;  but  Gavazzi  refused  to  confess,  and  would 
not  listen  to  any  advice  or  threatenings  of  eternal  damnation. 
This  mournful  news  reached  the  ears  of  the  Holy  Father,  who, 
professing  to  desire  that  (  one  Gavazzi,'  at  least,  should  die  in 
the  bosom  of  the  Catholic  church,  dispatched  to  the  living 
tomb  my  lord  Matteucci,  who  enjoys  a  wide  reputation  of  be- 
ing able  to  convert  the  most  firm  unbelievers.  But  even  this 
prelate  proved  of  no  avail.  When  he  spoke  to  the  young  man 
of  Christ,  the  patient  answered  that  he  believed  in  him,  but 
Christ  never  persecuted,  nor  taught  his  ministers  to  persecute, 
his  fellow-creatures.  Young  Gavazzi  died  on  the  night  of  the 
2d  of  February.  His  body  was  buried,  as  that  of  a  heretic, 
outside  of  the  graveyard,  and  burned  with  lime  ! 

"  I  am  informed  that  the  principal  charge  brought  by  the 
tribunal  of  the  Sacred  Consulta  against  this  young  man,  is  that 
of  having,  during  the  Republic  of  Rome,  stormed,  at  the  head 
of  the  soldiers,  the  beautiful  villa  Patrizi,  which  was  the  earthly 
paradise  of  the  ferocious  Patriz,  who  obtained  against  his  foe 
a  condemnation  of  twenty  years'  imprisonment  in  the  Bath  of 
Diocletian." 


OLYMPIAN  RACE. 

Wherefore,  seeing  we  also  are  compassed  about  with  so  great  a  cloud  of 
witnesses,  let  us  lay  aside  every  weight,  and  the  sin  which  doth  so  easily  beset 
us,  and  let  us  run  with  patience  the  race  that  is  set  before  us.  —  ffeb.  12  :  1. 

THE  Olympian  Games  were  consecrated  to  Jupiter,  and  were 
held  in  the  stadium,  an  immense  arena  of  about  six  hun- 
dred feet  in  length,  surrounded  by  rising  tiers  of  benches,  to 
accommodate  ten  thousand  spectators.  Upon  the  arena  were 
the  judges  of  the  course,  who  proclaimed  aloud  the  names  of 
the  competitors,  and  challenged  any  one  to  speak,  if  they  knew 
anything  against  the  freedom  and  virtue  of  those  who  were 
about  to  contend  for  the  prize.  These  competitors  had  been 
long  in  training ;  they  had  been  keeping  their  bodies  in  sub- 
jection, and  exercising  themselves,  in  order  that  they  might, 
if  possible,  succeed  on  this  eventful  day.  There  is  every 
100 


794  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

stimulus  to  excite  their  energy.  Upon  the  pillars  of  the  race- 
course were  mottoes  bearing  the  inscriptions,  "  Excel,"  "  Has-, 
ten,"  "  Finish  the  course."  There  were  the  judges  waiting  to 
confer  the  prize  on  the  successful  competitors  j  there  was  the 
sacred  tripod,  with  the  coveted  prize  upon  it,  which  entitled 
the  wearer  of  it  to  a  triumphal  reception  into  his  native  city 
when  he  returned,  to  be  commemorated  all  over  the  world,  as 
he  supposed  ;  there  were  the  throngs  of  spectators  all  around. 
The  competitor  looked  upward.  First  he  was  bewildered  by 
the  great  cloud  of  witnesses  whom  he  beheld,  and  then  he  be- 
gan to  recognize  amongst  the  multitude  —  here,  princes  and 
consuls,  with  their  embassadors  from  foreign  states,  vying  one 
with  another  in  the  splendor  of  their  attire,  and  the  number 
of  their  retinue ;  there,  fellow-citizens,  who  were  looking  as 
interested  spectators,  anxious  for  the  credit  of  their  town  ; 
yonder,  literary  men,  who  would  describe  his  deeds;  and  there, 
warriors,  who,  with  the  eye.  of  experience,  were  looking  down 
upon  the  events  of  that  day  —  Olympic  victors,  who  had 
already  trod  that  arena,  and  won  that  prize.  As  he  looked  up- 
ward and  around,  conscious  that  the  eye  of  Greece  and  of  the 
world  was  upon  him,  how,  at  the  appointed  signal,  did  he  cast 
aside  every  weight  and  every  incumbrance  !  He  loitered 
not,  he  looked  not  around  ;  his  eye  was  upon  the  goal,  and 
thither,  with  all  eagerness,  he  urged  his  course.  —  Foster's 
Cyclopaedia. 

LOOK  TO  JESUS. 

Looking  unto  Jesus,  the  author  and  finisher  of  our  faith,  who,  for  the  joy 
that  was  set  before  him,  endured  the  cross,  despising  the  shame,  and  is  set 
down  at  the  right  hand  of  the  throne  of  God.  —  ffeb.  12  :  2. 

IN  every  enjoyment,  0  Christian,  look  unto  Jesus  :  receive  it 
as  proceeding  from  his  love  and  purchased  by  his  agonies. 
In  every  tribulation,  look  unto  Jesus:  mark  his  gracious  hand 
managing  the  scourge,  or  mingling  the  bitter  cup  ;  attemper- 
ing it  to  a  proper  degree  of  severity  ;  adjusting  the  time  of  its 
continuance ;  and  ready  to  make  these  seeming  disasters  pro- 
ductive of  real  good.  In  every  infirmity  and  failing  look  unto 
Jesus,  thy  merciful  High  Priest,  pleading  his  atoning  blood, 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  795 

and  making  intercession  for  transgressors.  In  every  prayer 
look  unto  Jesus,  thy  prevailing  Advocate,  recommending  thy 
devotions,  and  "  bearing  the  iniquity  of  thy  holy  things."  In 
every  temptation,  look  unto  Jesus,  the  Author  of  thy  strength, 
and  Captain  of  thy  salvation,  who  alone  is  able  to  lift  up  the 
hands  which  hang  down,  to  invigorate  the  enfeebled  knees, 
and  make  thee  more  than  conqueror  over  all  thy  enemies. 
But  especially  when  the  hour  of  thy  departure  approaches, 
when  thy  flesh  and  thy  heart  fail,  when  all  the  springs  of  life 
are  irreparably  breaking  —  then  look  unto  Jesus  with  a  be- 
lieving eye.  Like  expiring  Stephen,  behold  him  standing  at 
the  right  hand  of  God,  on  purpose  to  succor  his  people  in  this 
their  last  extremity.  Yes,  my  Christian  friend,  when  thy 
journey  through  life  is  finished,  and  thou  art  arrived  on  the 
very  verge  of  mortality, — when  thou  art  just  launching  out  into 
the  invisible  world,  and  all  before  thee  is  vast  eternity,  —  then, 
0.  then  look  unto  Jesus.  See  by  faith  the  Lord's  Christ. 
View  him  as  the  only  "  way  7?  to  the  everlasting  mansions  ;  as 
the  only  "  door"  to  the  abodes  of  bliss.  —  Rev.  James  Hervey. 


THE  SPOILED  PAINTING. 

My  son,  despise  not  thou  the  chastening  of  the  Lord,  nor  faint  when  thou 
art  rebuked  of  him.  —  Heb.  12:5. 

WHEN  Sir  James  Thornhill  was  painting  the  inside  of  the 
cupola  of  St.  Paul's,  he  stepped  back  one  day  to  see  the 
effect  of  his  work,  and  came,  without  observing  it,  so  near  the 
edge  of  the  scaffolding  that  another  step  or  two  would  have 
proved  his  death.  A  friend,  who  was  there  and  saw  the  dan- 
ger, rushed  forward,  and,  snatching  up  a  brush,  rubbed  it 
straight  over  the  painting.  Sir  James,  transported  with  rage, 
sprang  forward  to  save  his  work,  and  received  the  explana- 
tion, "  Sir,  by  spoiling  the  painting,  I  have  saved  the  life  of 
the  painter.'' 

And  has  not  our  heavenly  Friend  many  times  wrought  thus 
to  save  a  soul  from  death  ?  Often,  in  their  blind  idolatry,  men 
have  walked  near  the  verge  of  utter  and  eternal  ruin.  And 
when  nothing  else  would  save  them,  God  has  broken  their 


796  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

reverie  by  some  strange  and  startling  act;  and  when  their 
rage  and  wrath  were  gone,  they  have  found  that  a  kind  heart 
guided  the  destroying  hand,  and  that  naercy  presided  at  the 
ruin  of  their  hopes  and  joys.  Thus  does  the  Lord,  in  his  wis- 
dom, mar  the  pride  of  our  glory  ;  but  who  that  sees  the  mercy 
he  has  in  view,  would  not  praise  him  for  his  goodness  ?  Who 
that  has  felt  his  chastening  can  not  bear  witness  to  his  love  ? 
Let  us  murmur  no  more  at  his  chastisements. 


HEAVIER  THE  CROSS. 

If  ye  endure  chastening,  God  dealeth  with  you  as  with  sons ;  for  what  son 
is  ho  whom  the  father  chasteneth  not?  —  lleb.  12  :  7. 

HEAVIER  the  cross,  the  nearer  heaven  ; 
No  cross  without,  no  God  within  : 
Death,  judgment,  from  the  heart  are. driven 
Amid  the  world's  false  glare  and  din. 
Oh,  happy  he,  with  all  his  loss, 
Whom  God  hath  set  beneath  the  cross. 

Heavier  the  cross,  the  better  Christian ; 

This  is  the  touchstone  God  applies. 
How  many  a  garden  would  be  wasting 
Unwet  by  showers  from  weeping  eyes  ! 
The  gold  by  fire  is  purified  ; 
The  Christian  is  by  trouble  tried. 

Heavier  the  cross,  the  stronger  faith ; 

The  loaded  palm  strikes  deeper  root ; 
The  vine  juice  sweetly  issueth 

When  men  have  pressed  the  clustered  fruit; 
And  courage  grows  where  dangers  come, 
Like  pearls  beneath  the  salt  sea-foam. 

Heavier  the  cross,  the  heartier  prayer ; 
The  bruised  herbs  most  fragrant  are. 
If  sky  and  wind  were  always  fair, 
The  sailor  would  not  watch  the  star ; 

And  David's  Psalms  had  ne'er  been  sung 
If  grief  his  heart  had  never  wrung. 


TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  797 

Heavier  the  cross,  the  more  aspiring ; 

From  vales  we  climb  to  mountain  crest ; 
The  pilgrim,  of  the  desert  tiring, 
Longs  for  the  Canaan  of  his  rest. 
The  dove  has  here  no  rest  in  sight, 
And  to  the  ark  she  wings  her  flight. 

Heavier  the  cross,  the  easier  dying ; 

Death  is  a  friendlier  face  to  see ; 
To  life's  decay  one  bids  defying, 
From  life's  distress  one  then  is  free. 
The  cross  sublimely  lifts  our  faith 
To  Him  who  triumphed  over  death. 

Thou  Crucified  !  the  cross  I  carry 

The  longer,  may  it  dearer  be  ; 
And  lest  I  faint  while  here  I  tarry, 
Implant  thou  such  a  heart  in  me 

That  faith,  hope,  love,  may  flourish  there, 
Till  for  the  cross  my  crown  I  wear. 
From  the  German. 


DISCIPLINE  OF  THE  YOUNG. 

Furthermore,  we  have  had  fathers  of  our  flesh  which  corrected  us,  and  we 
gave  them  reverence  ;  shall  we  not  much  rather  be  in  subjection  unto  the 
Father  of  spirits,  and  live?  —  Hcb.  12  :  9. 


oldest  son  of  President  Edwards,  congratulating  a  friend 
JL  on  having  a  family  of  sons,  said  to  him  with  much  earnest- 
ness, "  Remember  there  is  but  one  mode  of  family  govern- 
ment. I  have  brought  up  and  educated  fourteen  boys,  two 
of  whom  I  brought  up,  or  suffered  to  grow  up,  without  the 
rod.  One  of  these  was  my  youngest  brother,  and  the  other, 
Aaron  Burr,  my  sister's  only  son,  both  of  whom  had  lost  their 
parents  in  their  childhood  ;  and  from  both  my  observation  and 
experience,  I  tell  you,  sir,  a  maple-sugar  government  will 
never  answer.  Beware  how  you  let  the  first  act  of  disobedi- 
ence in  your  little  boys  go  unnoticed,  and,  unless  evidence 
of  repentance  be  manifest,  unpunished." 


798  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

Of  all  the  sermons  I  have  ever  heard,  long  or  short,  this  has 
been  amongst  the  most  useful,  so  far  as  the  world  is  concerned. 
It  is  a  solitary  lesson,  to  be  prayerfully  pondered  by  all  parents 
and  guardians.  The  Bible  lays  down  four  great  rules,  involv- 
ing the  four  great  elements  of  the  successful  training  of  chil- 
dren—  prayer,  instruction,  example,  and  restraint.  And  it 
is  doubted  if  a  solitary  case  can  be  found  where  the  child 
has  not  followed  in  the  footsteps  of  the  pious  parent ;  while, 
on  the  other  hand,  if  but  only  one  of  the  four  has  been 
neglected,  it  may  have  been  the  ruin  of  the  child. 

Remember,  Christian  parents,  it  is  not  enough  to  pray  for, 
or  even  with,  your  children,  if  you  do  not  also  instruct  them  — 
if  your  own  example  contradicts  your  teaching  ;  and  in  vain 
will  be  the  prayer,  the  instruction,  the  example,  if,  like  Eli, 
when  your  children  do  wrong,  you  "  restrain  them  not."  But 
let  all  be  found  united,  and  you  may  trust  in  God  that  he  will 
fulfill  his  promise,  and  that  your  children  will  grow  up  to 
serve  him,  and  to  bless 'you  for  your  fidelity  to  their  highest 
interests. 

CHISELED  TO  MAKE  BETTER. 

Now,  no  chastening  for  the  present  seemeth  to  he  joyous,  but  grievous ; 
nevertheless,  afterward  it  yieldeth  the  peaceable  fruit  of  righteousness  unto 
them  which  are  exercised  thereby.  —  Heb.  12  :  11. 

rFROUBLES  are  often  the  tools  by  which  God  fashions  us  for 
JL  better  things.  Far  up  the  mountain  side  lies  a  block  of 
granite,  and  says  to  itself,  "  How  happy  am  I  in  my  serenity  ! 
above  the  winds,  above  the  trees,  almost  above  the  flight  of 
the  birds !  Here  I  rest,  age  after  age,  and  nothing  disturbs 
me."  Yet  what  is  it?  It  is  only  a  bare  block  of  granite, 
jutting  out  of  the  cliff,  and  its  happiness  is  the  happiness  of 
death. 

By  and  by  comes  the  miner,  and  with  strong  and  repeated 
strokes  he  drills  a  hole  in  its  top ;  and  the  rock  says,  "  What 
does  this  mean?  "  Then  the  black  powder  is  poured  in,  and 
with  a  blast  that  makes  the  mountain  echo,  the  block  is  blown 
asunder,  and  goes  crashing  down  into  the  valley.  "  Ah,"  it 
exclaims,  as  it  falls,  "why  this  rending?"  Then  come  saws 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  799 

to  cut  and  fashion  it ;  and  humbled  now,  and  willing  to  be 
nothing,  it  is  borne  away  from  the  mountain,  and  conveyed  to 
the  city. 

Now  it  is  chiseled  and  polished,  till,  at  length,  finished  in 
beauty,  by  block  and  tackle  it  is  raised,  with  mighty  hoistings, 
high  in  air,  to  be  the  top  stone  on  some  monument  of  the 
country's  glory. 

So  God  Almighty  casts  a  man  down  when  he  wants  to  chisel 
him,  and  the  chiseling  is  always  to  make  him  something  finer 
and  better  than  he  was  before. 


HOLINESS. 

Follow  peace  with  all  men,  and  holiness,  without  which  no  man  shall  see 
the  Lord.  —  Heb.  12  :  14. 


true  signification  of  the  term  "  holiness  "  is  "  wholeness." 
_L  In  a  moral  sense,  "  entire,"  "  complete,"  "  perfect."  Holiness 
in  its  nature,  then,  is  the  conformity  of  the  whole  man  to  the 
image  of  God.  Without  this  there  is  no  salvation.  It  can  have 
no  substitute.  None  being  holy  by  nature,  it  is  a  special  work 
of  the  Spirit,  wrought  in  the  heart,  and  developed  in  the  life 
actions.  The  doctrine  that  men  grow  up  in  this  state  from 
infancy  is  false.  All  men  have  upon  their  souls  the  stamp  of 
sin,  and  therefore  need  to  put  on  the  new  man  which  is  cre- 
ated in  righteousness  and  true  holiness. 

Holiness  is  to  the  Christian  what  the  heart  is  to  the  human 
body  —  the  central  principle  —  the  vitality  of  the  soul  pro- 
pelling the  "  life-blood  "  of  the  gospel  through  the  whole  man. 
The  soul  can  no  more  live  without  holiness  than  can  the  body 
without  the  heart.  Holiness  away,  and  death  reigns.  Evi- 
dences of  present  holiness  may  be  both  numerous  and  satis- 
factory. We  mention  a  consciousness  of  an  indwelling,  living 
Saviour,  as  among  the  greatest.  We  would  in  this  emphasize 
the  term  "  consciousness,"  as  this,  to  us,  is  the  highest  testi- 
mony, and  therefore  conclusive.  A  correct  conversation 
shows  the  state  of  the  heart.  This  is  the  stream  which 
exhibits  the  character  of  the  hidden  fountain. 

Obedience  to  the  divine  commands  is  essential  to  convince 


800  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

ourselves  and  others  that  we  are  holy.  Patience  under  trials 
and  afflictions  brings  out  this  great  blessing  to  the  gaze  of 
men  and  angels.  Love  of  holy  society  must  be  realized  by 
constant  experience,  or  our  hope  may  be  a  fallacy.  Holy  souls 
have  an  affinity  for  each  other.  Love  is  an  attraction  for  all 
good. 

Reader,  are  you  holy?     If  not,  will-  you  seek  to  become 
such? 


HIS  RIGHTS  FORFEITED. 

Lest  there  be  any  fornicator,  or  profane  person,  as  Esau,  who  for  one 
morsel  of  meat  sold  his  birthright.  —  Ileb.  12  :  16. 

T)EFORE  a  court  in  the  province  of  Pesth,  Hungary,  a  suit 
JD  was  pending  in  which  an  aged  Jew  was  to  make  a  state- 
ment under  oath.  He  was  ready  to  take  the  oath,  when  an- 
other Jew  arose  and  protested  against  it. 

"  This  man  dare  not  take  an  oath." 

"  Why  not?  "  asked  the  judge. 

"  There  exists  a  Hebrew  prayer  which  contains  the  sentence 
that l  every  Jew  has  a  share  in  the  life  to  come.'  It  is  now 
about  twenty  years  ago,  and  I  was  present,  when  the  man  who 
is  now  about  to  take  an  oath  sold  his  '  share  in  the  life  to 
come/  guaranteed  to  him  in  the  prayer,  to  another  Jew,  a  Mr. 
Y.,  who  paid  him  a  certain  amount  of  money  for  it.  As  he, 
therefore,  can  not  count  any  longer  on  a  future  existence,  he 
has  nothing  to  fear  or  hope  for  in  the  life  to  come ;  it  must 
be  certainly  indifferent  to  him  whether  he  swear  to  a  truth  or 
a  falsehood." 

The  matter  was  examined  into,  and  as  the  strange  transac- 
tion was  found  to  have  taken  place  in  reality,  the  court 
granted  the  protest  of  the  old  man,  and  the  party  who  sold 
his  "  share  in  the  life  to  come  "  was  declared  incapable  of 
taking  an  oath. 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  801 

"I  WILL  NEVER  LEAVE  THEE." 

Let  your  conversation  be  without  covetousness,  and  be  content  with  such 
things  as  ye  have ;  for  he  hath  said,  I  will  never  leave  thee,  nor  forsake 
thee.  —  Heb.  13  :  5. 

IN  these  words  the  English  language  fails  to  give  the  full 
meaning  of  the  Greek  ;  it  implies,  "  never,  no,  never  ;  no, 
nor  ever."  This  world  is  a  world  of  "  leaving,  parting,  sepa- 
ration, failure,  and  disappointment."  Think  of  finding  some- 
thing that  will  never  leave  nor  fail.  Grasp  this  promise,  "  I 
will  never  leave  thee,"  and  store  it  in  your  heart ;  you  will 
want  it  one  day.  The  hour  will  come  when  you  will  find 
nothing  so  comforting  and  cheering  as  a  sense  of  God's  com- 
panionship. Stick  to  that  word  "  never."  It  is  worth  its 
weight  in  gold.  Cling  to  it  as  a  drowning  man  clings  to  a 
rope.  Grasp  .it  firmly,  as  a  soldier  attacked  on  all  sides,  grasps 
his  sword.  "  Never  !  "  Though  your  heart  faints,  and  you  are 
sick  of  self- failures  and  infirmities  —  even  then  the  promise 
will  not  fail.  "  Never  !  "  When  the  cold  chill  of  death  creeps 
on,  and  friends  can  do  no  more,  and  you  are  starting  on  that 
journey  from  which  there  is  no  return  —  even  then  Christ  will 
not  forsake  you.  "  Never ! "  When  the  day  of  judgment 
comes,  and  the  books  are  opened  and  eternity  is  beginning  — 
even  then  the  promise  will  bear  all  your  weight ;  Christ  will 
not  let  go  his  hold  on  your  soul.  —  Rev.  J.  C.  Ryle. 


CHRIST  THE  UNCHANGEABLE  ONE. 

Jesus  Christ  the  same  yesterday,  and  to-day,  and  for  ever.  —  Heb.  13  :  8. 

IN  a  world  of  change,  we  thirst  for  the  permanent.     We 
long  for  identification  with  the  unchangeable,  because  we 
are  immortal.     In  Jesus  Christ,  the  changeless  One  amid  all 
changes,  we  have  a  constant  and  abiding  refuge.     The  For- 
giver  of  sins  in  the  past  is  still  the  same  in  power  and  tender- 
ness.    In  him  there  is  a  refuge  abiding,  always  open,  always 
perfect  and  complete.     In  the  changeless  Christ  we  have  a 
stable  arid  an  immutable  government.     A  flaw  would  destroy 
101 


802  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

it.  No  supplementary  review  or  amendment  could  add  to  its 
perfection.  Here  alone  is  reliable  and  perennial  friendship. 
This  gives  us  the  foundation  for  unfailing  and  permanent  suf- 
ficiency. No  exigency  can  arise  in  man's  history  for  which 
Christ  is  unprepared.  It  is  not  only  God  who  continues  the 
same,  but  Jesus  Christ,  our  Saviour,  our  divine  Friend,  in  all 
the  tenderness  of  his  humanity,  in  all  the  richness  of  his  hu- 
man experience.  In  the  changeless  One  is  presented  a  beauti- 
ful and  imperishable  prospect.  We  can  not  depend  upon  hu- 
man friendships,  but  we  can  depend  upon  Christ. 


HE  FOUND  AN  ALTAR  FOR  HIS  SACRIFICE. 

But  to  do  good  and  to  communicate  forget  not,  for  with  such  sacrifices 
God  is  well  pleased.  —Heb.  13  :  16. 

A  RICH  young  man  of  Rome  had  been  suffering  from  a 
severe  illness  ;  but  at  length  he  was  cured,  and  recovered 
his  health.  Then  he  went  for  the  first  time  into  the  garden, 
and  felt  as  if  he  were  newly  born.  Full  of  joy,  he  praised  God 
aloud.  He  turned  his  face  up  to  the  heavens,  and  said,  — 

"  0  thou  Almighty  Giver  of  all  blessings,  if  a  human  being 
could  in  any  way  repay  thee,  how  willingly  would  I  give  up 
all  my  wealth  ! " 

Hernias,  the  shepherd,  listened  to  these  words,  and  he  said 
to  the  rich  young  man, — 

"  All  good  gifts  come  from  above ;  thou  canst  not  send  any- 
thing thither.  Come,  follow  me." 

The  youth  followed  the  pious  old  man,  and  they  came  to  a 
dark  hovel,  where  there  was  nothing  but  misery  and  lamenta- 
tion ;  for  the  father  lay  sick,  and  the  mother  wept,  whilst  the 
children  stood  round  naked  and  crying  for  bread.  Then  the 
young  man  was  shocked  at  this  scene  of  distress. 

But  Hermas  said,  "-Behold  here  an  altar  for  thy  sacrifice  ! 
Behold  here  the  brethren  and  representatives  of  the  Lord !  " 

The  rich  young  man  then  opened  his  hand,  and  gave  freely 
and  richl}7  to  them  of  his  wealth,  and  tended  the  sick  man. 
And  the  poor  people,  relieved  and  comforted,  blessed  him,  and 
called  him  an  angel  of  God. 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  803 

Hermas  smiled,  and  said,  "  Ever  thus  turn  thy  grateful  looks 
first  toward  heaven,  and  then  to  earth."  —  Translated  from  the 
German  of  Krummacher. 


CHARACTER  MADE  UP  OF  MORSELS. 

Now  the  God  of  peace,  that  brought  again  from  the  dead  our  Lord  Jesus, 
that  great  Shepherd  of  the  sheep,  through  the  blood  of  the  everlasting  cov- 
enant, m:ike  you  perfect  in  every  good  work  to  do  his  will,  working  in  you 
that  which  is  well-pleasing  in  his  sight,  through  Jesus  Christ,  to  whom  be 
glory  for  ever  and  ever.  Amen.  —  Heb.  13  :  20,  21. 

I  HAVE  just  come  across  a  letter  from  an  eminent  clergy- 
man to  his  son  who  was  then  in  college,  and  is  now  one 
of  the  most  successful  business  -men  in  New  York. 

"  It  is  easy,  my  son,  to  tell  you  how  to  be  happy.  Set  your 
heart  on  God.  Say  to  yourself,  God  made  me,  and  has  a  right 
to  me,  and  shall  have  my  whole  heart.  Make  it  your  business 
to  prepare  to  be  useful.  Do  nothing  merely  because  you  love 
to,  unless  it  be  right,  and  wise,  and  good.  Do  nothing  that 
you  will  have  to  deny  you  did.  Do  nothing  that  you  will  be 
ashamed  of  having  done.  Do  right.  Do  unto  others  as  you 
would  that  they  should  do  to  you.  Be  the  best  scholar  you 
can  be.  Lose  no  time  ;  time  is  money. 

"  Read  your  Bible  daily,  and  every  day  pray  for  heavenly 
wisdom.  Refuse  to  be  found  in  the  company  of  vile  men. 
Remember  that  character  is  made  up  of  morsels ;  and  every 
look  and  gesture,  word,  and  smile,  and  frown,  constitutes  each 
its  distinct  morsels  of  that  character. 

"  0  my  son,  you  can  not  cease  to  be  till  the  sun  goes  out, 
and  time  runs  out,  and  eternity  wears  out,  and  God  shall  cease 
to  be.  Now,  one  that  must  live  so  long,  and  whose  happiness 
through  all  that  long  life  depends  wholly  on  character,  can 
not  take  too  much  pains  in  forming  that  character  just  right. 
I  embrace  religion,  of  course,  in  my  calculation  respecting 
character.  What  will  render  us  estimable  in  the  sight  of  God, 
as  well  as  in  the  sight  of  men,  is  above  all  price. 

"  It  will  soon  be  too  late.  The  college  character  is  fixed 
the  first  year ;  and  the  character  for  life  fixed  in  college,  and 
the  character  for  eternity  fixed  in  early  life.  Now  you  must 


804  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

love  your  Maker,  or  what  can  you  love  ?  must  care  for  what 
he  says,  or  whom  can  you  care  for  or  what  ?  How  tremen- 
dous are  the  months  that  are  now  rolling  over  you  !  —  months 
that  will  tell  on  your  character  and  destiny,  when  myriads  of 
ages  have  rolled  away.'7 


WISDOM  TO  LEARN  THE  WAY  TO  HEAVEN. 

If  any  of  you  lack  wisdom,  let  him  ask  of  God,  that  giveth  to  all  men  lib- 
erally, and  upbraideth  not,  and  it  shall  be  given  him.  —  James  1 :  5. 

I  AM  a  creature  of  a  day,  passing  through  life  as.  an  arrow 
the  air.  I  am  a  spirit  come  from  God,  and  returning  to 
God  |  just  hovering  over  the  great  gulf ;  till  a  few  moments 
hence,  I  am  no  more  seen.  I  drop  into  an  unchangeable 
eternity  !  I  want  to  know  one  thing  —  the  way  to  heaven  ; 
how  to  land  safe  on  that  happy  shore.  God  himself  has  con- 
descended to  teach  the  way  j  for  this  very  end  he  came  from 
heaven.  He  hath  written  it  down  in  a  book.  0,  give  me 
that  book  !  At  any  price,  give  me  the  book  of  God  !  I  have 
it.  Here  is  knowledge  enough  for  me.  Let  me  be  homo 
unius  libri.  Here,  then,  I  am,  far  from  the  busy  ways  of 
men.  I  sit  down  alone  —  only  God  is  here.  In  his  presence 
I  open,  I  read  his  book,  for  this  end :  to  find  the  way  to 
heaven.  Is  there  a  doubt  concerning  the  meaning  of  what  I 
read  ?  Does  anything  appear  dark  or  intricate  ?  I  lift  up 
my  heart  to  the  Father  of  lights.  Lord,  is  it  not  thy  word, 
"  If  any  man  lack  wisdom,  let  him  ask  of  God "  ?  Thou 
"  givest  liberally,  and  upbraidest  not."  Thou  hast  said,  "  If 
any  be  willing  to  do  thy  will,  he  shall  know."  I  am  will- 
ing to  do ;  let  me  do  thy  will.  I  then  search  after  and  con- 
sider parallel  passages  of  Scripture,  "  comparing  spiritual 
things  with  spiritual."  —  Wesley. 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  805 

THE  POISONED  RING. 

Then,  when  lust  hath  conceived,  it  bringeth  forth  sin;  and  sin,  when  it  is 
finished,  bringeth  forth  death.  —  James  1 :  15. 

A  MAN  who  wished  to  buy  a  handsome  ring  went  into  a 
jeweler's  at  Paris  and  desired  to  see  some.  The  jeweler 
showed  him  a  very  ancient  gold  ring,  remarkably  fine,  and 
curious  on  this  account,  that  on  the  inside  of  it  were  two 
little  lions'  claws.  The  buyer,  while  looking  at  the  others, 
was  playing  with  this  ;  at  last  he  purchased  another,  and  went 
away.  But  he  had  scarcely  reached  home  when  first  his  hand, 
then  his  side,  then  his  whole  body  became  numb  and  without 
feeling,  as  if  he  had  had  a  stroke  of  the  palsy ;  and  it  grew 
worse  and  worse,  till  the  physician,  who  came  in  haste, 
thought  him  dying.  "  You  must  somehow  have  taken  poison," 
he  said.  The  sick  man  protested  that  he  had  not.  At  length 
some  one  remembered  this  ring ;  and  it  was  then  discovered 
to  be  what  used  to  be  called  a  death-ring,  and  which  was 
often  employed  in  those  wicked  Italian  states  three  or  four 
hundred  years  ago.  If  a  man  hated  another,  and  desired  to 
murder  him,  he  would  present  him  with  one  of  them.  In  the 
inside  was  a  drop  of  deadly  poison,  and  a  very  small  hole,  out 
of  which  it  would  not  make  its  way  except  ijt  was  squeezed. 
When  the  poor  man  was  wearing  it,  the  murderer  would  come 
and  shake  his  hand  violently,  the  lion's  claw  would  give  his 
finger  a  little  scratch,  and  in  a  few  hours  he  was  a  dead  man. 
Now,  see  why  I  told  you  this  story.  For  four  hundred  years 
this  ring  had  kept  its  poison,  and  at  the  end  of  that  time  it 
was  strong  enough  almost  to  kill  the  man  who  had  uninten- 
tionally scratched  his  finger  with  the  claw  ;  for  he  was  only 
saved  by  great  skill  on  the  part  of  the  physician,  and  by  the 
strongest  medicines.  I  thought,  when  I  read  that  story,  how 
like  this  poison  was  to  sin.  You  may  commit  a  sin  now,  and 
for  the  present  forget  it ;  and  perhaps  ten  or  twelve  years 
hence  the  wound  you  then  —  so  to  speak  —  gave  yourself  may 
break  out  again,  and  that  more  dangerously  than  ever.  And 
the  greatest  danger  of  all  is,  lest  the  thoughts  of  sins  we  have 
committed,  and  the  pleasure  we  had  in  committing  them, 
should  come  back  upon  us  in  the  hour  of  death.  —  Dr.  J.  H. 
Neale. 


806  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 


DOERS  OF  THE  WORD. 

But  be  ye  doers  of  the  word,  and  not  hearers  only,  deceiving  your  own 
selves.  —  James  1 :  22. 

T  EARN  to  be  working  Christians.  "  Be  ye  doers  of  the 
JJ  word,  and  not  hearers  only,  deceiving  your  own  selves. " 
It  is  very  striking  to  see  the  usefulness  of  many  Christians. 
Are  there  none  of  you  who  know  what  it  is  to  be  selfish  in 
your  Christianity  ?  You  have  seen  a  selfish  child  go  into  a 
secret  place  to  enjoy  some  delicious  morsel  undisturbed  by 
his  companions.  So  it  is  with  some  Christians.  They  feed 
upon  Christ  and  forgiveness;  but  it  is  alone  and  for  them- 
selves. Are  there  not  some  of  you  who  can  enjoy  being  a 
Christian  while  your  dearest  friend  is  not,  and  yet  will  not 
speak  to  him?  See,  here  you  have  got  work  to  do.  When 
Christ  found  you  he  said,  "  Go,  work  in  my  vineyard."  What 
were  you  hired  for,  if  it  was  not  to  spread  salvation  ?  What 
blessed  for  ?  0,  my  Christian  friends,  how  little  you  live  as 
though  you  were  the  servants  of  Christ !  How  much  idle 
time  and  idle  talk  you  have  !  This  is  not  like  a  good  ser- 
vant. How  many  things  you  have  to  do  for  yourself!  how 
few  for  Christ  and  his  people  !  This  is  not  like  a  servant.  — 
McCheyne. 

PERFECTNESS  OF  CHRISTIANITY. 

But  whoso  looketh  into  the  perfect  law  of  liberty,  and  continueth  therein, 
he  being  not  a  forgetful  hearer,  but  a  doer  of  the  work,  this  man  shall  be 
blessed  in  his  deed.  —  James  1 :  25. 

/CHRISTIANITY  is  perfect.  "  It  needs  no  amendment  or 
\J  change  that  it  may  be  adapted  to  our  age  or  any  other 
age."  We  may,  on  good  grounds,  conclude  that  a  religion 
that  remains  from  age  to  age  as  perfectly  adapted  to  the  wants 
of  all  men  as  it  was  in  the  beginning,  is  not  only  divine,  but 
final. 

"But,"  says  one,  "how  do  you  know  that  Christianity  is 
Avlrat  all  men  want,  and  that  it  will  suit  all  climes  and  all  gen- 
erations ?  Are  not  your  assertions  mere  dogmatism?  " 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  807 

How  do  I  know  that  the  appearance  of  a  star  of  unusual 
magnitude  and  brilliancy  will  awaken  universal  admiration  ? 
How  did  I  know;  when  looking  at  the  total  eclipse  of  the  sun, 
that  emotions  similar  to  my  own  were  in  millions  of  other 
hearts  ?  How  do  I  know  that  the  sight  of  some  grand  river  or 
mountain  will  awaken  in  others  the  same  feelings  it  awakened 
in  me  ?  That  a  landscape  of  mountain,  and  vale,  and  stream, 
and  woodland,  of  wonderful  combinations,  will  awaken  sub- 
stantially the  same  emotions  in  the  heart  of  every  traveler  ? 
How  do  I  know,  when  on  the  tops  of  the  mountains  of  Central 
America,  beneath  a  burning  sun,  exhausted  with  weariness, 
and  heat,  and  thirst,  that  the  waters  of  the  cooling  fountain 
the  natives  have  shown  me,  will  be  hailed  by  others  yet  to 
come  that  way  ?  How  do  I  know  all  this  ?  ,  I  know  it  because 
I  know  myself.  And  knowing  myself,  and  having  made  the 
acquaintance  of  Christianity  as  a  vital  and  life-giving  power, 
I  know  it  to  be  suitable  everywhere,  and  will  make  the  heart 
rejoice  for  my  brother,  and  cause  man  to  look  upward  and  seek 
for  purity,  honor,  immortality. 


ANGER  WITHOUT  SIN. 

Pure  religion  and  undefiled  before  God  and  the  Father  is  this,  To  visit  the 
fatherless  and  widows  in  their  affliction,  and  to  keep  himself  unspotted  from 
the  world.  —  James  1 :  27. 

ONE  of  the  late  Dr.  Spencer's  parishioners,  in  Brooklyn, 
New  York,  met  him  hurriedly  urging  his  way  down  the 
street  one  day  ;  his  lip  was  set,  and  there  was  something  strange 
in  that  gray  eye.  "  How  are  you  to-day,  doctor  ?  "  he  said, 
pleasantly.  He  waked  as  from  a  dream,  and  replied,  soberly, 
"  I  am  mad  I  "  It  was  a  new  word  for  a  mild,  true-hearted 
Christian  ;  but  he  waited,  and  with  a  deep,  earnest  voice  went 
on :  "I  found  a  widow  standing  by  her  goods  thrown  in  the 
street;  she  .could  not  pay  the  month's  rent;  the  landlord 
turned  her  out,  and  one  of  her  children  is  going  to  die ;  and 
that  man  is  a  member  of  the  church  !  I  told  her  to  take  her 
things  back  again.  I  am  on  my  way  to  see  him." 


808  NEIV  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

DRESS  AS  AN  IDOL. 

For  if  there  come  unto  your  assembly  a  man  with  a  gold  ring,  in  goodly 
apparel,  and  there  come  in  also  a  poor  man  in  vile  raiment.  —  James  2  :  2. 

DR.  JOHNSON  used  to  say  that  a  gentleman  ought  to  dress 
so  that  after  he  has  left  you  you  can  not  remember  what 
he  had  on.  This  is  the  dictate  of  common  sense.  The  man 
should  be  so  much  more  apparent  than  his  clothes  that  he 
should  be  thought  of,  and  they  not.  Now,  the  Christian  law  is 
only  this  maxim  of  good  taste  enlarged  and  consecrated.  Let 
the  Christian  dress  so  that  Christian  manhood  shall  not  be 
overlaid,  disguised,  or  misinterpreted.  Let  Christians  so  dress 
as  to  show  that  their  hearts  are  not  on  these  things,  but 
heavenly.  Whatever  goes  to  indicate  the  dress  is  a  supreme 
object  in  life,  and  whatever  implies  this,  is  just  so  far  both 
wrong  and  unchristian.  There  is  no  better  definition  of  an 
idol  than  that  it  steals  the  heart  away  from  God,  and  when 
dress  does  this  it  is  as  much  an  idol  as  ever  Moloch  was ;  and 
it  is  fast  coming  to  be  seen  that  it  is  a  worship  no  less  cruel 
and  bloody.  —  Rev.  Dr.  Buddinyton. 


EVERY  SIN  FORBIDDEN. 

For  whosoever  shall  keep  the  whole  law,  and  yet  offend  in  one  point,  he  is 
guilty  of  all.  —  James  2  :  10. 

ST.  JAMES  says,  "  Whosoever  shall  keep  the  whole  law,  and 
yet  offend  in  one  point,  is  guilty  of  all."  From  this  we 
are  to  understand  that  the  divine  law  is  to  be  regarded  as  one 
total  and  entire  law :  the  breaking  of  one  precept,  the  whole 
(being  a  collection  of  precepts)  is  broken.  It  is  a  perfect 
chain ;  the  breaking  of  one  link  breaks  the  whole  chain. 

A  late  expositor  says,  "  The  apostle  does  not  say  that  this, 
in  fact, ever  did  occur;  but  he  says  that  if  it  should,  and  yet  a 
man  should  have  failed  in  only  one  particular,  he  must  be  judged 
to  be  guilty."  The  apostle  means  to  say,  according  to  this 
'  "ii imentator,  that  whosoever  shall  perform  an  impossibility, 
i.  e.,  keep  the  whole  law,  and  shall  fail  in  one  point  in  per- 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  809 

forming  what  is  impossible,  he  shall  be  adjudged  guilty  of 
failing  to  do  what  it  is  impossible  to  do.  This  is  the  logic  of 
this  kind  of  theology. 

Are  there  not  the  same  reasons  for  turning  from  every  sin 
that  there  are  for  turning  from  any  one  sin  ?  Do  we  turn  from 
any  one  sin  because  God  has  forbidden  it  ?  Why,  for  the  same 
reason,  should  we  not  turn  from  all  sin  ?  He  who  turns  from 
any  one  sin  because  it  is  a  dishonor  to  God,  a  reproach  to 
Christ,  a  grief  to  the  Spirit,  a  wound  to  religion,  is  under  obli- 
gations to  turn  from  all  sin  for  the  same  reason.  One  sin  has 
done  much  harm.  Only  one  sin  has  stripped  the  fallen  angels 
of  all  their  dignity  and  glory.  One  sin — only  one  —  robbed 
our  first  parents  of  all  their  purity  and  power.  One  thief  may 
rob  you  of  all  your  treasures.  One  disease  may  deprive  you 
of  all  your  health.  One  dagger,  plunged  to  the  heart,  kills  as 
effectually  as  ten.  One  spark  explodes  the  whole  magazine. 
If  a  ship  springs  a  leak  in  three  places  or  ten,  and  all  are 
stopped  but  one,  that  one  leak  will  sink  the  ship. 

We  can  not  take  one  sin  into  our  bosom,  and  shut  all  the 
rest  out.  They  come  in  swarms,  at  the  bidding  of  the  lone 
occupant.  A  little  thief,  put  in  at  the  window,  will  open  the 
door  for  fifty  much  larger  and  stronger  to  enter. 

We  should  remember  that  a  holy  God  will  never  share  hon- 
ors with  an  unholy  devil.  He  approves  of  neither  halting  nor 
halving.  He  will  not  allow  us  to  divide  our  hearts  between 
holiness  and  sin,  between  Christ  and  the  world.  We  can 
not  swear  by  God  and  Mammon,  nor  halt  betwixt  God  and 
Baal.  We  are  required  to  abandon  our  covert  as  well  as  our 
open  sins,  our  loved  as  well  as  our  loathed  lusts,  our  baby 
iniquities  as  well  as  our  giant-like  provocations.  —  Rev.  W. 
McDonald. 


SPIRITUAL  LIFE  BETTER  THAN  CEREMONIES. 

For  as  the  body  without  the  spirit  is  dead,  so  faith  without  works  is  dead 
also.  —  James  2  :  26. 

WHEN  the  church  grows  cold,  ceremonies  multiply.    Wor- 
ship is  simple  in  proportion  to  the  nearness  of  the  soul 
102 


810  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

to  God.  Ceremonies  can  not  deceive  the  Almighty,  nor  satisfy 
the  longings  of  a  sincere  Christian. 

When  we  go  to  our  children's  beds  at  night,  and  find  them 
warm  and  breathing  healthfully,  we  make  little  ado.  We 
leave  the  rosy  cheek  reposing  on  the  chubby  hand,  and  the 
limbs  thrown  about  with  careless  grace  in  childish  abandon 
of  manner.  ' 

When  they  are  dead,  how  changed  the  scene  !  We  straighten 
the  limbs,  we  place  flowers  in  the  cold  hands,  and  wreaths 
and  crosses  on  the  coffin,  until  the  lifeless  form  is  embedded  in 
fragrant  blossoms,  whose  sweet  perfume  fills  the  air. 

So,  as  the  Holy  Spirit  departs,  and  life  expires  in  the  church, 
is  there  not  danger  that  pompous  ceremonies,  delicious  music, 
entrancing  scenes,  and  pictures  may  be  resorted  to,  to  conceal 
the  fact  that  life  has  departed  ? 


GREAT  RESULTS  FROM  SMALL  BEGINNINGS. 

Even  so  the  tongue  is  a  little  member,  and  boasteth  great  things.  Behold, 
how  great  a  matter  a  little  fire  kindleth !  —  James  3  :  5. 

THE  burning  of  a  single  shop  in  a  great  city  is  but  a  small 
matter  —  comparatively  a  little  thing  ;  but  the  results  of  it 
may  be  tremendous. 

About  ten  o'clock;  on  Saturday  evening,  September  2,  1666, 
a  fire  broke  out  in  a  baker's  shop,  near  to  the  spot  on  which 
the  Monument  of  London  now  stands.  In  its  commencement  it 
was  but  a  little  fire,  and  every  one  who  saw  it  said  it  would 
very  soon  be  extinguished.  Notwithstanding  these  favontble 
predictions,  it  continued  to  spread.  Adjoining  houses  were 
soon  enveloped  in  the  devouring  flame,  and  by  noon  of  the 
next  day,  John  Evelyn,  who  was  a  spectator  of  it,  writes,  — 

"  All  the  sky  was  of  a  fiery  aspect,  like  the  top  of  a  burning 
oven.  God  grant  that  my  eyes  may  never  behold  the  like, 
now  seeing  above  ten  thousand  houses  all  in  one  flame  —  the 
noise,  and  the  cracking,  and  thunder  of  impetuous  flames  — 
the  shrieking  of  women  and  children  —  the  hurry  of  peo- 
ple—  the  fall  of  towers,  houses,  and  churches  —  was  like  a 
hideous  storm,  and  the  air  about  so  hot  and  inflamed,  that  at 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  811 

last  one  was  not  able  to  approach  it ;  so  that  they  were  forced 
to  stand  still,  and  let  the  flames  burn  on,  which  they  did  for 
near  two  miles  in  length  and  one  in  breadth.  Thus  I  left  it 
that  afternoon  burning,  a  resemblance  of  Sodom  or  the  last 
day.  Thus  it  continued  its  awful  progress  for  another  day  or 
two,  and  then  it  was  found  to  have  destroyed  eighty-nine 
churches,  the  city  gates,  Guildhall,  several  hospitals,  schools, 
and  public  libraries,  a  very  great  number  of  stately  edifices, 
thirteen  thousand  two  hundred  dwelling-houses,  and  upward 
of  four  hundred  streets.  f  Behold  how  great  a  matter  a  little 
fire  kindleth.'  " 

So  is  it  with  sin.  Depravity  feeds  it,  passions  scatter  it, 
and  the  devil  fans  it. 

THE  TONGUE  AS  AN  INDEX  OF  THE  HEART. 

And  the  tongue  is  a  fire,  a  world  of  iniquity ;  so  is  the  tongue  among  our 
members,  that  it  defileth  the  whole  body,  and  setteth  on  fire  the  course  of 
nature  ;  and  it  is  set  on  fire  of  hell.  —  James  3  :  6. 

"  flHHE  only  edged  tool  that  becomes  sharper  by  constant 
JL  use  "  is  the  tongue.  It  is  often  a  sting  full  of  deadly 
poison.  It  is  both  an  offensive  and  defensive  weapon  —  a 
shield  and  a  spear.  Some  carry  dirks  in  their  pockets,  others 
in  their  mouths.  The  tongue  of  the  malignant  is  like  a  masked 
battery,  which  makes  us  feel  fire  when  we  can't  see  smoke. 
There's  never  a  spur  for  the  tongue  in  all  the  Bible,  but  many 
a  bit.  As  a  condition  of  longevity,  physicians  say,  "  Keep  the 
head  cool  and  the  feet  warm."  This  is  Peter's  receipt  for  a 
long  and  happy  life :  "  He  that  will  love  life,  and  see  good 
days,  let  him  restrain  his  tongue  from  evil,  and  his  lips  from 
speaking  guile."  Physicians  are  accustomed  to  judge  of  the 
state  of  the  body  by  the  condition  of  the  tongue,  assuming  as 
a  settled  principle  that  there  is  an  intimate  connection  be- 
tween the  state  of  the  tongue  and  the  tone  of  the  system. 
The  apostle  James  adopts  a  similar  course.  To  judge  of  soul- 
health,  he  looks  at  the  tongue.  If  any  man  offend  not  in  word, 
his  moral  health  is  perfect.  On  the  other  hand,  if  any  one  seem 
to  be  religious  while  the  tongue  is  unbridled,  that  man's  soul 
is  sick.  Read  the  third  chapter  of  James.  What  a  delinea- 
tion of  the  soul-sickness  of  the  race  ! 


812  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 


GRACE  AND  SALVATION  FROM  GOD. 

But  he  giveth  more  grace.     Wherefore  he  saith,  God  resisteth  the  proud, 
but  giveth  grace  unto  the  humble.  —  James  4  :  G. 

THIS  is  good  news,  for  except  the  Lord  give  us  grace  we 
shall  never  be  sanctified,  and  unless  he  give  us  glory  we 
shall  never  be  glorified.  All  must  be  the  free  gift  of  free 
grace.  If  anything  good  was  required  of  us  to  entitle  us,  we 
must  sit  down  in  despair ;  but  now  all  is  of  divine  bounty ;  we 
can  hope ;  we  need  not  be  afraid.  The  Lord  has  given  grace 
to  thousands.  He  has  given  grace  to  us ;  and  he  will  give 
more  grace ;  grace  to  fit  for  duty,  grace  to  support  in  trial, 
grace  to  sanctify  the  heart ;  and  he  will  give  glory,  which  is 
grace  in  perfection.  Brethren,  let  us  endeavor  to  believe 
that  our  God  is  as  kind,  bountiful,  and  beneficent  as  his  word 
declares.  Let  us  confess  our  sins  before  him,  seek  grace  from 
him,  and  look  to  be  glorified  with  him.  Our  all  is  in  God ;  our 
all  must  come  from  God ;  and  all  the  glory  should  be  daily 
given  to  God.  Whenever  we  want  grace,  let  us  ask  it  of 
God  ;  for  he  giveth  liberally,  and  upbraideth  not.  Let  us  ap- 
proach his  throne,  and  be  this  our  prayer :  "  Lord,  give  us  more 
grace.  Give  us  grace  daily,  grace  to  devote  us  to  thy  service, 
and  fill  us  with  holy  love." 


RESISTING  THE  DEVIL. 

.  Submit  yourselves  therefore  to  God.     Resist  the  devil,  and  he  will  flee 
from  you.  —  James  4  :  7. 

"  T  AM  in  the  habit,"  said  a  clergyman  to  his  friend,  "  of 
JL  '  stealing  a  march ;  on 'the  devil.  I  know  his  subtlety  and 
power  from  a  sorrowful  experience,  and  the  skill  with  which 
he  adapts  his  temptations  to  our  circumstances.  He  is  not, 
however,  omniscient,  nor  can  he  know  the  thoughts  of  the 
heart  but  from  some  outward  manifestation.  When  engaged 
in  oral  prayer,  confessing  sins,  acknowledging  those  most  be- 
setting, {ind  pk'uiling  for  special  mercies,  he  has  so  much  of 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  813 

my  spiritual  history  as  enables  him  sagaciously  to  determine 
the  most  plausible  method  of  assault.  Thus  he  takes  advantage 
even  of  my  devotions  to  give  point  to  his  artifice.  I  adopt 
two  methods  to  foil  him.  The  one  is,  to  keep  my  soul  in  the 
tuneful  habit  of  praising  God.  He  can  take  comparatively  little 
advantage  of  that.  It  perplexes  him  to  hear  the  Christian 
celebrating  the  majesty,  the  glory,  and  the  benevolence  of 
God,  while  the  exercise  amazingly  strengthens  the  Christian. 
The  other  method  is,  to  cultivate  a  habit  of  silent  prayer,  when 
I  walk  by  the  way,  when  I  sit  in  my  house,  when  I  am  en- 
gaged in  ordinary  business.  Thus  I  minutely  confess  my 
secret  sins,  mention  my  constitutional  infirmities,  speak  of  the 
necessities  which  most  press  on  me.  God  can  hear,  even  when 
no  words  are  spoken,  but  Satan  can  only  conjecture  what  I  am 
about  j  he  is  not  omniscient,  and  can  have  no  certain  knowl- 
edge of  my  thoughts.  Thus  I  gain  a  great  advantage  over 
him." 


HUMBLED,  BUT  EXALTED. 

Humble  yourselves  in  the  sight  of  the  Lord,  and  he  shall  lift  you  up.  — 
James  4 :  10. 

THE  grace  of  God  truly  exalts  us  by  making  us  more  heav- 
enly minded,  but  really  humbles  us  in  view  of  our  un- 
worthiness.  The  mature  Christian  is  characterized  by  great 
and  growing  humility.  He  remembers  "  the  rock  "  and  "  the 
hole  of  the  pit."  He  often  looks  back  upon  his  path,  and  is 
deeply  humbled  by  the  recollection  of  his  frequent  relapses 
into  sin,  and  his  far  more  frequent  failures  in  duty  and  errors 
of  judgment.  He  makes  a  modest  estimate  of  his  own  attain- 
ments. Paul,  in  writing  to  the  Corinthians,  calls  himself  "  the 
least  of  the  apostles."  Five  years  later  he  tells  the  Ephesians 
he  is  "less  than  the  least  of  all  saints."  The  year  after  he 
assures  Timothy  he  is  "  the  chief  of  sinners."  Glorious  climb- 
ing !  The  Christian  may,  indeed,  have  a  suitable  self-con- 
sciousness. He  may  know  that  he  is  growing  in  grace  ;  but 
the  higher  he  climbs,  the  loftier  are  the  heights  he  sees  beyond. 
The  nearer  he  gets  to  heaven,  the  more  he  feels  the  contrast 
between  the  tireless  zeal  of  its  glorified  hosts  and  his  own 


8U  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

dullness.     On  Pisgah's  topmost  height  he  falls  prostrate,  and 
in  humble  rapture  cries,  — 

"  I  lothe  myself  when  God  I  see, 

And  into  nothing  fall, 
Content  if  thou  exalted  be, 
And  Christ  be  all  in  all." 

—  Bev.  C.  D.  Foss. 


PRAYER  ANSWERED  IN  JUDGMENT. 

For  that  ye  ought  to  say,  If  the  Lord  will,  we  shall  live,  and  do  this  or 
that.  —  James  4  :  15. 

A  "WIDOWED  mother  had  an  only  son,  who,  while  yet  a 
youth,  was  seized  with  an  alarming  illness.  Her  heart 
was  in  the  greatest  tumult  of  grief  at  the  prospect  of  his  re- 
moval. She  sent  for  her  minister  to  pray  for  her  child's  re- 
covery. It  was  his  preservation  from  death  that  was  to  be 
the  subject  of  the  minister's  petitions,  rather  than  the  mother's 
submission  to  the  will  of  God.  Like  a  faithful  pastor,  he 
begged  her  to  control  her  excessive  grief  and  solicitude,  and 
resign  her  son  to  God's  disposal ;  but  to  no  avail ;  it  seemed 
as  if  she  neither  could  nor  would  give  him  up.  Prayer  was 
to  pluck  him  from  the  borders  of  the  grave,  whether  God  was 
willing  to  spare  him  or  not. 

Her  son  lived  ;  the  mother,  with  ecstatic  joy,  received  him 
back  as  from  the  borders  of  the  tomb.  He  grew  to  adult 
age ;  but  it  was  to  die  in  circumstances  ten  thousand  times 
more  afflictive  to  the  mother's  heart  than  his  earlier  •  removal 
would  have  been.  As  he  came  to  manhood,  he  turned  out 
profligate,  extravagant,  dishonest.  His  crime  became  capital ; 
he  was  detected,  tried,  convicted,  and  sentenced  to  be  hanged ; 
and  seven  years  from  the  day  when  that  minister  prayed  for 
his  life,  he  went  to  visit  this  wretched  mother,  to  be  with  her 
and  comfort  her,  if,  indeed,  her  heart  could  receive  consolation 
on  the  day  of  his  execution. 

0,  widow,  is  there  not  a  heavier  calamity  than  the  death,  in 
ordinary  circumstances,  of  an  only  son?  I  would  not  for  a 
moment  suggest  that  it  is  probable  your  son  would  have  come 
to  this,  but  it  is  possible ;  or,  if  not  to  this,  yet  to  something 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  815 

that  would  have  embittered  all  your  future  days.  Would  not 
this  distressed  woman  look  with  envy  upon  others  whose 
children  had  died  in  honor  and  reputation,  and  think  their 
affliction  not  worthy  of  the  name,  compared  with  hers  ?  Would 
she  not  look  back  with  deep  compunction  upon  her  own  rebel- 
lious grief  and  unwillingness  to  give  up  her  child  at  the  will 
of  God?  —  James. 


SORROWS  OF  THE  RICH. 

Go  to,  now,  ye  rich  men,  weep  and  howl  for  your  miseries  that  shall  come 
upon  you.  — James  5  :  1. 

"VTEVER  envy  any  man.  All  have  their  burdens,  and  "  he 
±\  that  tempereth  the  wind  to  the  shorn  lamb  "  hath  en- 
dowed habit  with  the  power  of  alleviating  the  heaviest  loads. 
The  other  day  there  was  a  splendid  funeral  in  the  street,  a 
few  doors  below  the  house  in  which  I  live.  All  the  hideous 
pageantry,  which  increases  the  horrors  of  death,  was  assem- 
bled. The  crowd  was  numerous.  The  luxurious  mansion  of 
the  great  banker  was  one  great  funeral  chamber.  The  banker 
is  worth  a  million  of  dollars.  His  average  income  is  a  hun- 
dred and  twenty  thousand  dollars.  He  is  the  head  of  a  joint 
stock  banking  company,  which  enables  him  to  dispose  of  ten 
million  dollars  at  his  pleasure.  He  is  one  of  the  lions  of 
"Change."  Don't  you  envy  him?  0,  no;  don't  envy  him ; 
he  has  his  sorrows,  as  well  as  anybody ;  for  'twas  only  six 
months  ago  the  undertaker  laid  his  third  son,  then  nineteen, 
in  the  grave  ;  the  other  day  his  second  son  was  carried  away 
by  the  same  somber  tradesman  to  the  graveyard,  though  the 
boy  was  one  and  twenty.  His  oldest  daughter  is  a  hunch- 
back, and  is  in  declining  health.  His  second  daughter  is  bed- 
ridden with  consumption,  and  will  surprise  the  doctors  if  she 
outlives  the  winter.  The  banker  himself  is  blind  from  over 
labor ;  he  has  been  known  to  pass  twenty  days  without  once 
undressing  and  sleeping  in  a  bed  ;  all  his  repose  being  a  few 
hours  of  feverish  slumber  snatched  from  corroding  cares  —  a 
respite  passed  on  a  sofa.  0,  don't  envy  the  rich  banker,  though 
his  coffers  overflow  with  gold,  for  it  avails  little  to  him ;  and 


816  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

though,  as  I  grant  ye,  the  resonant  chime  of  coin,  tossed 
about  as  so  much  trash  in  his  cash  office,  sounds  musically  to 
the  ear,  yet  the  oft-heard  passing  bell  and  doctor's  tread,  com- 
mon in  that  house  as  the  resonance  of  gold,  destroy  effects, 
except  the  painful  contrast  between  the  emptiness  of  human 
vanity  and  ambition !  So,  envy  no  man. 


A  SOUL  DESTROYED  BY  COVETOUSNESS. 

Your  gold  and  silver  is  cankered,  and  the  rust  of  them  shall  be  a  witness 
against  you,  and  shall  eat  your  flesh  as  it  were  fire.  Ye  have  heaped  treasure 
together  for  the  last  days.  —  James  5  :  3. 

/CONCERNING-  covetousness,  an  eloquent  writer  has  said, 
\J  To  the  soul  which  harbors  it  this  is  a  most  narrowing  and 
corrupting  passion.  It  is  the  upas  of  the  heart.  It  exhales 
poison  upon  all  the  virtues,  so  that  no  one  among  them  all  can 
have  a  normal  growth  in  its  presence,  and  many  of  them 
shrivel  and  die.  It  warps  the  judgment,  and  dulls  the  ear  of 
conscience  to  the  plainest  demands  of  duty.  It  is  the  most 
irremediable  of  all  vices,  strengthening  with  advancing  years, 
until  it  obtains  complete  mastery  of  the  soul. 

Take  the  case  of  a  strictly  honest  man  possessed  by  this 
passion.  He  becomes  the  very  type  of  rapacious  grasping, 
greedy  hoarding,  and  intolerable  meanness.  On  a  recent  rail- 
road ride,  a  plain,  intelligent  old  gentleman,  whom  I  invited 
to  share  my  seat,  gave  me  the  history  of  such  a  man,  a  Ger- 
man by  birth,  who  began  his  career  in  his  adopted  country 
penniless.  He  invested  the  first  few  hundred  dollars  he  saved 
in  a  small  farm  in  Western  New  York.  To  this  he  added  from 
year  to  year,  until  he  became  known  as  one  of  the  most  thrifty 
farmers  in  all  the  state.  He  shaved  notes.  He  took  advan- 
tage of  his  neighbors7  necessities  in  buying  and  selling  cattle 
and  lands.  His  life  was  an  "  enormous  suction  "  of  everything 
within  his  reach.  After  he  became  a  millionnaire,  he  would 
mow  all  day  at  the  head  of  his  twenty  men,  and  keep  his  ac- 
counts nights  and  Sundays.  He  never  was  known  to  give  a 
dollar  to  any  benevolent  object.  At  last  he  died,  "  as  a  fool 
dieth,"  from  overwork  in  carrying  railroad  ties  upon  his 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  817 

shoulders  from  morning  to  night  for  two  weeks,  in  order  to 
show  a  posse  of  men  in  his  employ  that  the  timbers  were 
not  too  heavy  for  one  man  to  handle.  He  left  one  million 
eight  hundred  thousand  dollars  personal  property,  besides  his 
immense  farms.  Jeremiah  must  have  had  such  a  man  before 
his  eye  when  he  wrote,  "  As  the  partridge  sitteth  on  eggs  and 
hatcheth  them  not /M  (the  poor  silly  bird  not  knowing  that  the'y 
were  addled  from  the  start),  "  so  he  that  getteth  riches,  and 
not  by  right,  shall  leave  them  in  the  midst  of  his  days,  and, .  at 
his  end  shall  be  a  fool."  —  Rev.  Cyrus  D.  Foss. 


HURTFUL  PLEASURES  FORBIDDEN. 

Ye  have  lived  in  pleasure  on  the  earth,  and  been  wanton ;  ye  have  nour- 
ished your  hearts  as  in  a  day  of  slaughter.  —  James  5  :  5. 

A  MUSEMENT,  relaxation,  innocent  gayety,  hilarity,  spor- 
1JL  tiveness,  is  a  gospel  duty.  There  is  a  time  to  laugh.  But 
it  is  one  of  the  gravest  mistakes  of  our  age  and  country  that  it 
knows  so  little  of  amusements,  and  has  gone  almost  exclu- 
sively into  dissipation  in  their  stead.  With  that  the  true 
Christian  plainly  has  nothing  to  do  but  to  discountenance, 
and  if  the  way  is  hedged  up  against  reformation,  to  withdraw 
from  it  utterly.  Dissipation  is  not  among  things  indifferent. 
Gay  parties  lasting  till  past  midnight,  in  which  everybody  is 
over-dressed  or  under-dressed  ;  in  which  dances  handed  down 
from  those  of  the  children  of  Israel  around  the  golden  calf -are 
the  main  attractions;  theaters,  operas,  and  races, — these  are 
not  things  indifferent,  these  are  not  amusements,  but  gross 
abuses,  by  which,  in  the  false  guise  of  amusement,  body  and 
soul  are  damaged,  spirituality  rendered  impossible,  and  our 
eternal  well-being  put  in  jeopardy.  Toward  all  these  a'Chris- 
tian  has  but  one  simple  duty  —  Touch  not,  taste  not,  handle 
not.  Come  out  from  among  them,  and  be  ye  separate,  saith 
the  Lord,  and  touch  not  the  unclean  thing. 

103 


818  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

SWEARING  A  GREAT  AND  COMMON  SIN. 

But  above  all  things,  my  brethren,  swear  not,  neither  by  heaven,  neither 
by  the  earth,  neither  by  any  other  oath ;  but  let  your  yea  be  yea,  and  your 
nay,  nay,  lest  ye  fall  into  condemnation.  —  James  5  :  12. 

THE  most  truthful  and  straightforward  article  on  this  dis- 
gusting habit  that  we  have  ever  read,  is  the  following, 
whose  author's  name  we  are  not  acquainted  with :  "  It  is  no 
mark  of  a  gentleman  to  swear.  The  most  worthless  and  vile, 
the  refuse  of  mankind,  the  drunkard  and  the  prostitute,  swear 
as  well  as  the  best  dressed  and  educated  gentleman.  No  par- 
ticular endowments  are  requisite  to  give  a  finish  to  the  art  of 
cursing.  The  basest  and  meanest  of  mankind  swear  with  as 
much  tact  and  skill  as  the  most  refined  ;  and  he  that  wishes  to 
degrade  himself  to  the  very  lowest  level  of  pollution  and 
shame  should  learn  to  be  a  common  swearer.  Any  man  has 
talents  enough  to  learn  to  curse  God,  and  imprecate  perdition 
on  fellow-men.  Profane  swearing  never  did  any  man  any 
good.  No  man  is  the  richer,  or  wiser,  or  happier  for  it.  It 
helps  no  one's  education  or  manners.  It  commends  no  one  to 
any  society.  It  is  disgusting  to  the  refined,  abominable  to 
the  good,  degrading  to  the  mind,  unprofitable,  needless,  and 
injurious  to  society.  Wantonly  to  profane  his  name,  to  call 
down  his  vengeance,  and  to  curse  him,  is  perhaps  of  all  of- 
fenses the  most  awful  in  the  sight  of  God." 


EFFICACY  OF  PRAYER  IN  HEALING  THE  SICK. 

And  the  prayer  of  faith  shall  save  the  sick,  and  the  Lord  shall  raise  him 
up ;  and  if  he  have  committed  sins,  they  shall  be  forgiven  him.  —  James  5  :  !.">. 

REV.  C.  G.  FINNEY,  ex-president  of  Oberlin  College,  Ohio, 
and  who  for  many  years  was  a  distinguished  revivalist, 
in  writing  to  a  friend  of  his  in  Troy,  N.  Y.,  under  date  of 
Oberlin,  November  11,  1872,  gives  the  following  remarkable 
instance  of  the  efficacy  of  prayer  in  healing  the  sick.  He 
says,  — 

"  You  remember  Mrs.  Miller,  sister  of  Deacon  Andrews,  and 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  819 

wife  of  Rev.  Mr.  Miller.  She  has  been  a  great  sufferer  from 
rheumatism  for  .thirty  years'.  She  inherited  it  from  her  par- 
ents. For  seven  years  she  has  not  walked  without  the  aid  of 
crutches,  and  has  been  carried  about,  unable  to  go  anywhere 
or  to  do  anything  except  on  crutches.  About  six  or  eight 
weeks  ago  she  was  entirely  and  instantly  cured  in  answer  to 
prayer.  She  had  been  growing  worse  as  the  fall  weather 
came  on.  She  was  using  no  remedies,  and  had  accepted  her 
lameness,  and  had  had  for  a  long  time  no  expectation  of  ever 
being  any  better.  She  has  long  been  a  praying  woman,  and 
one  of  our  -best.  Of  late  a  spirit  of  inquiry  and  of  faith  has 
sprung  up  in  our  midst,  in  regard  to  this  question  of  healing 
in  answer  to  the  prayer  of  faith.  Some  striking  cases  of  the 
kind  have  occurred  here  within  the  past  few  months.  Mrs. 
Miller  finally  found  herself  able  to  believe  in  the  healing 
power.  It  was  at  a  time  of  more  than  ordinary  suffering. 
She  and  a  sister  united  in  prayer  for  healing.  She  felt  a 
mysterious  power  resting  upon  her.  The  pain  suddenly 
ceased.  She  arose,  and  found  her  whole  frame  limber  and 
well.  Since  then  she  has  been  full  of  the  Holy  Ghost  and  of 
praise,  and  says  she  never  had  such  health  before.  She  testi- 
fies and  gives  glory  to  God  wherever  she  goes.  Our  whole 
church  can  witness  to  the  fact  of  her  previous  suffering  and 
present  health.  Last  Monday  she  rode  from  Strongville 
(twenty  miles)  in  the  cold  rain  without  the  least  injury.  She 
moves  among  us  a  living  wonder." 

In  answer  to  inquiries  respecting  the  above  case,  Mr.  Fin- 
ney  replies  to  the  author  as  follows  :  — 

"OBERLIN,  March  29,  1873. 

"  Mrs.  Miller  still  remains  entirely  free  from  her  former  dis- 
ease. She  declares  herself  to  be,  and  certainly  appears  to  be, 
in  the  best  of  health,  soul  and  body.  She  seems  to  be  con- 
stantly overflowing  with  holy  love  and  joy. 

"  God  bless  you. 

"C.    G.    FlNNEY." 


820  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

THE  •  HUMANNESS  OF  THE  SAINTS. 

Elias  was  a  man  subject  to  like  passions  as  we  are,  and  he  prayed  earnestly 
that  it  might  not  rain ;  and  it  rained  not  on  the  earth  by  the  space  of  three 
years  and  six  months.  And  he  prayed  again,  and  the  heaven  gave  rain,  and 
the  earth  brought  forth  her  fruit.  —  James  5  :  17,  18. 

VE  are  apt  to  form  mistaken  notions  of  God's  saints.     We 
are  apt  to  think  of  them  as  if  they  were  beings  of  a  dif- 
ferent order  from  ourselves,  raised  above  the  level'of  human 
infirmity.     And  from  this  mistaken  notion  flows  great  practi- 
cal mischief.     Be  not  deceived  in  this  matter. 

The  greatest  saints  who  ever  lived,  whether  under  the  old 
or  new  dispensations,  are  on  a  level  which  is  quite  within 
our  reach.  The  same  forces  of  the  spiritual  world  which  were 
at  their  cornmandj  and  the  exertion  of  which  made  them  such 
spiritual  heroes,  are  open  to  us  also.  If  we  had  the  same 
faith,  the  same  hope,  the  same  love  which  they  exhibited,  we 
could  achieve  marvels  as  great  as  those  which  they  achieved 
—  not,  indeed,  the  marvels  which  change  the  outward  face  of 
nature,  but  those  higher  marvels  whose  field  is  the  heart  and 
soul  of  man.  A  word  of  prayer  in  our  mouths  would  be  as 
potent  to  call  down  the  gracious  dews  and  the  melting  fires 
of  God's  Spirit,  as  it  was  in  Elijah's  mouth  to  call  down  literal 
rain  and  fire,  if  we  could  only  speak  the  word  with  that  full 
assurance  of  faith  wherewith  he  said  it.  Let  us  no  more  say, 
querulously,  as  an  excuse  to  our  consciences  for  not  prosecut- 
ing the  high  end  to  which  we  are  called,  "  God  has  put  the 
great  standard  of  holiness  out  of  my  reach."  It  is  not  so. 
As  if  with  the  design  of  meeting  such  an  objection,  he  ex- 
hibits to  us  in  his  word  the  occasional  failures  and  feebleness 
of  his  most  illustrious  servants,  and  gives  us  a  glimpse  of 
them,  not  only  in  the  triumphs  of  grace,  but  in  the  infirmities 
of  nature.  Seen  in  plain  truth,  and  not  through  the  distorting 
medium  of  distance,  they  were  "  men  of  like. passions  with  our- 
selves," though  under  the  empire  of  principles  which  brought 
God  into  immediate  relation  with  them,  and  thus  lifted  "them 
above  self  and  the  world.  Why  should  we  not  follow  them, 
even  as  they  followed  God  and  Christ  ?  Plainly  the  reason  is 
not  to  be  sought  in  any  disadvantages  under  which  we  labor, 


NEW   TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  821 

in  comparison  of  them.  It  is  not  that  holiness  was  originally 
more  congenial  to  their  nature  than  to  ours.  It  is  not  that 
privileges  accorded  to  them  a-re  denied  to  us.  It  can  be  noth- 
ing but  that  laggardness  of  will,  that,  indifference  to  high  moral 
aims,  that  want  of  spiritual  energy,  that  cheerful  acquiescence 
in  the  popular  standard  of  religion,  which  have  caused  many  a 
soul,  when  "  weighed  in  the  balances,"  to  be  "  found  wanting,'' 
to  be  counted  unworthy  of  the  calling  and  the  kingdom  of 
God.  —  Dean  Goulburn. 


DR.  JUDSON'S  CONVERSION. 

Let  him  know  that  he  which  converteth  the  sinner  from  the  error  of  his 
way  shall  save  a  soul  from  death,  and  shall  hide  a  multitude  of  sins.  — 
James  5  :  20. 

A  DONIRAM  JUDSON,  the  illustrious  American  missionary, 
.iJL  was  a  minister's  son.  He  was  very  able  and  very  ambi- 
tious. He  was  early  sent  to  college.  In  the  class  above  was 
a  young  man  of  the  name  of  E.,  brilliant,  witty,  and  popular, 
but  a  determined  Deist.  Between  him  and  the  minister's  son 
there  sprang  up  a  close  intimacy,  which  ended  in  the'  latter 
gradually  renouncing  all  his  early  beliefs,  and  becoming  as 
great  a  skeptic  as  his  friend.  He  was  only  twenty  years  of 
age,  and  you  may  be  sure  it  was  a  terrible  distress  and  con- 
sternation which  filled  the  home  circle,  when,  during  the  re- 
cess, he  announced  that  he  was  no  longer  a  believer  in  Chris- 
tianity. More  than  a  match  for  his  father's  arguments,  he 
steeled  himself  against  all  softer  influences,  and  with  his  mind 
made  up  to  enjoy  life  and  see  the  world,  he  first  joined  a  com- 
pany of  players  at  New  York,  and  then  set  out  on  a  solitary 
tour.  One  night  he  stopped  at  a  country  inn.  Lighting  him 
to  his  room,  the  landlord  mentioned  that  he  had  been  obliged 
to  place  him  next  door  to  a  young  man  who  was  exceedingly 
ill,  in  all  probability  dying,  but  he  hoped  that  it  would  oc- 
casion him  no  uneasiness.  Judson  assured  him  that,  beyond 
pity  for  the  poor  sick  man,  he  should  have  no  feeling  what- 
ever. Still  the  night  proved  a  restless  one.  Sounds  came 
from  the  sick  chamber  —  sometimes  the  movements  of  the 


822  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

watchers,  sometimes  the  groans  of  the  sufferer,  and  the  young 
traveler  could  not  sleep. 

"  So  close  at  hand,  with  but  a  thin  partition  between  us," 
he  thought,  "  there  is  an  immortal  spirit  about  to  pass  into 
eternity  ;  and  is  he  prepared  ?  "  And  then  he  thought,  "  For 
shame  of  my  shallow  philosophy  !  What  would  E.,  so  clear- 
headed and  intellectual,  think  of  this  boyish  weakness  ?  " 

And  then  he  tried  to  sleep,  but  still  the  picture  of  the  dying 
man  rose  up  to  his  imagination.  He  was  a  "  young  man,"  and 
the  young  student  felt  compelled  to  place  himself  on  his  neigh- 
bor's dying  bed,  and  he  could  not  help  fancying  what,  in 
such  circumstances,  would  be  his  thoughts.  But  the  morning 
dawned,  and  in  the  welcome  daylight  his  "  superstitious  illu- 
sions fled  away."  When  he  came  down  stairs,  he  inquired  of 
the  landlord  how  his  fellow-lodger  had  passed  the  night. 

"  He  is  dead  !  "  was  the  answer. 

"  Dead  ! " 

"  Yes ;  he  is  gone,  poor  fellow ;  the  doctor  said  he  would 
probably  not  survive  the  night." 

"  Do  you  know  who  he  was  ?  " 

"  0,  yes ;  it  was  a  young  man  from  Providence  College,  a 
very  fine  fellow  •  his  name  was  E." 

Judson  was  completely  stunned.  Hours  passed  before  he 
could  quit  the  house  ;  but  when  he  did  resume  his  journey, 
the  words  Dead  !  Lost !  Lost  !  were  continually  ringing  in 
his  ears.  There  was  no  need  for  argument.  God  had  spoken, 
and  from  the  presence  of  the  living  God  the  chimeras  of  unbelief 
and  the  pleasures  of  sin  alike  fled  away.  The  religion  of  the 
Bible  he  knew  to  be  true  ;  and,  turning  his  horse's  head 
toward  Plymouth,  he  rode  slowly  homeward,  his  plans  of 
enjoyment  all  shattered,  and  ready  to  commence  that  rough 
and  uninviting  path  which,  through  the  death-prison  at  Ava 
and  its  rehearsal  of  martyrdom,  conducted  to  the  grave  at 
Maulmain.  —  Dr.  James  Hamilton. 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  823 

HEAVENLY  INHERITANCE. 

To  an  inheritance  incorruptible,  and  undefiled,  and  that  fadeth  not  away, 
reserved  in  heaven  for  you.  —  1  Peter  1 :  4. 

HEAVEN  is  a  place  where  all  is  right.  The  mind  hovers 
around  that  thought,  is  pleased  with  it,  settles  down  in 
it.  We  are  living  upon  the  surface  of  a  shattered  world. 
The  earth  is  in  the  midst  of  an  eclipse.  A  deformed  race  are 
born  here,  and  here  they  die.  No  damaged  thing  is  found  in 
heaven.  The  souls  and  circumstances  there  are  just  as  they 
should  be.  Heaven  is  the  chief  joy  amid  the  realms  of  God. 
Glorious  land,  how  many  sigh  to  reach  thine  abodes  !  In 
exile  we  wander  here  ;  in  darkness  ;  in  the  midst  of  death. 
No  day  finds  us  well ;  no  hour  is  radiant  with  the  light  of  the 
eternal  morning.  How  the  spirit  tires  in  its  toilsome  way, 
wishing  that  repose  might  come  quite  soon  !  We  long  for  a 
righted  nature,  for  a  vision  of  complete  life,  for  a  Divine 
Presence  to  beam  upon  us.  What  a  moment  that  will  be 
when  first  we  reach  heaven  !  The  soul  embosomed  in  bliss, 
at  home  in  the  lands  of  eternity,  living*  with  God  ! 


IN  HEAVINESS  FOR  A  SEASON. 

Wherein  ye  greatly  rejoice,  though  now,  for  a  season,  if  need  be,  ye  are 
in  heaviness  through  manifold  temptations.  —  1  Peter  1 :  6. 

rPEMPTATIONS  are  trials,  and  are  intended  to  test  our  prin- 
_L  ciples,  try  our  profession,  and  prove  the  strength  of  our 
graces.  The  temptations,  or  trials,  of  the  believer  are  mani- 
fold. They  come  from  various  quarters,  they  affect  us  in 
various  ways  ;  but  they  are  limited.  They  are  but  for  a  season. 
"  In  the  day.  of  adversity  consider."  "  The  hour  of  tempta- 
tion." "  Our  light  affliction,  which  is  but  for  a  moment" 
"  For  a  small  moment  have  I  forsaken  thee."  Thus  they  are 
limited  sometimes  to  "  a  day,"  "  an  hour,"  "  moment,"  a  "  small 
moment."  God  fixes  the  limit  to  every  trial ;  and  however 
long  that  limit  may  be,  it  is  confined  to  the  present  time.  "  I 
reckon  that  the  sufferings  of  this  present  time  are  not  worthy 


824  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

to  be  compared  with  the  glory  that  shall  be  revealed  in  us." 
Beloved,  however  severe  the  trial,  it  can  not  be  long  ;  however 
heavy  the  burden,  you  have  not  far  to  carry  it.  We  shall  soon 
lay  down  our  cross,  and  ascend  to  receive  our  crown.  If  our 
Father  frown  upon  us  now,  he  will  smile  again  soon.  "  His 
anger  endureth  but  for  a  moment  ;  "  *•'  in  his  favor  is  life  ;  " 
"  weeping  may  endure  for  a  night,  but  joy  cometh  in  the  morn- 
ing." Thy  present  trouble  is  but  for  a  season,  and  that  season 
will  soon  close  ;  therefore  bear  it  patiently,  prayerfully,  and 
hopefully.  Yield  not  to  despondency,  listen  not  to  Satan,  but 
hope  in  God.  • 

THE  MANIFOLD  WISDOM  OF  GOD. 

Unto  whom  it  was  revealed  that  not  unto  themselves,  but  unto  us,  they  did 
minister  the  things  which  are  now  reported  unto  you  by  them  that  have 
preached  the  gospel  unto  you  with  the  Holy  Ghost  sent  down  from  heaven  ; 
which  things  the  angels  desire  to  look  into.  —  1  Peter  1  :  12. 


"  rFHE  very  manifold,  the  multifarious  wisdom  of  God."  The 
JL  adjective,  one  of  the  very  numerous  compounds  of 
"polys"  occurs  nowhere  else  in  the  New  Testament.  The 
term,  as  Chrysostom  notes,  is  not  simply  "  varied,"  but  "  much 
varied."  The  wisdom  described  by  the  remarkable  epithet/ 
is  not  merely  deep  or  great  wisdom,  but  wisdom  illustrious 
for  its  many  numerous  forms,  and  for  the  strange  diversity, 
yet  perfect  harmony,  of  its  myriads  of  aspects  and  methods  of 
operation.  And  the  lesson  is  given,  — 

"  By  the  church  "  —  the  community  of  the  faithful  in  Christ. 
The  church  on  earth  is  the  instructress  of  angels  in  heaven. 

The  angels  have  seen  much  of  God's  working,  many  a  sun 
lighted  up,  and  many  a  world  launched  into  its  orbit  has  de- 
lighted them.  They  have  been  delighted  by  the  solution  of 
many  a  problem,  and  the  glorious  development  of^many  a  mys- 
tery. But  in  the  proclamation  of  the  gospel  to  the  Gentiles, 
with  its  strange  preparations,  various  agencies,  and  stupen- 
dous effects,  involving  the  origination  and  extinction  of  Juda- 
ism, the  incarnation  and  atonement,  the  manger  and  the  cross, 
the  spread  of  the  Greek  language  and  the  triumph  of  the  Ro- 
man arms,  these  principalities  and  powers  in  heavenly  places 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  825 

beheld  with  rapture  other  and  brighter  phases  of  a  wisdom 
which  had  often  dazzled  them  by  its  brilliant  and  profuse 
versatility,  and  surprised  and  entranced  them  by  the  infinite 
fullness  of  the  love  which  prompts  it,  and  of  the  power  which 
itself  directs  and  controls.  The  events  thai;  have  trans- 
pired in  the  church  on  earth  are  the  means  of  augmenting 
the  information  of  those  pure  and  exalted  beings  who  encircle 
the  throne  of  God,  as  may  be  learned  from  1  Tim.  3:16;  1 
Peter  1 : 12.  The  entire  drama  is  at  length  laid  bare  before 
them. 


THE  WATCHWORD. 

But  with  the  precious  blood  of  Christ,  as  of  a  lamb  without  blemish  and 
without  spot.  —  1  Peter  1 :  19. 

IN  one  of  the  great  rock  galleries  of  Gibraltar,  two  British 
soldiers  had  mounted  guard,  one  at  each  end  of  the  vast 
tunnel.  One  was  a  believing  man,  whose  soul  had  found  rest 
upon  the  Rock  of  Ages ;  the  other  had  long  felt  the  need  of  a 
Saviour,  had  experienced  anxious  thoughts,  but  had  not  yielded 
with  full  surrender. 

On  one  occasion,  in  the  silence  of  midnight,  these  soldiers 
were  going  their  rounds,  the  one  meditating  on  that  atoning 
blood  which  had  brought  peace  to  his  soul,  the  other  darkly 
brooding  over  his  own  disquietudes  and  doubts.  Suddenly 
an  officer  passes,  challenges  the  former,  and  demands  the 
watchword.  "  The  precious  blood  of  Christ !  "  called  out  the 
startled  veteran,  forgetting  for  the  instant  the  pass-word 
of  the  night,  and  uttering,  unconsciously,  the  thought  which 
was  at  that  moment  filling  his  soul.  Next  moment  he  cor- 
rected himself  as  to  the  pass-word,  gave  the  required  one, 
and  the  officer,  no  doubt  surprised,  passed  on.  But  the  words 
he  spoke  had  rung  through  the  gallery  and  entered  the  ears 
of  his  fellow- soldier  at  the  other  end,  like  a  message  from 
heaven.  It  seemed  as  if  an  angel  had  spoken,  or  rather  as  if 
God  himself  had  proclaimed  the  good  news  in  that  still  hour. 
This  "  precious  blood  of  Christ !  "  Yes,  that  was  peace  !  His 
104 


826  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

troubled  soul  was  now  at  rest.  That  midnight  voice  had 
spoken  the  good  news  to  him,  and  the  Holy  Spirit  made  that 
strange  but  blessed  watchword  the  means  of  his  salvation. 


"WAITING  TO  BE  BORN  AGAIN. 


n  * 


Being  born  again,  not  of  corruptible  seed,  but  of  incorruptible,  by  the 
word  of  God,  which  liveth  and  abideth  for  ever.  —  1  Peter  1 :  23. 

ONE  of  the  most  thrilling  cases  of  salvation  which  we  have 
met  is  the  following :  At  ten  years  of  age  Henry  A.  was  a 
swearer,  used  tobacco,  and  regularly  carried  a  bottle  of  liquor. 
His  mother  had  died  when  he  was  a  little  child,  and  he  felt 
no  restraint  from  wrong.  He  plunged  into  sin.  His  life  for 
thirty  years  following  was  one  of  dissipation.  He  was  a  good 
workman  at  brick-making,  but  would  not  keep  sober  long 
enough  to  succeed  anywhere.  He  wandered  into  many  places, 
repeating  the  same  history  of  vice.  At  last,  in  1863,  he  was 
the  victim  of  delirium  tremens.  That  awful  experience  was 
endured  by  him.  He  prayed  to  God  earnestly  for  deliverance. 
He  promised  to  give  his  heart  to  Christ  if  he  was  spared. 
His  prayer  that  he  might  be  relieved  was  answered.  He 
went  out  upon  the  village  streets.  He  prayed  in  a  freight 
car  standing  on  a  track  along  his  way.  He  was  ready  to  drop 
upon  his  knees  on  the  pavement  and  plead  for  the  salvation 
of  his  soul.  At  noon  he  was  standing  on  the  sidewalk  between 
two  large  stores,  in  the  business  part  of  a  large  village  in 
Southern  New  York.  His  eyes  were  closed.  He  was  in 
prayer ;  he  was  pleading  for  mercy ;  he  was  looking  for  the 
light  of  life;  his  whole  soul  asked.  People  wondered  that 
he  stood  there  so  long.  They  thought  he  might  be  drunk 
or  crazy.  He  made  no  motion ;  he  did  not  utter  a  word  or 
prayer  aloud.  At  last  some  one  asked  him  why  he  was  wait- 
ing there.  His  reply  was,  "  I  am  waiting  to  be  born  again." 
That  was  thorough  experience  ;  it  was  soul- work.  His  friends 
called  him  to  dinner  ;  he  would  not  go.  The  time  for  supper 
came,  and  he  was  yet  standing  there ;  but  during  that  time 
a  wonderful  work  was  done  in  his  heart.  The  light  shone  into 


NEW   TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 


827 


his  soul  j  the  terrible  power  of  sin  was  broken ;  the  new  birth 
was  granted ;  joy  too  great  for  the  lip  to  speak  came  to  him ; 
he  was  saved.  He  met  the  deliverer  ;  he  went  down  to  his 
house  justified.  That  day  salvation  came  to  that  house  in  a 
new  life  of  the  happiness  of  home.  There  was  a  glad  Chris- 
tian wife.  A  new  future,  and  a  bright  one,  opened  before  that 
family.  —  Rev.  C.  P.  Hard. 


THE  HOLY  SCRIPTURES. 

But  the  word  of  the  Lord  endureth  for  ever.  And  this  is  the  word  which 
by  the  gospel  is  preached  unto  you.  —  1  Peter  1 :  25. 

THE  Bible  is  a  unique  volume.  Unlike  other  books,  it  is 
adapted  to  every  period,"  clime,  and  character.  Its  pro- 
fundity baffles  the  proudest  intellect,  while  its  simplicity 
affords  nourishment  to  the  dwarfed  and  untutored  mind.  It 
exhibits  to  our  gaze  heights  that  the  loftiest  archangel  can 
not  scale,  and  at  the  same  time  presents  outspread  vales,  and 
lawns,  and  perennial  streams  that  gladden  the  heart  of  the 
way-worn  pilgrim  of  earth.  The  Bible  contains  recesses,  laby- 
rinths, mysteries  of  truth  that  reach  far  back  into  the  Godhead 
and  eternity,  and  that  minds  like  those  of  Pascal  and  Newton 
are  unable  to  thread  and  comprehend.  At  the  same  time, 
simple  truths,  adapted  to  the  peasant,  the  African,  and  the 
idiot,  and  from  which  they  gather  sweetness  and  comfort,  lie 
strown  like  pearls  and  diamonds  along  the  surface. 

What  an  enchantment  lingers  about  that  wonderful  volume  ! 
What  other  book  can  chain  the  thoughts  of  the  philosopher, 
and  afford  delightful  lessons  to  the  rude  negro  ?  It  reminds 
one  of  the  African's  river,  whose  sources  are  lost  amid  the 
Mountains  of  the  Moon,  but  whose  onflowing  waters  add  ver- 
dure to  the  sands  of  the  desert,  and  pour  gladness  into  the 
hearts  of  many  of  the  untamed  natives,  who  have  never 
speculated  on  the  origin  of  this  inestimable  blessing. 

Such  is  the  Bible  —  the  inspired  Christian  Scriptures. 
Flowing  from  the  ineffable  depths  of  the  Divinity,  from  the 
eminence  which  no  created  intelligence  has  measured,  they 
descend  to  meet  the  wants,  to  allay  the  sorrows,  and  enhance 


828  NEW   TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

the  joys  of  a  depraved  humanity.  These  are  the  waters  of 
life  that  gush  forth  at  every  man's  door,  and  are  designed  to 
refresh  and  console  all  the  families  of  the  earth.  They  meet 
the  moral  wants  of  all  men ;  for,  however  diverse  our  intellects, 
our  heads  are  alike.  The  great  and  the  small  here  slake  their 
thirst. 

The  fixtures,  the  arrangements  about  the  pool,  may  differ  to 
meet  the  tastes  and  views  of  the  different  classes  of  men  ;  but 
the  waters  are  the  same,  whether  presented  in  gold,  or  marble, 
or  wood.  What,  in  this  respect,  the  peasant  needs,  the  phi- 
losopher must  have,  or  perish.  They  have  a  common  moral 
nature,  and  a  common  remedy  is  provided. 


LOYE  A  CHRISTIAN  DUTY. 

Love  the  brotherhood.     Fear  God.     Honor  the  king.  —  1  Peter  2:17. 

IN  a  sermon  which  Mr.  Williams  once  delivered  at  Rhos,  an 
extraordinary  effect  was  produced  by  the  following  anec- 
dote, which  he  applied  to  his  favorite  topic  of  Christian  union. 
"  I  recollect,"  he  said,  "  on  one  occasion  conversing  with  a 
marine,  who  gave  me  a  good  deal  of  his  history.  He  told  me 
that  the  most  terrible  engagement  he  had  ever  been  in  was 
one  between  the  ship  to  which  he  belonged  and  another 
English  vessel,  when,  on  meeting  in  the  night,  they  mistook 
each  other  for  a  French  man-of-war.  Several  persons  were 
wounded,  and  both  vessels  sustained  serious  damage  from  the 
firing.  But  when  the  day  broke,  great  and  painful  was  their 
surprise  to  find  the  English  flag  hoisted  from  both  ships,  and 
that  through  mistake  they  had  been  fighting,  the  previous 
night,  against  their  own  countrymen.  They  approached  and 
saluted  each  other,  and  wept  bitterly  together.  Christians 
sometimes  commit  the  same  error  in  this  present  world  —  one 
denomination  mistakes  another  for  an  enemy  ;  it  is  night,  and 
they  can  not  see  to  recognize  one  another.  What  will  be  their 
surprise  when  they  see  each  other  by  the  light  of  another 
world,  when  they  meet  in  heaven,  after  having  shot  at  one 
another  in  the  mist  of  the  present  state!  How  will  they 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 


829 


salute  each  other  when  better  known  and  understood,  after 
having  wounded  one  another  in  the  night !  But  they  should 
wait  till  daybreak,  at  any  rate,  that  they  may  not  be  in  danger, 
through  any  mistake,  of  shooting  at  their  friends." 


THE  CHRISTIAN'S  CALLING. 

For  even  hereunto  were  ye  called;  because  Christ  also  suffered  for  us, 
leaving  us  an  example,  that  ye  should  follow  his  steps.  —  1  Peter  2  :  21. 

CALLED  by  God.     Rom.  8  :  30  ;  1  Cor.  1:9;  Gal.  1 :  6. 
Called  of  Jesus  Christ.     Rom.  1  :  6  ;  1  Peter  5  :  10. 

Called  according  to  his  purpose.     Rom.  8  :  28-30. 

Called  the  sons  of  God.     1  John  3:1;  Gal.  4  :  6,  7. 

Called  in  one  body.     Col.  3  :  15. 

Called  to  be  saints.     Rom.  1 :  7  ;  1  Cor.  1  :  2. 

Called  into  fellowship.     1  Cor.  1  :  9. 

Called  into  the  grace  of  Christ.     Gal.  1 :  6. 

Called  out  of  darkness  into  light.     1  Peter  2  :  9. 

Called  in  hope.     Eph.  1:18,  4:4;  Rom.  5  :  2. 

Called  to  virtue.     2  Peter  1  :  3. 

Called  by  the  gospel.     2  Thess.  2  :  14. 

Called  to  eternal  life.     1  Tim.  6:12. 

Called  to  an  eternal  inheritance.     Heb.  9  :  15. 

Called  to  blessing.     1  Peter  3  :  9. 

Called  to  liberty.     Gal.  5  :  13. 

Called  to  peace.     1  Cor.  7:15;  Col.  3  :  15. 

Called  to  suffer.     1  Peter  2  :  21. 

Called  to  glory.     1  Thess.  2:12;  2  Thess.  2  :  14. 

A  heavenly  calling.     Heb.  3:1. 

A  holy  calling.     1  Thess.  4  :  7  ;  2  Tim.  1 :  9. 

That  worthy  name  by  which  ye  are  called.     Acts  11  :  26. 

The  prize  of  the  high  calling.     Phil.  3  :  14. 

Faithful  is  he  that  calleth  you.     1  Cor.  1 :  9. 

Ye  see  your  calling,  brethren.     1  Cor.  1  :  26. 

Walk  worthy  of  the  vocation  wherewith  ye  are  called. 
Eph.  4:1;  Col.  1  :  10 ;  1  Thess.  2:12;  1  Peter  1 :  15,  16 ;  2 
Peter  1 : 10. 


830  MEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 


FOUND  AGAIN  IN  SAFETY. 

For  ye  were  as  sheep  going  astray ;  but  are  now  returned  unto  the  Shep- 
herd and  Bishop  of  your  souls.  —  1  Peter  2 :  25. 

TIME  separates  friends  and  fellow-laborers.  Those  often 
for  whom  we  labor,  and  in  whose  welfare  we  feel  the 
deepest  interest,  are  removed  from  under  our  watchful  eye, 
or  personal  instruction,  to  battle  with  the  storms  of  life,  or  be 
exposed  to  untoward  influences ;  but  many  who  go  out  from 
our  Sabbath  schools,  or  from  our  pastoral  care,  may  have  so 
far  received  the  good  seed  of  divine  truth  into  their  hearts, 
that  all  the  storms  on  the  ocean  of  their  life  shall  not  wreck 
their  immortal  souls  on  the  rocks  of  vice  or  skepticism  ;  but 
at  last,  they,  with  us,  shall  be  found  safely  anchored  in  the 
harbor  of  eternal  rest.  The  following  beautiful  incident  well 
illustrates  the  hope  of  the  Christian  laborer  for  those  who  are 
separated  from  him  for  years,  or  possibly  never  to  meet  again 
in  this  life  :  — 

"  A  commander  of  a  British  vessel  of  war,  sailing  from  the 
Cape  of  Good  Hope,  was  charged  with  the  convoy  of  a  little 
sloop  to  England,  laden  with  an  exceedingly  valuable  cargo. 
They  were  in  mutual  sight  for  many  days,  when  a  storm  arose, 
and  separated  them  so  widely  that,  after  the  storm  had  passed, 
and  the  sea  once  more  had  become  peaceful,  they  could  not 
see  each  other.  In  vain  the  man-of-war  searched  the  horizon 
^to  find  her  smaller  and  weaker  consort.  No  trace  of  the  sloop 
was  to  be  found.  With  a  heavy  heart,  the  captain  of  the  war 
ship  pursued  his  course  homeward,  not  expecting  to  see  his 
little  charge  again.  He  entered  the  Channel,  and  anchored 
off  Portsmouth,  in  a  fog,  saddened  at  the  remembrance  of  the 
lost  ship ;  but,  when  the  thick  fog  lifted,  what  was  his  sur- 
prise at  seeing  the  little  lost  craft  anchored  in  peace  directly 
by  his  side,  having  arrived  at  home  before  him  !  each  was 
ignorant  of  the  course  of  the  other,  till  they  lay  side  by  side 
at  anchor  in  the  harbor."  So  will  it  be  with  many  who,  by 
providence,  are  separated  from  our  families,  our  Sabbath 
schools,  our  pastoral  charges,  to  pursue  the  voyage  of  life 
without  us,  when  we  shall  meet  them  at  last  in  heaven,  to  go 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.     -         831 

no  more  out  for  ever.  Ignorance  of  their  safety  may  distress 
us  now,  but  when  the  darkness  is  passed,  and  the  true  light 
shineth,  we  shall  welcome  with  delight  those  who  may  have 
reached  the  shining  shore  before  us,  or  that  shall  come  after. 
—  S.  If.  Tyng's  Forty  Years  in  the  Sunday  School. 


DRESS  OF  CHRISTIAN  WOMEN. 

Whose  adorning,  let  it  not  be  that  outward  adorning  of  plaiting  the  hair, 
and  of  wearing  of  gold,  or  of  putting  on  of  apparel.  —  1  Peter  3  :  3. 

ON  this  subject  we  take  the  following  lines  from  the  Chris- 
tian Witness,  and  commend  them  to  the  attention  of  all 
our  readers,  of  both  sexes  :  — 

"  The  reform,  if  it  come  at  all,  must  come  from  our  wealthier 
classes,  and  it  is  especially  desirable  that  it  should  begin  at 
the  house  of  God.  To  those  who  parade  their  finery  in  the 
assemblies  of  Christ's  people  we  may  very  suitably  put  the 
question  with  which  the  apostle  rebuked  the  excess  of  the 
Corinthians  at  the  Lord's  table,  and  ask,  '  What !  have  ye  not 
houses  to  dress  in  ?  or  despise  ye  the  church  of  God,  and 
shame  them  that  have  not  ?  '  If  this  waste  of  folly,  unseemly 
for  a  Christian  at  any  time  or  any  place,  is  to  be  indulged  in, 
let  it  be  at  home ;  confine  it  to  the  world,  its  appropriate 
sphere.  In  God's  house  it  becomes  an  insult  to  Him  who  has 
placed  upon  it  the  seal  of  his  disapprobation  (see  1  Peter  3  :  3, 
4,  and  Isa.  3  :  16,  to  end),  and  a  wrong  to  his  people.  There 
1  the  rich  and  the  poor  meet  together,  and  the  Lord  is  the 
Maker  of  them  all.'  Will  you,  then,  l  shame  them  that  have 
not,'  and  by  the  startling  contrast  of  your  magnificence  with 
their  plainness,  drive  them  from  their  Father's  house,  or  ex- 
pose them  while  there  to  painful  humiliation?  Is  it  good 
breeding,  to  say  nothing  of  Christian  charity,  to  make  them 
feel  out  of  place  —  intruders  upon  ground  to  which  their  right 
is  as  undoubted  as  your  own?  To  ask  such  questions  is  to 
answer  them.  We  say,  then,  that  the  reform  so  urgently 
called  for  must  be  initiated  by  the  rich.  Is  it  too  much  to  ask 
of  them,  in  the  name  of  our  common  Saviour,  and  for  his 
church's  sake,  that  they  will  study  greater  simplicity  of  attire 
in  the  courts  of  the  Lord  ? 


832  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 


QUIETNESS  OF  SPIRIT. 

But  let  it  be  the  -hidden  man  of  the  heart,  in  that  which  is  not  corrup- 
tible, even  the  ornament  of  a  meek  and  quiet  spirit,  which  is  in  the  sight  of 
God  of  great  price.  —  1  Peter  3  :  4. 

AUIETNESS  of  spirit  is  one  of  the  sweet  blossoms  of  faith 
V^  and  love  in  the  soul.  Dr.  Upham's  description  of  it  in  his 
Life  of  Faith,  is  very  pleasant.  "  The  state  of  mind  which 
is  described  as  meekness  or  quietness  of  spirit  is  character- 
ized, in  a  very  high  degree,  by  inward  harmony.  When  the 
judgment  is  rendered  clear  by  religious  influences,  when  the 
appetites  are  subdued,  when  the  various  propensities  and 
affections,  once  rebellious  and  conflicting,  are  each  and  all  in 
their  place,  operating  where  they  ought  to  operate,  and  not 
operating  where  they  ought  not  to  operate,  the  mind  not  only 
presents  the  aspect  of  rest  or  quietness,  but  is  obviously  in 
harmony  with  itself;  without  which,  indeed,  the  state  of  rest 
could  not  exist.  The  love  of  God  is  restored  to  its  position 
as  the  supreme,  the  controlling  principle ;  and  every  natural 
desire  and  affection  is  exercised  in  subordination  to  it." 

Dr.  Upham  discriminatingly  remarks  in  this  connection, 
"  From  time  to  time  we  meet  with  something  which  looks  like 
quietness  of  spirit,  which,  nevertheless,  has  no  foundation  in 
the  true  and  sanctified  adjustment  of  the  inward  state.  The 
inactivity  of  nature,  to  which  we  have  reference  in  making 
this  remark,  is  a  very  different  thing,  both  in  its  origin  and  its 
manifestations,  from  the  calm  rest  of  grace.  "  Natural  quiet- 
ness is  the  result  of  darkness ;  spiritual  quietude  is  the  child 
of  light.  The  one  does  nothing,  because  it  is  too  indolent  and 
selfish  to  do  anything,  and  its  rest,  therefore,  bears  the  fatal 
mark  of  being  a  rest  in  its  own  will.  The  other,  which  does 
nothing  in  its  own  choice,  does  all  things  in  God's  will,  so  that 
its  rest  is  in  God,  and  not  in  itself." 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  833 

"THE  WEAKER  VESSEL." 

Likewise,  ye  husbands,  dwell  with  them  according  to  knowledge,  giving 
honor  unto  the  wife,  as  unto  the  weaker  vessel,  and  as  being  heirs  together 
of  the  grace  of  life ;  that  your  prayers  be  not  hindered.  —  1  Peter  3  :  7. 

IN  Dr.  Brown's  excellent  Exposition  of  First  Peter,  he  says 
the  word  translated  "  vessels/'  in  the  phrase  above  quoted, 
means  framework  or  fabric,  and  understanding  the  apostle  to 
mean  that  the  husband  should  treat  the  wife  with  a  consider- 
ate attention  because  of  her  finer  and  feebler  texture,  he  takes 
occasion  to  add  a  reflection  or  two,  which  we  transcribe  for 
the  benefit  of  any  concerned,  who  may  not  have  access  to  the 
commentary  itself.  Says  he,  "  In  delicacy  of  apprehension, 
both  intellectual  and  moral,  and  in  capacity  of  passive  endur- 
ance, woman  is  often  superior  to  man.  But  she  has  a  feebler 
corporeal  frame  ;  and  her  mental  constitution,  especially  the 
sensitive  part  of  it,  is  such  as  requires  cautious,  kind,  and  even 
tender  treatment.  Husbands  should  have  consideration  for 
the  peculiar  privations  and  sufferings  of  their  wives,  their 
anxieties  and  sorrows,  their  watching  over  sick  and  dying 
children,  and  their  angel-like  ministrations  in  seasons  of  afflic- 
tion. 

"  The  apostle  does  not  suppose  that  a  Christian  husband 
can  be  intentionally  unkind  to  his  wife ;  but  he  supposes  that 
from  want  of  consideration  he  may  do  injury,  in  a  degree  that 
he  little  thinks,  to  one  whom  he  loves.  Very  worthy  men,  not 
at  all  deficient  in  good  sense,  or  good  feeling  either,  but  not 
distinguished  by  tact  or  sensibility,  need  the  hint ;  and  a  great 
deal  of  suffering,  not  the  less  severe  because  it  is  not  designed, 
and  can  not  be  complained  of,  might  be  saved  if  the  hint  were 
but  attended  to." 


CHRISTIAN  COURTESY. 

Finally,  be  ye  all  of  one  mind,  having  compassion  one  of  another;  love 
as  brethren ;  be  pitiful,  be  courteous.  —  1  Peter  3  :  8. 

EVERY   man  has  his  faults,  his  peculiarities.     Every  one 
of  us  finds  himself  crossed  by  such  failings  of  others  from 
105 


834  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

hour  to  hour ;  and  if  he  were  to  resent  them  all,  or  even  notice 
all,  life  would  be  intolerable.  If  for  every  outburst  of  hasty 
temper,  and  for  every  rudeness  that  wounds  us  in  our  daily 
path,  we  were  to  demand  an  apology,  require  an  explanation, 
or  resent  it  by  retaliation,  daily  intercourse  would  be  im- 
possible. The  very  science  of  social  life  consists  in  that 
gliding  tact  which  avoids  contact  with  the  sharp  angularities 
of  character,  which  does  not  argue  about  such  things,  does 
not  seek  to  adjust  or  cure  them  all,  but  covers  them,  as  if  it 
did  not  see.  So  a  Christian  spirit  throws  a  cloak  of  love  over 
these  things.  It  knows  when  it  is  wise  not  to  see.  That 
microscopic  distinctness  in  which  all  faults  appear  to  .captious 
men,  who  are  blaming,  dissenting,  complaining,  disappears  in 
the  calm  gaze  of  love.  And  0,  it  is  this  spirit  which  our  Chris- 
tian society  lacks,  and  which  we  will  never  get  till  each  one 
begins  with  his  own  heart. 

CLAUDIUS  BUCHANAN  AND  THE  HIGHLANDER. 

But  sanctify  the  Lord  God  in  your  hearts,  and  be  ready  always  to  give  an 
answer  to  every  man  that  asketh  you  a  reason  of  the  hope  that  is  in  you  with 
meekness  and  fear.  —  1  Peter  3  :  15. 

THE  late  Rev.  Claudius  Buchanan,  while  a  young  man,  and 
previous  to  his  conversion,  upon  returning  from  a  visit  to 
the  principal  countries  of  Europe,  met  an  old  Highlander,  an 
acquaintance  of  his  father,  in  the  city  of  London.  Young 
Buchanan  gave  his  count^man  a  very  animated  description 
of  his  tour,  and  of  the  wonders  that  he  had  seen  upon  the 
continent.  The  old  man  listened  with  attention  to  his  narra- 
tive, and  then  eagerly  inquired  whether  his  religious  princi- 
ples had  not  been  materially  injured  by  mixing  among  such  a 
variety  of  characters  and  religions. 

"  Do  you  know  what  an  infidel  is  ?  "  said  Buchanan. 

"  Yes,"  was  the  reply. 

"  Then,"  said  he,  "  I  am  an  infidel,  and  have  seen  the  ab- 
surdity of  all  those  nostrums  my  good  old  father  used  to  teach 
me  in  the  north ;  and  can  you,"  added  he,  "  seriously  believe 
that  the  Bible  is  a  revelation  from  the  Supreme  Being?  " 

"  I  do." 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  835 

"  And  pray  tell  me  what  may  be  your  reasons." 
"  Claude/'  said  the  good  old  Highlander,  "  I  know  nothing 
about  what  learned  men  call  the  external  evidences  of  rev- 
elation, but  I  will  tell  you  why  I  believe  it  to  be  from  God.  I 
have  a  most  depraved  and  sinful  nature,  and,  do  what  I  will, 
I  find  I  can  not  make  myself  holy.  My  friends  can  not  for  me  ; 
nor  do  I  think  all  the  angels  in  heaven  could.  One  thing  alone 
does  it — the  reading  and  believing  what  I  read  in  that  blessed 
book :  that  does  it.  Now,  as  I  know  that  God  must  be  holy,  and 
a  lover  of  holiness,  and  as  I  believe  that  that  book  is  the  only 
thing  in  the  world  that  produces  and  promotes  holiness,  I 
conclude  that  it  is  from  God,  and  that  he  is  the  author  of  it." 
This  was  an  argument  that  had  never  suggested  itself  to 
Buchanan's  mind,  and  which  he  had  no  means  whatever  of 
meeting. 


WHAT  ARE  SINFUL  AMUSEMENTS? 

But  the  end  of  all  things  is  at  hand;  be  ye  therefore  sober,  and  watch 
unto  prayer.  —  1  Peter  4  :  7. 

TWERY  amusement  is  sinful  which  tends  to  the  injury  of 
JU  the  health  and  the  physical  constitution.  God  requires 
that  even  the  body  should  be  presented  a  living  sacrifice  in 
his  service  ;  and  when,  for  the  sake  of  momentary  enjoyment, 
the  gratification  of  taste  or  appetite,  the  physical  system  is 
deranged  or  weakened,  God  is  robbed  of  what  is  rightfully  his. 
Men  shudder  at  the  thought  of  the  untimely  death  of  those 
who,  in  a  moment  of  insanity,  or  impelled  by  the  remorse  of 
conscience,  have  put  an  end  to  their  earthly  existence ;  and, 
unless  we  have  satisfactory  evidence  that  they  were  insane, 
we  have  reason  to  tremble  in  view  of  their  sin.  But  why  is 
it  any  more  self-murder  to  apply  the  halter  or  the  knife,  and 
thus  end  one's  days,  than  to  do  the  same  thing  by  a  round  of 
dissipation  and  amusement. 

Every  amusement  is  sinful  which  tends  to  weaken  or  destroy 
the  intellectual  powers.  Man  is  distinguished  from  the  lower 
order  of  created  beings  by  the  possession  of  the  reasoning 
faculties.  These  are  given  to  him  for  some  good  and  noble 


836  NEW   TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

purpose.  If  he  pursue  a  course  of  conduct,  or  indulge  in 
such  amusements  as  may  disqualify  him  to  exert  his  faculties 
for  good,  he  sins  against  his  own  soul  and  against  God.  The 
youth  who  spends  his  time  in  storing  his  mind  with  vain  and 
idle  stories,  or  in  reading  novels  and  romances,  is  an  instance 
in  which  this  is  effectually  done. 

Those  amusements  are  sinful  which  have  a  tendency  to  dis- 
sipate from  the  mind  sober,  serious  reflection.  Man  is  living 
for  eternity.  It  should  be  his  great  object  to  do  that  which 
will  prepare  him  for  that  world  to  which  he  is  hastening,  and 
which  will  be  pleasing  to  his  heavenly  Father  and  his  Judge. 
As  a  creature  of  God,  he  is  bound  to  do  whatever  he  does  to 
the  glory  of  God.  Can  there  be  any  question,  then,  whether 
those  amusements  are  sinful  which  are  inconsistent  with  reli- 
gion, or  which  inevitably  withdraw  the  mind  from  those  things 
that  concern  the  interests  of  the  soul,  and  drive  away  the 
Spirit  of  God  ? 


GLORIFYING  GOD  IN  ALL  THINGS. 

If  any  man  speak,  let  him  speak  as  the  oracles  of  God ;  if  any  man  min- 
ister, let  him  do  it  as  of  the  ability  which  God  giveth;  that  God  in  all  things 
may  be  glorified  through  Jesus  Christ ;  to  whom  be  praise  and  dominion  for 
ever  and  ever.  Amen.  —  1  Peter  4:11. 

TWO  religious  persons  lived  in  one  place,  who  had  been  in- 
timately acquainted  in  early  life.  Providence  favored  one 
of  them  with  a  tide  of  prosperity.  The  other,  fearing  for  his 
friend  lest  his  heart  should  be  overcharged  with  the  cares  of 
this  life  and  the  deceitfulness  of  riches,  one  day  asked  him 
whether  he  did  not  find  prosperity  a  snare  to  him.  He  paused, 
and  answered,  "  I  am  not  conscious  that  I  do,  for  I  enjoy  God 
in  all  things."  Some  years  after,  his  affairs  took  another  turn. 
He  lost,  if  not  the  whole,  yet  the  far  greater  part  of  what  he 
had  once  gained,  and  was  greatly  reduced.  His  old  friend, 
being  in  his  company,  renewed  his  question,  whether  he  did 
not  find  what  had  lately  befallen  him  to  be  too  much  for  him. 
Again  he  paused,  and  answeTed,  "  I  am  not  conscious  that  I 
do,  for  now  I  enjoy  all  things  in  God." 


NEW  TESTAAfENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  837 

"  Although  the  fig-tree  shall  not  blossom,  neither  shall  fruit 
be  in  the  vines ;  the  labor  of  the  olive  shall  fail,  and  the  fields 
shall  yield  no  meat ;  the  flock  shall  be  cut  ofjf  from  the  fold, 
and  there  shall  be  no  herd  in  the  stalls ;  yet  I  will  rejoice 
in  the  Lord,  I  will  joy  in  the  God  of  my  salvation."  (Hab. 
3:17  18.) 


A  FORETASTE  OF  COMING  MISERY. 

For  the  time  is  come  that  judgment  must  begin  at  the  house  of  God  ;  and 
if  it  first  begin  at  us,  what  shall  the  end  be  of  them  that  obey  not  the  gospel 
of  God?  —  1  Peter  4  :  17. 


Rev.  Mr.  Sutherland  relates  an  incident  which  illus- 
_L  trates  in  an  awfully  striking  manner  the  fearful  peril  of 
contemning  the  Bible.  It  is  as  follows  :  — 

"  In  the  village  of  Rutherglen,  two  miles  from  the  city  of 
Glasgow,  an  Infidel  Club  was  formed.  At  one  of  its  meetings 
it  was  sagely  concluded  to  express  an  abhorrence  of  the  Bible, 
by  burning  a  copy  of  it.  The  volume  was  brought,  a  brisk 
fire  was  burning  on  the  hearth.  A  question  arose  who  should 
throw  it  into  the  flames.  It  was  determined  by  lot.  The 
designated  man  did  the  business,  but  was  immediately  seized 
with  an  indescribable4  horror,  which  made  him  tremble.  He 
became  infuriated,  gave  up  infidelity,  yes,  the  Bible  was  true, 
but  he  hated  both  it  and  its  Author.  He  raved  like  a  madman, 
so  that  it  was  somewhat  hazardous  to  approach  him.  In  his 
fury  he  sworo  he  would  never  taste  another  morsel  of  food. 
Not  he  ;  he  would  never  be  indebted  to  the  Almighty  for  any- 
thing. A  day  or  two  afterwards,  while  passing  through  the 
village  of  Rutherglen,  a  stranger  accosted  me,  who  related 
the  affecting  case,  and  asked  me  to  go  and  see  the  miserable 
man.  I  did  so  ;  and  what  a  sight  !  I  realized  all  my  ideas  of 
the  personification  of  a  devil  incarnate.  The  fiendish  glances 
he  cast  at  his  neighbor  and  myself  shocked  me,  whilst  he 
paced  his  room  with  hurried  steps,.  I  broke  silence  by  saying 
that  God  is  merciful.  He  turned  on  me,  and  with  flaming  rage 
exclaimed,  '  I  want  no  mercy.  I  demand  justice,  and  the 
sooner  the  Almighty  will  send  me  to  hell,  the  better  I  shall 
feel  ;  for  then  I  hope  to  be  able  to  spit  my  venom  in  his  face.' 


838  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

And  much  did  be  utter  in  the  same  horrid  strain.  ;  Will  you 
suffer  me  to  pray  with  you?'  said  I.  'No;  I  ask  no  favor 
of  God  or  man.  v  I  accept  no  favor :  no,  not  so  much  as  a  crumb 
of  bread.'  '  But  you  breathe  at  the  expense  of  the  Al- 
mighty.' '  I  can  not  help  that/  was  the  angry  answer ;  l  but 
be  you  gone,  and  cease  to  torment  me  before  the  time.'  There 
I  had  ocular  demonstration  that  it  is  the  purpose  of  the  Judge 
of  all  to  punish  the  workers  of  iniquity.  And  if  the  effect  of 
a  slight  frown  was  so  terrible,  I  ask,  with  solemnity,  *  what 
shall  the  end  of  them  be  who  obey  not  the  gospel  of  God?' ' 


CAPTAIN  WATERMAN  AT  THE  SIEGE  OP  LUCKNO¥. 

And  if  the  righteous  scarcely  be  saved,  where  shall  the  ungodly  and  the 
sinner  appear?  —  1  Peter  4  :  18. 

A  FTER  Sir  Colin  Campbell's  silent  retreat  from  Lucknow, 
JjL  in  the  last  Indian  war,  there  was  one  man  left  behind. 
"  Captain  Waterman,"  says  Mr.  Rees,  in  his  personal  narra- 
tive of  the  siege,  "  having  gone  to  his  bed  in  a  retired  corner 
of  the  brigade  mess-house,  overslept  himself.  He  had  been 
forgotten.  At  two  o'clock  in  the  morning  he  got  up,  and  found, 
to  his  horror,  that  we  had  already  lefi.  He  hoped  against 
hope,  and  visited  every  outpost.  All  was  deserted  and  silent. 
To  be  the  only  man  in  an  open  intrenchment,  and  fifty  thousand 
furious  barbarians  outside  1  It  was  horrible  to  contemplate. 
His  situation  frightened  him.  He  took  to  his  heels,  and  he 
ran  till  he  could  scarcely  breathe.  Still  the  same  silence,  the 
same  stillness,  interrupted  only  by  the  occasional  report  of  the 
enemy's  gun  or  musketry.  At  last  he  came  up  with  the  re- 
tiring rear-guard,  mad  with  excitement  and  breathless  with 
fatigue." 

Were  not  this  officer's  anxiety,  excitement,  horror,  and  flight 
all  reasonable,  seeing  that  he  knew  his  circumstances  ?  And 
if  you  realized  your  dreadful  circumstances  as  a  lost  sinner, 
in  danger  every  moment  of  hell  fire,  would  not  similar  feelings 
and  conduct  be  eminently  rational  in  your  case  ?  Suppose  a 
person  had  come  up  to  the  imperiled  officer  in  Lucknow  just 
as  he  became  conscious  of  his  fearful  position,  and  had  en- 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  839 

deavored  to  tranquilize  him  by  counseling  him  not  to  give 
way  to  his  feelings,  not  to  become  excited,  but  to  regard  his 
circumstances  and  prospects  with  philosophic  calmness,  think 
the  matter  out  for  himself,  viewing  it  intellectually  as  a  gen- 
tleman of  education  and  intelligence  ;  would  it  not  have  been 
an  insult  and  a  mockery  at  that  dread  hour,  when  he  had  such 
a  vivid  consciousness  of  his  danger,  and  felt  convinced  that  his 
safety  depended  solely  on  his  immediate  flight  ?  "  Captain, 
view  your  circumstances  philosophically  and  intellectually  1  " 
Cruel  mockery  !  Flee  !  Flee  !  Escape  for  thy  life  1 


CAST  ALL  UPON  CHRIST. 

Casting  all  your  care  upon  him ;  for  he  careth  for  you.  —  1  Peter  5  :  7. 

A  MAN  carrying  a  burden  was  overtaken  by  a  rich  man  as 
he  drove  along,  and  invited  to  get  up  behind  him  in  the 
carriage,  which  he  thankfully  did.  After  a  while  the  rich  man 
looked  around  and  saw  the  burden  still  strapped  to  the  trav- 
eler's back.  He  therefore  asked  him  why  he  did  not  lay 
down  his  pack  on  the  seat  behind  him.  But  he  answered  that 
he  could  not  think  of  doing  that ;  it  was  quite  enough  that  he 
himself  should  be  allowed  to  sit  behind  in  the  'carriage, 
without  putting  his  burden  on  the  seat  also.  Thus  often  do 
believers  fear  to  lay  too  much  upon  the  Lord,  who  has  bidden 
us  "  cast  all  our  care  upon  him,"  and  assures  us  that  "  he 
careth  for  us."  He  who  carries  us  will  carry  our  burden  also. 


THE  DEVIL  A  WILY  FOE. 

Be  sober,  be  vigilant ;  because  your  adversary  the  devil,  as  a  roaring  lion, 
walketh  about,  seeking  whom  he  may  devour.  —  1  Peter  5:8. 

DOES  not  Satan  attack  us  in  our  weakest  point  ?     How  he 
suits  his  mode  of  temptation  to  the  disposition  of  the  vic- 
tim !     Are  you  vain  ?     In  how  dazzling  a  luster  will  he  place 
the  pleasures  of  this  poor  world  before  you  !     Are  you  ambi- 
tious ?     In  what  splendid  honor  will  he  make  the  great  things 


840  NEW   TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

of  man  appear !  Are  you  discontented  ?  In  what  exalted 
light  will  he  place  the  advantages  of  others  before  your  eyes  ! 
Are  you  jealous  ?  In  what  strong  contrasts  will  he  place  the 
kindness  of  the  person  you  love  toward  another  than  you  ! 
Are  you  of  an  ill  temper  ?  How  he  will  make  you  think  every- 
body hates  you,  neglects  you,  despises  you,  or  intends  to  slight 
you  !  Are  you  indolent  ?  How  wearisome  will  he  make  the 
slightest  effort  for  another's  good  seem  in  your  eyes  !  Are 
you  too  active  ?  How  useless  will  he  make  the  quiet  hour  of 
prayer,  and  thought,  and  reading  seem  to  you  !  He  tempts 
us  to  what  our  nature  is  most  inclined ;  he  suits  his  allure- 
ments to  our  inclination.  If  we  are  of  a  quiet  temper,  he  will 
not  tempt  us  there ;  if  we  are  only  ambitious,  he  will  not  take 
care  to  make  us  jealous  ;  if  we  are  too  active,  he  will  not  tempt 
us  to  be  idle.  He  knows  us  well ;  he  drives  our  inclination  to 
its  far  extreme. 


COUPLE  HEAVEN  WITH  IT. 

But  the  God  of  all  grace,  who  hath  called  us  Into  his  eternal  glory  by  Christ 
Jesus,  after  that  ye  have  suffered  a  while,  make  you  perfect,  stablish,  strength- 
en, settle  you.  —  1  Peter  5  :  10. 

AN  aged  Christian  had  paused  to  rest  himself,  as  he  trudged 
along  under  a  heavy  load  on  a  warm  summer  day.  An 
acquaintance  had  just  accosted  him,  when  a  splendid  carriage 
rolled  past,  in  which  a  haughty  man  rode,  whose  whole  ap- 
pearance bespoke  a  life  of  luxurious  ease. 

"  What  do  you  think  of  the  Providence  of  which  you 
sometimes  speak  ? "  said  the  acquaintance.  "  You  know 
that  that  is  a  wicked  man,  yet  he  spreads  himself  like  a 
green  bay  tree.  His  eyes '  stand  out  with  fatness  ;  he  is 
not  plagued  as  other  men ;  while  you,  believing  that  all  the 
silver  and  the  gold  is  the  Lord's,  serving  him,  and  trust- 
ing in  his  providence,  are  toiling  and  sweating  in  your  old 
age,  getting  little  more  than  bread  and  water.  How  can  you 
reconcile  this  with  a  just  Providence  ?  " 

The  aged  saint  looked  at  his  questioner  with  amazement, 
and  with  the  greatest  earnestness  replied,  — 


NEW   TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  841 

"  Couple  heaven  with  it !  couple  heaven  with  it,  and  then?" 
Yes,  that  addition  sweetens  many  a  bitter  cup,  and  enriches 
many  a  poor  lot.  "  For  our  light  affliction,  which  is  but  for 
a  moment,  worketh  for  us  a  far  more  exceeding  and  eternal 
weight  of  glory  •  while  we  look  not  at  the  things  which  are 
seen,  but  at  the  things  which  are  not  seen ;  for  the  things 
which  are  seen  are  temporal,  but  the  things  which  are  not 
seen  are  eternal." 


PRESENT  THE  PROMISES. 

Whereby  are  given  unto  us  exceeding  great  and  precious  promises,  that  by 
tliese  ye  might  be  partakers  of  the  divine  nature.  —  2  Peter  1:4. 

AN  aged  Indian,  half  naked  and  famished,  wandered  into 
one  of  our  western  settlements,  begging  for  food  to  keep 
him  from  starving.  While  eagerly  devouring  the  bread  be- 
stowed by  the  hand  of  charity,  a  bright- colored  ribbon,  from 
which  was  suspended  a  small,  dirty  pouch,  was  seen  around 
his  neck.  On  being  questioned,  he  said  it  was  a  charm  given 
him  in  his  younger  days  ;  and  opening  it,  displayed  a  faded, 
greasy  paper,  which  he  handed  to  the  interrogator  for  inspec- 
tion. It  proved  to  be  a  regular  discharge  from  the  Federal 
army,  entitling  him  to  a  pension  for  life,  and  signed  by  Gen- 
eral Washington  himself!  Now,  here  was  a  name  which  would 
be  honored  almost  anywhere,  and  which,  if  presented  in  the 
right  place,  would  have  insured  him  support  and  plenty  for 
the  remainder  of  his  days  j  and  yet  he  wandered  about  hungry, 
helpless,  and  forlorn,  begging  of  the  charitable  bread  to  keep 
him  from  famishing.  What  a  picture  of  men  with  all  the 
promises  of  Jesus  in  their  hands  —  and  of  Christians,  too,  with 
the  charter  of  their  inheritance  in  full  possession  —  yet  starv- 
ing in  the  wilderness  ! 

The  promises  of  God  unpresented  in  prayer  are  profitless 
to  the  soul ;  but  when  taken  by  the  hand  of  faith,  and  pre- 
sented back  to  God,  they  become  equal  to  every  want  of  the 
soul.  Christian,  be  rich  ;  for  you  have  "  exceeding  great  and 
precious  promises." 
106 


842  NEW   TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

DR.  CHALMERS  ON  BELIEF. 

Wherefore  the  rather,  brethren,  give  diligence  to  make  your  calling  and 
election  sure ;  for  if  ye  do  these  things,  ye  shall  never  fall.  —  2  Peter  1 :  10. 

THE  following  letter  on  "Man's  Responsibility  for  his  Belief" 
is  from  the  correspondence  of  Dr.  Chalmers,  recently  pub- 
lished in  London :  — 

"  MY  DEAR  MADAM  :  Lord  Byron's  assertion,  that  '  man  is 
not  responsible  for  his  belief  —  an  assertion  repeated  by  Mr. 
Brougham  and  several  others — seems  to  have  proceeded  from 
the  imagination  that  belief  is  in  no  case  voluntary.  Now,  it  is 
very  true  that  we  are  only  responsible  for  what  is  voluntary  ; 
and  it  is  also  true  that  we  can  not  believe  without  evidence. 
But  then  it  is  a  very  possible  thing  that  a  doctrine  may  pos- 
sess the  most  abundant  evidence,  and  yet  the  evidence  not  be 
attended  to.  Grant  that  belief  is  not  a  voluntary  act  —  it  is 
quite  enough  for  the  refutation  of  Mr.  Brougham's  principle, 
if  attention  be  a  voluntary  act.  One  attends  to  a  subject  be- 
cause he  so  chooses  ;  or  he  does  not  attend  because  he  so 
chooses.  It  is  the  fact  of  the  attention  given  or  withheld 
which  forms  the  thing  that  is  to  be  morally  reckoned  with. 
And  if  the  attention  has  been  withheld  when  it  ought  to  have 
been  given,  for  this  we  are  the  subjects  of  rightful  condemna- 
tion. 

"  It  is  enough  to  make  unbelief  a  thing  of  choice,  and  a 
thing  of  affection,  that  we  have  power  over  the  direction  of 
our  noticing  and  investigating  faculties.  You  are  not  to 
blame  if  you  have  not  found  some  valuable  article  that  you 
have  lost  in  an  apartment  of  the  thickest  darkness  ;  but  you 
are  to  blame  if  you  might  have  opened  the  shutters,  or  lighted 
a  candle  so  as  to  have  admitted  enough  of  light  for  the  dis- 
covery. Neither  are  you  to  blame  if  you  do  not  find  the 
hidden  treasure  of  the  gospel,  provided  it  is  placed  beyond 
the  reach  of  all  your  strenuousness,  and  -of  every  expedient 
that  can  be  used  for  its  discovery  ;  but  you  are  to  blame  if 
you  have  not  gone  in  quest  of  it,  or  if  you  have  willfully  and 
determinedly  shut  your  eyes  against  it,  or  if  you  have  not 
stirred  up  those  powers  of  your  mind  over  which  the  mind 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  843 

has  a  voluntary  control,  to  the  inquiring  after  it.  The  Dis- 
cerner  of  the  heart  will  see  where  the  lurking  deficiency  lies, 
and  make  it  manifest  to  all  who  remain  in  the  darkness,  that 
they  loved  the  darkness  —  to  all  who  have  not  come  to  Christ, 
that  they  were  not  willing  to  come. 

"  Christianity  lays  no  unreasonable  service  on  men,  and 
far  less  that  service  which  were  most  unreasonable  of  all,  the 
homage  of  your  belief,  without  affirming  such  evidence  as,  if 
attended  to,  will  constrain  the  belief.  Our  religion  has  its 
proofs,  and  it  also  has  its  probabilities.  Its  proofs  can  only 
be  gotten  at  by  patient  and  laborious  inquiry,  and  when 
gotten,  they  carry  the  belief  along  with  them.  Its  probabili- 
ties, again,  may  —  some  of  them  —  be  seen  at  first  sight,  and, 
though  not  enough  to  compel  our  belief,  yet  they  form  a  suf- 
ficient claim  upon  our  attention.  They  form  that  sort  of  pre- 
cognition  which  entitles  Christianity  at  least  to  a  fair  and  full 
trial ;  and  if  not  worthy  all  at  once  of  a  place  in  our  creed,  it 
is  worthy  of  a  further  hearing.  Now,  all  I  want  is,  that  that 
hearing  shall  be  given  —  that  the  evidences  of  Christiarn'ty 
shall  be  studied  —  that  the  Bible  shall  be  read  with  patience, 
and  prayer,  and  moral  earnestness  ;  and,  on  the  principle  that 
he  who  seeketh  findeth,  I  have  no  apprehension  of  such  a 
course  not  terminating  in  a  full  and  steadfast  conviction  that 
the  Bible  is  an  authentic  message  from  heaven  to  earth,  and 
contains  in  it  the  record  of  God's  will  for  man's  salvation. 
"  I  am,  my  dear  madam,  yours  most  truly, 

"  THOMAS  CHALMERS." 


AFTER-DEATH  INFLUENCE. 

Moreover  I  will  endeavor  that  ye  may  be  able  after  my  decease  to  have 
these  things  always  in  remembrance.  —  2  Peter  1 :  15. 

EARLY  in  the  last  century  lived  a  poor  Christian  widow  in 
the  south  of  England.  Her  only  son  she  sought  to  train 
for  Christ,  but  she  died  as  he  entered  on  his  eighth  year.  He 
became  a  profligate,  but  eighteen  years  later  was  awakened 
by  the  memory  of  her  counsels,  and  became  a  devoted  pastor. 
He  was  instrumental  in  the  conversion  of  Claudius  Buchanan 


844  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

—  one  of  the  most  prominent  founders  of  English  missions  in 
the  Indies.  A  tract  of  Mr.  Buchanan  first  drew  the  attention 
of  Judson  to  the  heathen.  The  widow's  son  was  the  means 
of  the  conversion  of  Thomas  Scott,  likewise,  the  author  of 
Biblical  Commentaries,  unequaled  in  the  range  of  their  circu- 
lation and  influence.  William  Wilberforce,  also,  was  given  to 
his  prayers ;  and  a  treatise  by  Mr.  Wilberforce  won  to  Christ 
Legh  Richmond,  whose  tract,  The  Dairyman's  Daughter,  has 
resulted  in  the  conversion  of  thousands.  Thus  the  obscure 
and  ignorant  mother  of  John  Newton  sent  her  posthumous  in- 
fluence the  world  over.  Too  true  are  the  great  dramatist's 
words,  — 

"  The  evil  that  men  do  lives  after  them; 
The  good  is  oft  interred  with  their  bones." 

But  many  a  cheering  exception  holds  open  to  every  believer 
the  possibility  of  centuries  jrf  Christian  service  on  earth. 


THE  BIBLE. 

For  we  have  not  followed  cunningly-devised  fables,  when  we  made  known 
unto  you  the  power  and  coming  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  but  were  eye- 
witnesses of  his  majesty.  —  2  Peter  1  :  16. 


are  four  grand  arguments  for  the  truth  of  the 
J_  Bible.  The  first  is  the  miracles  on  record  ;  the  second, 
the  prophecies  ;  the  third,  the  goodness  of  the  doctrine  ; 
the  fourth,  the  moral  character  of  the  penmen.  The  mir- 
acles flow  from  divine  power  ;  the  prophecies,  from  divino 
understanding  ;  the  excellence  of  the  doctrine,  from  divine 
goodness  ;  the  moral  character  of  the  penmen,  from  divine 
purity.  Thus  Christianity  is  built  upon  these  four  immovable 
pillars,  the  power,  the  understanding,  the  goodness,  the  purity 
of  God.  The  Bible  must  be  one  of  these  things  —  either  an 
invention  of  good  men,  or  good  angels  ;  of  bad  men,  or  bad 
angels  ;  or  a  revelation  from  God.  But  it  could  not  be  the 
invention  of  good  men,  or  angels,  for  they  neither  would  nor 
could  make  a  book  telling  lies,  at  the  same  time  saying,  "  Thus 
saith  the  Lord,"  when  they  knew  it  all  to  be  their  own  inven- 
tion. It  could  not  be  the  invention  of  wicked  men,  or  devils, 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.        '       845 

for  they  could  not  make  a  book  which  commands  all  duty, 
which  forbids  all  sin,  and  which  condemns  their  souls  to  all 
eternity.  The  conclusion  is  irresistible — the  Bible  must  be 
given  by  divine  inspiration.  —  Bishop  Simpson. 


A  CONSTANT  MIRACLE. 

We  have  also  a  more  sure  word  of  prophecy ;  whereunto  ye  do  well  that 
ye  take  heed,  as  unto  a  light  that  shineth  in  a  dark  place,  until  the  day  dawn, 
and  the  day-star  arise  in  your  hearts.  —  2  Peter  1 :  19. 

THE  Bible  itself  is  a  standing  and  astounding  miracle.  Writ- 
ten fragment  by  fragment  throughout  the  course  of  fifteen 
centuries,  under  different  states  of  society,  and  in  different 
languages,  by  persons  of  the  most  opposite  tempers,  talent, 
and  conditions,  learned  and  unlearned,  prince  and  peasant, 
bond  and  free, — cast  into  every  form  of  instructive  composition 
and  good  writing,  history,  prophecy,  poetry,  allegory,  em- 
blematic representation,  judicious  interpretation,  literal  state- 
ment, precept,  example,  proverbs,  disquisition,  epistle,  sermon, 
•prayer,  in  short,  all  rational  shapes  of  human  discourse,  and 
treating,  moreover,  on  subjects  not  obvious,  but  most  difficult, 
—  its  authors  are  not  found,  like  other  writers,  contradicting 
one  another  upon  the  most  ordinary  matters  of  fact  and  opin- 
ion, but  are  at  harmony  upon  the  whole  of  their  sublime  and 
momentous  scheme. 

Nothing  less  than  a  divine  Inspirer  could  have  produced 
the  book,  and  nothing  less  than  the  divine  power  could  have 
preserved  it  till  now. 


BIBLE  PROMISES  OP  GENERAL  APPLICATION. 

Knowing  this  first,  that  no  prophecy  of  the  Scripture  is  of  any  private 
interpretation.  —  2  Peter  1 :  20. 

~VTO  promise  is  of  private  interpretation.  Whatever  God  has 
li  said  to  any  one  saint,  he  has  said  to  all.  When  he  opens 
a  well  for  one,  it  is  that  all  may  drink.  When  he  opens  a 
granary  door  to  give  out  food,  there  may  be  some  one  starving 


846  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

man  who  is  the  occasion  of  its  being  opened ;  but  all  hungry 
saints  may  come  and  feed  too.  Whether  he  gave  the  word  to 
Abraham  or  to  Moses,  matters  not,  0  believer  j  he  has  given 
it  to  thee  as  one  of  the  covenanted  seed.  There  is  not  a  high 
blessing  too  lofty  for  thee,  nor  a  wide  mercy  too  extensive  for 
thee.  Lift  up  now  thine  eyes  to  the  north  and  to  the  south, 
to  the  east  and  to  the  west,  for  all  this  is  thine.  Climb  to 
Pisgah's  top,  and  view  the  utmost  limit  of  the  divine  promise, 
for  the  land  is  all  thine  own.  There  is  not  a  brook  of  living 
water  of  which  thou  mayest  not  drink.  If  the  land  floweth 
with  milk  and  honey,  eat  the  honey  and  drink  the  milk,  for 
both  are  thine.  Be  thou  bold  to  believe,  for  he  hath  said,  "  I 
will  never  leave  thee,  nor  forsake  thee."  In  this  promise  God 
gives  to  his  people  everything. 


INTERESTING  VARIETY  OF  THE  BIBLE. 

For  the  prophecy  came  not  in  old  time  by  the  will  of  man,  but  holy  men 
of  God  spake  as  they  were  moved  by  the  Holy  Ghost.  —  2  Peter  1 :  21. 

WHEN  the  celebrated  Dr.  Samuel  Johnson  was  asked  why 
so  many  literary  men  were  infidels,  his  reply  was,  "  Be- 
cause they  are  ignorant  of  the  Bible."  If  the  question  be 
asked  why  the  lovers  of  general  reading  so  often  fail  to  ac- 
quaint themselves  with  the  sacred  volume,  one  reason  that  may 
be  assigned,  doubtless,  is,  they  are  not  aware  of  its  interesting 
variety.  This  feature  of  the  Bible  is  well  illustrated  by  Mrs. 
Ellis,  in  the  following  eloquent  extract  from  her  recent  work, 
entitled  the  Poetry  of  Life  :  — 

"  With  our  established  ideas  of  beauty,  grace,  pathos,  and 
sublimity,  either  concentrated  in  the  minutest  point,  or  ex- 
tended to  the  widest  range,  we  can  derive  from  the  Scriptures 
a  fund  of  gratification  not  to  be  found  in  any  other  memorial 
of  past  or  present  time.  From  the  worm  that  grovels  in  the 
dust  beneath  our  feet  to  the  track  of  the  leviathan  in  the  foam- 
ing deep —  from  the  moth  that  corrupts  the  secret  treasure 
to  the  eagle  that  soars  above  his  eyrie  in  the  clouds  —  from 
the  wild  ass  in  the  desert  to  the  lamb  within  the  shepherd's 
fold — from  the  consuming  locust  to  the  cattle  upon  a  thousand 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  847 

hills  —  from  the  rose  of  Sharon  to  the  cedar  of  Lebanon  — 
from  the  crystal  stream,  gushing  forth  out  of  the  flinty  rock, 
to  the  wide  waters  of  the  deluge  —  from  the  lonely  path  of  the 
wanderer  to  the  gathering  of  a  mighty  multitude  —  from  the 
tear  that  falls  in  secret  to  the  din  of  battle  and  the  shout  of  a 
triumphant  host  —  from  the  solitary  in  the  wilderness  to  the 
satrap  on  the  throne  —  from  the  mourner  clad  in  sackcloth 
to  the  prince  in  purple  robes  —  from  the  gna wings  of  the  worm 
that  dieth  not  to  the  seraphic  visions  of  the  blest  —  from  the 
still  voice  to  the  thunders  of  omnipotence  —  from  the  depths 
of  hell  to  the  regions  of  e'ternal  glory,  —  there  is  no  degree 
of  beauty  or  deformity,  no  tendency  to  good  or  evil,  no  shade 
of  darkness  or  gleam  of  light,  which  does  not  come  within  the 
cognizance  of  the  Holy  Scriptures ;  and  therefore  there  is  no 
expression  or  conception  of  the  mind  that  may  not  find  a  cor- 
responding picture  ;  no  thirst  for  excellence  that  may  not  meet 
with  its  full  supply  ;  and  no  condition  of  humanity  necessarily 
excluded  from  the  unlimited  scope  of  adaptation  and  of  sym- 
pathy comprehended  in  the  language  and  the  spirit  of  the 
Bible." 


CONTRIBUTIONS  TO  ERROR. 

And  many  shall  follow  their  pernicious  ways ;  by  reason  of  whom  the  way 
of  truth  shall  be  evil  spoken  of.  —  2  Peter  2  :  2. 

THE  Rev.  Daniel  Curry,  D.  D.,  editor  of  the  Christian  Advo- 
cate, New  York,  in  noticing  the  centenary  meeting  of 
Universalists  at  Gloucester,  Mass.,  in  1870,  after  referring  to 
the  nearly  nine  hundred  and  fifty  thousand  dollars  pledged  to 
that  denomination  toward  paying  off  old  debts,  endowing 
schools  and  colleges,  and  creating  a  Murray  fund,  adds  the 
following  very  pertinent  remarks,  showing  the  inconsistency 
of  the  Universalists  in  maintaining  a  form  of  religious  organi- 
zation, but  denying  the  plain  teaching  of  the  Holy  Scriptures. 
He  says,  — 

"  All  this  given  to  prove  the  word  of  God  to  be  false,  and 
the  threatenings  of  the  Bible  the  vagaries  of  fanatics,  and  the 
fearfully  solemn  warnings  of  Jesus  to  be  a  mere  play  upon 


848  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

word^  !  No  Universalist  is  logical,  or  true  to  the  results  and 
deductions  of  reason,  or  he  would  hasten  without  delay  to  be- 
come an  atheist;  for  if  his  doctrine  be  true,  the  Bible  can  not 
be  true  ;  and  if  the  Bible  be  not  true,  we  have  no  revelation  of 
the  will  of  God,  and  it  is  unthinkable  that  there  should  be  a 
God,  and  he  make  no  revelation  of  his  will ;  but  none  having 
been  made,  the  inference  is,  there  is  no  God  but  Fate." 


PRESUMPTION  IS  NOT  FAITH. 

But  chiefly  them  that  walk  after  the  flesh  in  the  lust  of  uncleanness,  and 
despise  government.  Presumptuous  are  they,  self-willed ;  they  are  not  afraid 
to  speak  evil  of  dignities.  —  2  Peter  2  :  10. 

IT  is  a  common  thing  to  hear  an  unbeliever  boast  of  the  vast- 
ness  of  his  faith,  and  while  without  that  true  faith  which 
saves  his  own  soul,  he  boasts  of  a  faith  in  the  salvation  of  all 
mankind,  and  claims  a  superior  and  more  extended  faith  than 
the  orthodox  Christian. 

But  that  proud  boaster  forgets  a  few  things,  if  he  ever  knew 
them.  A  true  faith  is  operative  in  the  present.  "  Thy  faith 
hath  saved  thee,"  said  Jesus.  "  We  that  believe  do  enter 
into  rest,"  said  the  apostle.  "  He  that  believeth  on  the  Son 
hath  everlasting  life."  "  Faith  without  works  is  dead,  being 
alone.'7 

If  a  man  has  not  a  gospel  faith  that  now  saves  his  own  soul, 
now  raises  up  a  new  life  in  him,  of  no  avail  is  his  pretended 
faith  in  the  salvation  of  all  mankind.  For  that  sentiment  is 
not  faith,  but  presumption.  Whoever  pretends  to  believe 
more  than  God  has  said  in  his  word,  or  anything  differently 
from  what  God  has  said,  it  is  not  in  him  a  matter  of  faith,  but 
presumption. 

And  God  has  not  said  that  all  mankind  shall  be  saved  in 
heaven.  He  has  said,  "  These  shall  go  away  into  everlasting 
punishment,"  and  he  has  said,  "  He  that  believeth  not  shall  be 
damned." 

In  the  face  of  these  and  many  similar  passages  of  Holy  Scrip- 
ture, for  any  person  to  pretend  to  believe  in  universal  salva- 
tion is  not  a  matter  of  faith,  but  a  wicked  and  daring  pre- 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  849 

sumption,  for  it  disputes  the  divine  veracity.  It  is  as  wicked 
to  put  confidence  in  any  sentiment  beyond  what  God  has  said, 
as  to  refuse  to  accept  what  he  has  said. 

A  true  faith  does  not  frame  a  theory  for  the  divine  govern- 
ment, but  accepts  the  divine  plan  as  God  has  been  pleased  to 
reveal  it.  We  can  not  believe  more  than  God  has  said  without 
denying  what  he  has  already  said  touching  that  subject. 


IGNORANCE  THE  FATHER  OF  INFIDELITY. 

But  these,  as  natural  brute  beasts  made  to  be  taken  and  destroyed,  speak 
evil  of  the  things  that  they  understand  not,  and  shall  utterly  perish  in  their 
own  corruption.  —  2  Peter  2:12. 

A  SKEPTIC  connected  in  business  with  a  Christian  father 
made  no  secret  of  his  unbelief.  On  one  occasion  a  child, 
then  only  nine  years  old,  was  present  when  her  father  was 
endeavoring,  but  in  vain,  to  convince  this  gentleman  of  his 
fatal  error.  When  the  painful  conversation  had  ended,  and 
her  father  had  left  the  room,  the  child  asked  this  gentleman  to 
take  a  walk  with  her  in  the  garden  ;  and  when  no  one  could 
overhear  them,  she  inquired  whether  she  might  ask  him  a 
question. 

"  Certainly,"  he  replied  ;  "  any  question  you  please." 

"  Then,"  said  she,  "  have  you  ever  read  the  New  Testament 
through  with  a  desire  to  understand  it?" 

"  No,"  he  answered,  "  I  never  have." 

"  I  thought  so,"  said  she,  "  for  I  am  sure  you  would  not  have 
spoken  of  it  to  my  father  as  you  did  just  now  if  you  had;  " 
and  in  an  earnest  manner  she  added,  "  0,  do  read  it,  and  do 
wish  to  understand  it." 

That  child's  entreaties  and  tears  led  the  infidel  to  the  Bible, 
and  the  Bible  led  him  to  his  Saviour. 
107 


850  NEW   TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 


POPISH  PRACTICES  IN  A  PROTESTANT  CHURCH. 

.Which  have  forsaken  the  right  way,  and  are  gone  astray,  following  the 
way  of  Balaam,  the  son  of  Bosor,  who  loved  the  wages  of  unrighteousness.  — 
2  Peter  2  :  15. 

/CORRUPTION  precedes  revolution  and  reform.  The  Epis- 
U  copalian  states  that  if  any  of  its  readers  are  desirous  of 
ocular  demonstrations  of  the  progress  of  Romanism  among 
the  congregations  of  our  high  church  parishes,  a  visit  to  Trin- 
ity Church  on  a  Sunday  afternoon  will  be  very  apt  to  dispel 
the  doubts  of  the  most  skeptical.  "  It  is  the  custom  now,  with 
many  there,  to  bow  to  the  chancel  when  entering  the  church, 
and  to  cross  themselves  when  they  rise  from  their  knees  in 
their  pews,  just  as  the  Papists  do.  The  latter  believe  in  the 
real  presence  at  and  on  the  altar,  and  hence  their  genuflec- 
tions and  their  crossings  have  at  least  some  intelligible  mean- 
ing ;  but  in  a  Protestant  Episcopal  church  what  is  it  but  the 
most  pitiful  mummery  ?  These  are  the  gradual  steps  which  the 
author  of  the  Book  of  Hours,  the  rector  of  Trinity,  would  have 
his  followers  take  in  leading  them  first  to  '  advanced  Ritual- 
ism/ and  then  to  no  stopping-place  on  this  side  of  Rome.'; 


A  SCOFFER  ANSWERED. 

Knowing  this  first,  that  there  shall  come  in  the  last  days  scoffers,  walking 
after  their  own  lusts.  —  2  Peter  3  :  3. 

A  WILD,  frolicsome  young  man  formed  one  of  a  set  who 
sometimes  derived  their  sport  from  ridiculing  the  most 
awful  themes  in  the  word  of  God.  One  day  he  came  out  of 
a  public  house  where  he  had  become  excited  by  profane  rev- 
elry with  his  companions,  mounted  his  horse,  and  struck  into 
a  gallop.  A  venerable-  man,  long  distinguished  for  the  earnest 
and  solemn  tone  of  his  piety,  was  passing  along  the  road. 
When  the  youth  overtook  him,  he  drew  up  the  reins,  and  said, 
"  Deacon,  how  far  is  it  to  hell?"  The  old  Christian  calmly 
replied,  "Young  man,  at  the  rate  you  are  going,  you  will  soon 
be  there."  The  reckless  sinner  struck  the  flanks  of  his  horse 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  851 

with  his  spurs,  and  dashed  off  on  a  wide  canter.  After  pass- 
ing a  few  rods,  his  horse  stumbled  ;  he  fell  over  his  head  to 
the  ground,  but  rose  not  again.  The  deacon  reached  him  only 
in  time  to  hear  one  faint  groan,  and  all  was  over. 

How  short  the  triumphing  of  the  wicked  !  What  a  contrast 
between  the  last  moment  on  earth  and  the  first  in  eternity  ! 
"  He  stretcheth  out  his  hand  against  God,  and  strengtheneth 
himself  against  the  Almighty.  He  runneth  upon  him,  even 
on  his  neck,  upon  the  thick  bosses  of  his  bucklers." 


DAY  OF  JUDGMENT  AND  PERDITION  OF  UNGODLY 

MEN. 

But  the  heavens  and  the  earth,  which  are  now,  by  the  same  word  are  kept 
in  store,  reserved  unto  fire  against  the  day  of  judgment  and  perdition  of 
ungodly  men.  —  2  Peter  3  :  7. 

THE  day  of  judgment !  What  an  awful  word  is  this  !  What 
a  truly  terrific  time,  when  the  heavens  shall  be  shriveled 
as  a  scroll,  and  the  elements  melt  with  fervent  heat ;  when 
the  earth  and  its  appendages  shall  be  burned  up,  and  the  fury 
of  that  conflagration  be  such  that  "  there  shall  be  no  more  sea ;  " 
a  time  when  the  noble  and  ignoble  dead,  the  small  and  the  great, 
shall  stand  before  God,  and  all  be  judged  according  to  the  deeds 
done  in  the  body  ;  yea,  a  time  when  the  thoughts  of  the  heart 
and  every  secret  thing  shall  be  brought  to  light ;  when  the 
innumerable  millions  of  transgressions,  and  embryo  and  abor- 
tive sins,  shall  be  exhibited  in  their  purposes  and  intents ;  a 
time  when  justice,  eternal  justice,  shall  sit  alone  upon  the 
throne,  and  pronounce  a  sentence  as  impartial,  as  irrevocable, 
and  as  awful  as  eternal !  There  is  a  term  of  human  life,  and 
every  human  being  is  rapidly  gliding  to  it  as  fast  as  the  wings 
of  time,  in  their  onward  motion,  incomprehensibly  swift,  can 
carry  him.  And  shall  not  the  living  lay  this  to  heart?  Should 
we  not  live  in  order  to  be  judged  ?  And  should  we  not  live 
and  die  so  as  to  live  again  to  all  eternity,  not  with  Satan  and 
his  angels,  but  with  God  and  his  saints?  0,  thou  man  of 
God  !  thou  Christian  !  thou  immortal  spirit !  think  of  these 
things. 


852  NEW   TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

Observe  the  order  of  this  terribly  glorious  day.  1.  Jesus, 
in  all  the  dignity  and  splendor  of  his  eternal  majesty,  shall 
descend  from  heaven  to  the  mid  region  —  what  the  apostle  calls 
the  "  air  " —  somewhere  within  the  earth's  atmosphere.  2. 
Then  the  shout  or  order  shall  be  given  for  the  dead  to  arise. 

3.  Next  the  archangel,  as  the  herald  of  Christ,  shall  repeat 
the    order,    "  Arise,   ye    dead,    and    come    to    judgment !  " 

4.  When  all  the  dead  in  Christ  are  raised,  then  the  trumpet 
shall  sound,  as  the  signal  for  them  all  to  flock  together  to  the 
throne  of  Christ.     It  was  by  the  sound  of  the  trumpet  that 
the  solemn  assemblies,  under  the  law,  were   convoked  ;  and 
to  such  convocations  there   seems  to  be  here    an    allusion. 

5.  When  the  dead  in  Christ  are  raised,  their  vile  bodies  being- 
made  like  unto  his  glorious  body,  then,  6.  Those  who  are  alive 
shall  be  changed,  and  made   immortal.     7.    These    shall   be 
"  caught  up  together  with  them  to  meet  the  Lord  in  the  air." 
8.  We  may  suppose  that  the  judgment  will  now  be  set,  the 
books  opened,  and  the  dead  judged  out  of  the  things  written 
in  those  books.     9.  The  eternal  states  of  quick  and  dead  be- 
ing thus  determined,  then  all  who  shall  be  found  to  "  have 
made  a  covenant  with  him  by  sacrifice/'  and  to  have  "  washed 
their  robes,  and  made  them  white  in  the  blood  of  the  Lamb," 
shall  be  taken  to  his  eternal  glory,  and  "  be  forever  with  the 
Lord."     What  an  inexpressibly  terrific  glory  will  then  be. ex- 
hibited !     I  forbear  to  call  in  here  the  descriptions  which  men 
of  a  poetic  turn  have  made  of  this  terrible  scene,  because  I 
can  not  trust  to  their  correctness,  and  it  is  a  subject  which  we 
should  speak  of  and  contemplate  as  nearly  as  possible  in  the 
words  of  Scripture.  —  Clarke's  Theology. 


A  BETTER  VIEW  OF  GRACE. 

The  Lord  is  not  slack  concerning  his  promise,  as  some  men  count  slack- 
ness, but  is  long-suffering  to  us-ward,  not  willing  that  any  should  perish,  but 
that  all  should  come  to  repentance.  —  2  Peter  3  :  9. 

AS  I  sat  in  the  church  in  Geneva  where  Calvin  used  to 
thunder,  I  blessed  God  for  all  the  hard  blows  the  brusque 
old  reformer  struck  at  Popery,  and  also  that  we  have  now  a 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  853 

better  Protestantism  than  he  taught.  And,  as  the  minister 
there  sprinkled  the  water  of  holy  baptism  on  a  babe,  I  could  but 
think  of  what  Calvin  termed  "  the  horrible  decree,"  and  of  the 
dread  uncertainty  with  which  many  of  his  followers  used  to 
contemplate  the  destiny  of  deceased  infants,  and  of  the  blessed 
certainty  with  which  all  evangelical  Christians  contemplate  it 
now.  I  fell  back  on  Mrs.  Stowe's  Theology  of  the  Bones,  and 
blessed  God  that  it  has  become  the  theology  of  the  best  brains 
in  Christendom.  When  the  broken-hearted,  bereaved  mother 
had  worked  herself  into  a  despairing  frenzy  over  her  concep- 
tion of  the  God  of  Edwards  and  Hopkins,  the  old  colored 
nurse  gathered  the  pale  form  to  her  bosom,  and  said,  "  Honey, 
darlin',  ye  ain't  right;  dar's  a  drefful  mistake  somewhar. 
Why,  de  Lord  ain't  like  what  ye  tink :  he  loves  ye,  honey. 
Why,  jes'  feel  how  I  loves  ye  —  poor  ole  black  Candace  ;  an' 
I  ain't  better'n  him  as  made  me.  .  .  .  Dar  jes'  ain't  but  one 
ting  to  come  to,  an'  dat  ar's  Jesus.  Jes'  come  right  down  to 
whar  poor  ole  black  Candace  has  to  stay  allers :  it's  a  good 
place,  darlin'.  Look  right  at  Jesus.  .  .  .  Dar's  a  God  ye  can 
love.»_  C.  D.  Foss. 


DESTRUCTION  OF  THE  EARTH  BY  FIRE. 

But  the  day  of  the  Lord  will  come  as  a  thief  in  the  night ;  in  the  which  the 
heavens  shall  pass  away  with  a  great  noise,  and  the  elements  shall  melt  with 
fervent  heat ;  the  earth  also,  and  the  works  that  are  therein,  shall  be  burned 
up.  —  2  Peter  3  :  10. 

A  CCORDING  to  the  testimony  of  Professor  R.  D.Hitchcock, 
jL\_  in  the  July  number  of  the  Bibliotheca  Sacra,  natural  phi- 
losophers have  little  cause  to  sneer  at  Peter's  prophecy,  that 
"  the  heavens  shall  pass  away  with  a  great  noise,  and  the  ele- 
ments shall  melt  with  fervent  heat ;  the  earth  also,  and  the 
works  therein,  shall  be  burned  up."  In  an  article  on  "  The 
Relations  of  Geology  to  Theology,"  he  says,  "  The  earth  con- 
tains within  itself  the  agencies  necessary  to  its  desolation  by 
fire.  Its  crust  is  supposed  to  be  several  hundred  miles  thick, 
while  the  interior  is  in  a  state  of  fusion,  like  lava.  The  three 
hundred  active  volcanoes  on  the  crust  are  the  breathing-holes 
of  the  internal  fire.  At  present,  counteracting  agencies  prevent 


854  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

this  lava  from  bursting  forth.  But  let  the  order  be  issued  for 
its  liberation,  and  these  vents  will  all  belch  forth  fire  and  desola- 
tion. The  works  of  man,  in  which  we  take  so  much  pride,  may 
be  crumbled  in  a  moment  by  the  concussions  of  the  crust.  Lib- 
erated gases  may  combine  explosively  with  the  oxygen  in  the 
air,  so  that  the  heavens  should  pass  away  with  a  great  noise." 
He  mentions,  in  confirmation  of  the  above  statements,  the 
well-known  fact  of  certain  stars  suddenly  becoming  very  bril- 
liant, and  then  gradually  fading  to  their  former  dimness.  Not 
longer  ago  than  May  of  last  year,  a  remarkable  case  of  this 
kind  occurred.  A  star  of  the  eighth  magnitude,  in  the  constel- 
lation called  the  Northern  Crown,  all  at  once  blazed  out  into 
a  star  of  the  second  magnitude,  and  in  twelve  days  declined 
again  to  its  original  rank.  From  a  careful  observation  con- 
ducted by  experienced  astronomers,  indications  were  obtained 
that  this  star  had  been  suddenly  "  inwrapped  in  the  flames  of 
burning  hydrogen.  In  consequence  of  some  convulsion,  it 
may  be,  enormous  quantities  of  gas  were  set  free.  A  large 
part  of  this  gas  consisted  of  hydrogen,  which  was  burning  about 
the  star  in  combination  with  some  other  element.  As  the  free 
hydrogen  became  exhausted,  the  flames  gradually  abated,  and 
the  star  waned  down  to  its  former  brightness.  It  seems, 
then,  that  there  are  known  instances  of  worlds  wrapped  in 
flames.  They  ignite,  burn  fiercely,  fade,  and  almost  disappear. 
Suppose,  now,  that  for  any  reason  a  combustible  gas  should  be 
evolved  upon  our  planet ;  there  it  might  combine  explosively 
with  tKe  oxygen  of  the  atmosphere,  or  burn  like  the  star  in 
the  Northern  Crown.  Either  case  would  meet  the  conditions 
of  the  prophecy.  We  think,  therefore,  that  the  words  of  Peter 
are  amply  illustrated  by  the  latest  discoveries  of  astronomy." 


LAYING  ASIDE  THE  BONES. 

As  also  in  all  his  epistles,  speaking  in  them  of  these  things,  in  which 
are  some  things  hard  to  be  understood,  which  they  that  are  unlearned  and 
unstable  wrest,  as  they  do  also  the  other  scriptures,  unto  their  own  destruc- 
tion. —  2  Peter  3 :  16. 


A 


N  old  man  once  said,  "  For  a  long  period  I  puzzled  myself 
about  the  difficulties  of  Scripture,  until  at  last  I  came  to 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  855 

the  resolution  that  reading  the  Bible  was  like  eating  fish. 
When  I  find  a  difficulty,  I  lay  it  aside,  and  call  it  a  bone.  Why 
should  I  choke  on  the  bone,  when  there  is  much  nutritious 
meat  in  use  ?  Some  day,  perhaps,  I  may  find  that  even  the 
bones  may  afford  me  nourishment." 

Do  not  think  less  of  the  Bible  because  there  are  some  things 
in  it  you  do  not  understand.  If  the  truths  revealed  in  the 
Bible  were  all  comprehensible,  and  you  had  learned  them  all, 
you  could  not  rest  on  those  truths,  but  would  be  stretching- 
forward  to  what  you  do  not  know. 


GROWTH  IN  GRACE. 

But  grow  in  grace,  and  in  the  knowledge  of  our  Lord  and  Saviour  Jesus 
Christ.     To  him  be  glory  both  now  and  for  ever.     Amen.  —  2  Peter  3  :  18. 

HHHE  subject  of  growth  in  grace  is  beautifully  illustrated  by 
JL  Rev.  A.  C.  George,  D.  D.,  in  his  valuable  book,  Counsels 
to  Converts.  He  says,  "  The  flower  bud,  hanging  on  its  par- 
ent stem,  has  a  chaste  and  delicate  beauty,  and  the  maiden 
will  pluck  it  to  adorn  her  own  loveliness.  But  should  it  abide 
a  bud,  should  not  the  sheltering  green  give  place  to  carnation 
tints,  and  the  rich  blossom  shed  its  fragrance  on  the  summer 
air,  we  should  esteem  it  blasted  and  worthless.  The  morning  is 
beautiful  when  it  is  spread  upon  the  mountains,  when  its  rosy 
hues  chase  away  the  twilight  shadows,  when  the  golden  beams 
of  the  orient  flush  all  nature  with  brightness  and  promise. 
But  the  principal  element  of  this  attraction  is  the  prophecy, 
blazing  along  the  eastern  sky,  that  men  shall  rejoice  in  the 
splendors  of  a  full,  unclouded  noon.  A  child  is  beautiful,  as  a 
child  —  beautiful  beyond  comparison.  But  should  there  be  no 
growth,  age  would  produce  deformity  and  excite  disgust. 
These  illustrations  may  suffice  to  show  the  character  of  the 
Christian  life.  A  genuine  experience  increases,  unfolds, 
and  intensifies.  .  .  .  '  If  his  light  does  not  shine  more  and 
more/  it  will  grow  dim  and  flicker  away  into  darkness.  Ex- 
cept he  gathers  strength  as  he  proceeds  on  his  Christian 
journey,  he  will  be  reduced  to  the  weakness  of  despair,  and 
utterly  bereft  of  all  resources  of  power." 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 


MEANS  OF  GRACE  PROPERLY  USED. 

That  which  we  have  seen  and  heard  declare  we  unto  you,  that  ye  also  may 
have  fellowship  with  us  ;  and  truly  our  fellowship  is  with  the  Father,  and  with 
his  Son  Jesus  Christ.  —  1  John  1 :  3. 

A  DEVOUT  frame  of  mind,  with  faith  and  prayer,  are  need- 
J\.  ful  to  meet  God  in  his  ordinances.  "  I  find,  with  regard 
to  myself,  that  the  benefit  of  prayers,  sacraments,  and  the 
means  of  grace  bears  exact  proportion  to  the  care  I  take  -to 
implore  the  influence  and  operation  of  the  Spirit  in  them  ;  that 
when  I  am  only  a  little  concerned  in  asking  of  the  Lord  the 
inestimable  comfort  of  His  help,  my  spiritual  duties  afford  me 
little  comfort  in  the  exercise,  and  leave  no  lasting  impressions. 
On  the  contrary,  when  I  am  importunate  with  the  Lord  to  put 
life  and  power  in  the  ordinances,  and  to  make  me  feel  some 
correspondent  affections,  I  am  enabled  to  say,  l  Truly  our  fel- 
lowship is  with  the  Father,  and  with  his  Son  Jesus  Christ.7 " 
—  Venn. 


THE  BLOOD  OF  CHRIST. 

But  if  we  walk  in  the  light,  as  he  is  in  the  light,  we  have  fellowship  one  with 
another,  and  the  blood  of  Jesus  Christ  his  Son  cleanseth  us  from  all  sin.  — 
1  John  1 :  7. 

WHAT  avails  the  blood  of  Christ?  It  avails  what  moun- 
tains of  good  works  heaped  up  by  us,  what  columns  of 
the  incense  of  prayer  curling  up  from  our  lips  toward  heaven, 
and  what  streams  of  tears  of  penitence  gushing  from  our  eye- 
lids, never  could  avail.  "  The  blood  of  Jesus  Christ  his  Son 
cleanseth  us  from  all  sin."  "  Helps  us  to  cleanse  ourselves, 
perhaps?"  No;  cleanseth  us.  "Furnishes  the  motive  and 
the  obligation  for  us  to  cleanse  ourselves  ?  "  No  ;  it  cleanseth 
us.  "  Cleanseth  us  from  the  desire  to  sin  ?  "  No  ;  cleanseth  us 
from  sin  itself.  "  Cleanseth  us  from  the  sin  of  inactivity  in 
the  work  of  personal  improvement  ?  "  No ;  from  all  sin.  "  But 
did  you  say  the  blood  does  this."  Yes;  the  blood.  "The 
doctrine  of  Christ,  you  must  mean  ?  "  No  ;  his  blood.  "  His 
<-x:nnple  it  is  ?  "  No ;  his  blood,  his  blood.  0,  what  hostility 


NEW   TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  857 

the  world  still  betrays  toward  this  essential  element  of  Chris- 
tianity !  Can  anything  be  stated  more  plainly  in  language 
than  the  entire  word  of  God  declares,  that  our  redemption 
from  sin  is  by  the  blood  of  Christ  ?  And  yet  what  strenuous 
efforts  are  constantly  made  to  set  aside  this  plain,  essential, 
wonderful,  and  most  glorious  truth,  that  the  blood  of  our  Lord 
Jesus  Christ  cleanseth  us  from  all  sin  !  —  German  of  Krum- 
macher. 


BAD  PRINCIPLES  UNSATISFACTORY  IN  DEATH. 

If  we  confess  our  sins,  he  is  faithful  and  just  to  forgive  us  our  sins,  and  to 
cleanse  us  from  all  unrighteousness.  —  1  John  1 :  9. 

MR.  CAREY  M.  KEITH,  whose  funeral  was  attended  at 
Charleston,  S.  C.,  on  the  llth  of  September,  1824,  resided 
formerly  at  South  Bridgewater,  Mass.,  "  where,"  says  a  gen- 
tleman, "  I  became  personally  acquainted  with  him.  He  was 
a  young  man  of  fine  talents,  good  education,  much  beloved, 
an'd  prepossessing  in  his  address,  but  a  Universalis.t  in  senti- 
ment. He  often  boasted  himself  in  that  doctrine,  and  was  not 
to  be  shaken  by  human  arguments  or  reasonings,  but  asserted, 
frequently,  his  readiness  to  have  his  faith  brought  to  the  test 
of  the  death-bed.  In  the  fall  of  1819  he  removed  to  Charles- 
ton, S.  C.,  placed  himself  under  Unitarian  preaching,  lived 
secure,  careless,  and  full  of  his  pretended  confidence  in  his 
Universal  or  Unitarian  views,  much  beloved  and  respected  by 
all  who  knew  him,  till  September,  1824,  when  he  was  seized 
with  a  malignant  fever  which  soon  reminded  him  of  the  ap- 
proach of  the  king  of  terrors,  when  horror  filled  his  soul. 

"  In  this  situation  he  did  not  call  for  his  Universalist  friends, 
or  his  Unitarian  preachers,  but  requested  Dr.  Palmer  to  be 
called  in  (whom  before  he  had  despised).  Dr.  Palmer  came, 
and  continued  visiting  him  so  long  as  he  was  able  to  speak  or 
hear.  He  confessed  his  former  wickedness  in  caviling  about 
religion,  acknowledged  his  insincerity  and  his  false  security  in 
his  boasted  Universalism,  and  cried  aloud  for  pardon.  An.d 
there  is  good  evidence  to  believe  he  found  pardon  through 
Christ,  and  satisfaction  by  the  Holy  Spirit,  and  died  rejoicing 
103 


858  *  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

in  God  and  the  truth  he  before  despised,  —  to  the  great  con- 
solution  of  his  Christian  friends,  but  confusion  and  dismay  of 
his  Universalist  and  Unitarian  associates.  0  that  they  were 
wise,  and  understood,  and  would  consider  their  latter  end. 
His  funeral  sermon  was  preached  by  the  clergyman  above- 
named. 


COMING  BACK  TO  CHRIST. 

My  little  children,  these  things  write  I  unto  you,  that  ye  sin  not.  And 
if  any  man  sin,  we  have  an  advocate  with  the  Father,  Jesus  Christ  the 
righteous.  —  1  John  2  :  1. 

I  FEEL,  when  I  have  sinned,  an  immediate  reluctance  to  go 
to  Christ ;  I  am  ashamed  to  go.  I  feel  as  if  it  would  be 
no  good  to  go,  as  if  it  were  making  Christ  a  minister  of  sin  to 
go  straight  from  the  swine-trough  to  the  best  robe  ;  and  a 
thousand  other  excuses ;  but  I  am  persuaded  that  they  are 
all  lies  direct  from  hell.  John  argues  the  opposite  way: 
"  If  any  man  sin,  we  have  an  advocate  with  the  Father." 
Jeremiah  3:1,  and  a  thousand  other  scriptures,  are  against 
it.  I  am  sure  there  is  neither  peace  nor  safety  from  deeper 
sin  but  in  going  directly  to  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ.  This  is 
God's  way  of  peace  and  holiness.  It  is  folly  to  the  world  and 
the  beclouded  heart,  but  it  is  the  way.  I  must  never  think 
sin  too  small  to  need  immediate  application  to  the  blood  of 
Christ.  If  I  put  away  a  good  conscience  concerning  faith,  I 
make  shipwreck.  I  must  not  think  my  sins  too  great,  too 
aggravated,  too  presumptuous  —  as  when  done  on  my  knees, 
or  in  preaching,  or  by  a  dying  bed,  or  during  a  dangerous 
illness  —  to  hinder  me  from  fleeing  to  Christ.  The  weight  of 
my  sins  should  act  like  the  weight  of  a  clock  —  the  heavier  it 
is,  it  makes  it  go  the  faster.  — McCheyne. 


IMITATION  OF  CHRIST. 

He  that  saith  he  abideth  in  him  ought  himself  also  so  to  walk,  even  as  he 
walked.  —  1  John  2  :  6. 

IT  is  reported  in  the  Bohemian  story,  that  St.  Wenceslaus, 
their  king,  uiie  winter   night,  going  to   his   devotions  in  a 


NEW   TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  859 

remote  church,  barefooted,  in  the  snow  and  sharpness  of  un- 
equal and  pointed  ice,  his  servant  Podavidus,  "who  waited 
upon .  his  master's  piety,  and  endeavored  to  imitate  his  affec- 
tions, began  to  faint  through  the  violence  of  the  snow  and 
cold,  till  the  king  commanded  him  to  follow  him,  and  set  his 
feet  in  the  same  footsteps  which  his  feet  should  mark  for 
him.  The  servant  did  so,  and  either  fancied  a  cure  or  found 
one  j  for  he  followed  his  prince,  helped  forward  with  shame 
and  zeal  to  his  imitation,  and  by  the  forming  footsteps  for  him 
in  the  snow.  In  the  same  manner  does  our  blessed  Jesus ; 
for,  since  our  way  is  troublesome,  obscure,  full  of  objection 
and  danger,  apt  to  be  mistaken,  and  to  affright  our  industry, 
he  commands  us  to  mark  his  footsteps,  to  tread  where  his 
feet  have  stood,  and  not  only  invites  us  forward  by  the  argu- 
ment of  his  example,  but  he  hath  trodden  down  much  of  the 
difficulty,  and  made  the  way  easier,  and  fit  for  our  feet.  For 
he  knows  our  infirmities,  and  himself  hath  felt  their  experience 
in  all  things  but  in  the  neighborhood  of  sin ;  and  therefore 
he  hath  proportioned  a  way  and  a  path  to  our  strengths  and 
capacities,  and,  like  Jacob,  hath  marched  softly  and  in  even- 
ness with  the  children  and  the  cattle,  to  entertain  us  by  the 
comforts  of  his  company,  and  the  influence  of  a  perpetual 
guide. 

He  that  gives  alms  to  the  poor  takes  Jesus  by  the  hand ;  he 
that  patiently  endures  injuries  and  affronts  helps  him  to  bear 
his  cross  ;  he  that  comforts  his  brother  in  affliction  gives  an 
amiable  kiss  of  peace  to  Jesus  ;  he  that  bathes  his  own  and 
his  neighbor's  sins  in  tears  of  penance  and  compassion,  washes 
his  Master's  feet.  We  lead  Jesus  into  the  recesses  of  our 
hearts  by  holy  meditations  ;  and  we  enter  into  his  heart  when 
we  express  him  in  our  actions ;  for  so  the  apostle  says,  "  He 
that  is  in  Christ  walks  as  he  also  walks."  But  thus  the  actions 
of  our  life  relate  to  him  by  way  of  worship  and  religion  ;  but 
the  use  is  admirable  and  effectual,  when  our  actions  refer  to 
him  as  to  our  copy,  and  we  transcribe  the  original  to  the 
life.  —  Jeremy  Taylor. 


860  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS, 


WHO  ARE  TRULY  STRONG. 

I  have  written  unto  you,  fathers,  because  ye  have  known  him  that  is  from 
the  beginning.  I  have  written  unto  you,  young  men,  because  ye  are  strong, 
and  the  word  of  God  abideth  in  you,  and  ye  have  overcome  the  wicked  one.  — 
1  John  2  :  14. 

C1TRENGTH  of  character  consists  of  two  things  —  power  of 
U  will  and  power  of  self-restraint.  It  requires  two  things, 
therefore,  for  its  existence  —  strong  feelings  and  strong  com- 
mand over  them.  Now,  it  is  here  we  make  a  grand  mistake  ; 
we  mistake  strong  feeling  for  strong  character.  A  man  who 
bears  all  before  him,  and  before  whose  frown  domestics  trem- 
ble, and  whose  bursts  of  fury  make  the  children  of  the  house- 
hold quake,  —  because  he  has  his  will  obeyed,  and  his  own 
way  in  all  things,  we  call  him  a  strong  man.  The  truth  is,  that 
is  the  weak  man.  It  is  his  passions  that  are  strong  ;  he  that  is 
mastered  by  them  is  weak.  You  must  measure  the  strength 
of  a  man  by  the  power  of  the  feelings  he  subdues,  not  by  the 
power  of  those  which  subdue  him.  And  hence  the  composure 
is  very  often  the  highest  result  of  strength.  Did  we  never 
see  a  man  receive  a  flagrant  insult,  and  only  grow  a  little  pale, 
and  then  reply  quietly  ?  That  is  a  man  spiritually  strong.  Or 
did  we  never  see  a  man  in  anguish  stand  as  if  carved  out  of 
solid  rock,  mastering  himself?  or  one  bearing  a  hopeless  daily 
trial  remain  silent,  and  never  tell  the  world  what  cankered  his 
home  peace  ?  That  is  strength.  He  who,  with  strong  pas- 
sions, remains  chaste,  —  he  who,  keenly  sensitive,  with  many 
powers  of  indignation  in  him,  can  be  provoked  and  yet  restrain 
himself  and  forgive,  —  these  are  strong  men,  the  spiritual-he- 
roes. —  Rev.  F.  W.  Robertson. 


BEWARE  OF  PRIDE. 

For  all  that  is  in  the  world,  the  lust  of  the  flesh,  and  the  lust  of  the  eyes, 
and  the  pride  of  life,  is  not  of  the  Father,  but  is  of  the  world.  —  1  John  2  :  16. 

AS  thou  desirest  the  love  of  God  and  man,  beware  of  pride. 
It  is  a  tumor  in  thy  mind  that  breaks  and  poisons  all  thy 
actions ;  it  is  a  worm  in  thy  treasure  which  eats  and  ruins  thy 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  861 

estate.  It  loves  no  man,  is  beloved  of  no  man.  It  disparages 
virtue  in  another  by  detraction ;  it  disrewards  goodness  in 
itself  by  vain-glory.  The  friend  of  the  flatterer,  the  mother 
of  envy,  the  nurse  of  fury,  the  band  of  luxury,  the  sin  of 
devils,  and  the  devil  in  mankind,  it  hates  superiors,  it  scorns 
inferiors,  it  owns  no  equals.  In  short,  till  thou  hate  it,  God 
hates  thee.  —  Quarles. 

~^~ 
THE  ANTICHRISTS  OF  TO-DAY. 

Little  children,  it  is  the  last  time ;  and  as  ye  have  heard  that  antichrist  sha 
come,  even  now  are  there  many  antichrists;  whereby  we  know  that  it  is  the 
last  time.  —  1  John  2  :  18. 

/CHRIST  is  the  synonym  of  the  official  relations  of  the  Son 
\J  of  God  in  his  mission  as  the  Mediator.  As  Jesus  he  was 
born  of  a  woman,  under  the  law,  that  his  righteousness  might 
be  wrought  in  the  same  nature  which  had  fallen.  Thirty  years 
of  his  life  passed  before  he  entered  upon  his  Christly  career. 
Then  three  years  of  service  sufficed  to  accomplish  the  work 
and  sorrow  he  undertook  as  man's  substitute  under  the  curse 
of  the  holy  law.  He  ascended  that  his  official  representation 
of  man  to  God,  and  God  to  man,  might  be  the  more  effectually 
administered  and  maintained.  It  was  expedient  for  us  that  he 
should  go  away.  But  he  ever  liveth  as  the  anointed  Prophet, 
Priest,  and  King  —  the  Christ  of  his  people. 

Antichrist  is  that  which  assumes  the  authority  and  func- 
tions of  the  Christ.  Before  and  after  our  Lord's  coming  in 
the  flesh,  there  were  impostors  who  professed  to  meet  the 
prophetical  descriptions  of  the  Messiah.  Theudas  and  Judas 
of  Galilee  are  both  named  by  Gamaliel.  And  we  have  the 
record  of  Bar-Cocheba  in  subsequent  history.  Multitudes 
were  led  astray  by  their  false  representations,  and  perished 
in  their  seditious  efforts.  The  time  for  such  supplanters  has 
passed.  Antichrist  takes  now  the  shape  of  system.  Some- 
times, as  in  the  pope,  the  false  system  culminates  in  a  repre- 
sentative person.  But  this  is  not  necessary  to  prove  a  com- 
peting scheme  —  antichrist. 

Looking  over  the  field  of  religious  thought,  what  antichrists 
of  to-day  do  we  find  ?  Are  there  any  theological  or  ecclesi- 


862  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

astical  systems,  which  usurp  the  authority  and  functions  of 
the  incarnate  Son  of  God  ? 

Every  substitution  of  unaided  reason  or  church  interpreta- 
tion for  the  living  teaching  of  Jesus  Christ  trenches  upon  the 
prophetical  office  of  Christ,  and  is,  so  far,  antichrist.  How 
strangely  do  these  extremes  of  opinion  meet  in  their  opposi- 
tion to  Jesus  !  Rationalism  exalts  reason  and  consciousness 
into  a  supervising  judge  of  divine  revelation.  Romanism  ab- 
solves from  the  acceptance  of  any  and  all  truths  not  author- 
ized by  councils  or  pope.  Ritualism  is  but  the  infant  cry  of 
immature  Romanism,  and  refers  the  perplexed  reader  of 
Scripture  to  the  general  and  undoubted  councils  as  the 
authority  of  last  appeal.  In  opposition  to  all,  we  bid  the  in- 
quirer and  doubter  learn  of  the  exalted  Christ.  He,  of  God, 
is  made  unto  us  wisdom.  In  him  are  the  treasures  of  knowl- 
edge. By  his  spirit  he  has  promised  to  lead  us  into  all  truth. 
He  illuminates  his  word,  and  applies  its  promises  and  precepts 
with  searching  power.  Who  does  not  know  the  clearness 
with  which  dark  sayings  stand  forth  when  Jesus  opens  his 
Scriptures  to  the  believing  soul  ?  It  is  not  for  us  to  confer 
with  flesh  and  blood.  There  is  still  the  Christly  Prophet. 


DID  NOT  BELONG  TO  CHRIST'S  FLOCK. 

They  went  out  from  us,  but  they  were  not  of  us ;  for  if  they  had  been  of 
us,  they  would  no  doubt  have  continued  with  us ;  but  they  went  out,  that  they 
might  be  made  manifest  that  they  were  not  all  of  us.  —  1  John  2  :  19. 

ONE  evening  I  went  out  with  a  shepherd  to  collect  his 
sheep.  After  they  had  been  gathered  together,  and  were 
being  driven  off  the  moor,  I  observed  that  there  were  some 
among  them  who  did  not  belong  to  his  flock.  I  particularly 
noticed,  also,  that  he  paid  no  attention  whatever  to  these 
wandering  strangers,  urged  forward,  though  they  were,  by 
the  barking  dog,  further  and  further  from  their  rightful  com- 
panions. At  last,  thinking  I  must  have  been  mistaken  in  sup- 
posing they  were  not  his,  I  pointed  to  one  or  two  of  them,  and 
said, — 

"  Are  those  your  sheep  ?  " 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  863 

And  he  answered,  "  No." 

I  said  unto  him,  "  Why,  then,  do  you  not  separate  them  from 
the  flock  ?  " 

And  he  answered,  and  said,  "They  will  find  out  directly  they 
are  not  of  us,  and  then  they  will  go  away  of  themselves." 

And  immediately  I  remembered  the  words  of  John,  and  how 
he  had  said,  "  They  went  out  from  us,  but  they  were  not  of  us  ; 
for  if  they  had  been  of  us,  they  would  no  doubt  have  continued 
with  us ;  but  they  went  out,  that  they  might  be  made  manifest 
that  they  were  not  all  of  us."  —  W.  G.  S. 


DOCTRINE  OF  THE  TRINITY. 

Whosoever  denieth  the  Son,  the  same  hath  not  the  Father.  —  1  John  2 :  23. 

THE  doctrine  of  the  Trinity  is  a  fundamental  doctrine,  the 
belief  of  which  is  necessary  to  salvation ;  for  those  who  are 
without  the  Father  (Eph.  2:12)  can  not  be  saved.  It  is  also 
said  (1  John  2  :  23),  "  Whosoever  denieth  the  Son,  the  same 
hath  not  the  Father ;  "  and  in  Rom.  8  :  9,  it  is  likewise  said,  "  He 
that  hath  not  the  Spirit  is  none  of  his."  This  important  senti- 
ment is  interwoven  with  the  whole  of  real  religion,  and  there 
can  neither  be  any  true  faith,  worship,  or  obedience  without  it. 
Where  is  faith  if  this  be  taken  away  ?  for  it  is  declared  in  John 
17:3,"  This  is  life  eternal,  to  know  thee,  the  only  true  God, 
and  Jesus  Christ,  whom  thou  hast  sent ; "  and  as  we  are  bap- 
tized in  the  name  of  the  sacred  Three,  therefore  we  must  be- 
lieve equally  in  them.  So  as  to  worship,  it  is  said  in  Eph. 
2:18,"  Through  him  we  both  have  access  by  one  spirit  to  the 
Father ; "  also  as  to  obedience,  in  John  15  :  10,  we  read  of 
"  the  Father's  commandments."  In  2  Cor.  5  :  14,  it  is  said, 
"  The  love  of  Christ  constraineth  us ;  "  and  in  Eph.  5  :  9,  it  is 
declared  that  "the  fruit  of  the  Spirit  is  in  all  goodness." 
Thus,  without  the  assistance  of  each  of  the  sacred  Three,  we 
can  not  believe,  worship,  or  serve  God.  The  mystery  of  the 
Trinity  is  above  reason,  but  not  contrary  to  it ;  for  reason, 
though  it  could  not  have  brought  it  to  light,  yet  when  it  is 
discovered  'it  must  needs  yield  to  it ;  for  as  the  judgment  of 
sense  must  be  corrected  by  reason,  so  the  judgment  of  reason 
must  be  corrected  by  faith. 


864  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 


DIVINE  LOVE  FOR  THE  UNWORTHY. 

Behold,  what  manner  of  love  the  Father  hath  bestowed  upon  us,  that  we 
should  be  called  the  sons  of  God  :  therefore  the  world  knoweth  us  not,  because 
it  knew  him*not.  —  1  John  3:1. 

"HHHERE  is  in  the  divine  conduct  a  most  touching  regard 
_L  for  the  seemingly  unworthy.  Did  not  Jesus  first  appear 
to  Mary  Magdalene,  out  of  whom  he  had  cast  seven  devils? 
Was  not  the  first  message,  with  inexpressible  tenderness,  sent 
personally  to  Peter,  who  had  so  lately  and  so  profanely  denied 
him  ?  He  will  not  quench  the  smoking  flax,  nor  break  the 
bruised  reed.  For  the  prodigal  there  are  often  a  feast,  a  robe, 
sandals,  and  a  ring,  that  never  come  to  the  unfailingly  faithful. 
God  is  our  Father,  and  in  our  dark  and  despairing  hours  his 
Fatherhood  shines  out  full-orbed.  This  beautiful  feature  often 
touches  'even  the  human  parent,  and  is  a  type  of  what  we  may 
hope  and  expect  from  our  heavenly  Father.  When  a  father  has 
returned  from  a  journey,  he  embraces  his  wife  and  his  children, 
one  after  another,  with  a  kiss  of  love.  But  there  in  the  corner 
sits  a  poor,  helpless,  deformed  boy,  who  can  not  run  to  meet 
him,  and  feels  for  a  moment  neglected.  His  mind  is  as  weak 
as  his  body.  He  has  no  merits  to  claim  a  parent's  admiration, 
or  extort  a  special  love.  He  knows  it  and  feels  it.  But  the 
father  gets  down  to  his  feebleness,  and  gives  the  poor  little 
sufferer  a  stronger,  sweeter  embrace  than  the  rest.  He  lingers, 
as  he  did  with  none  of  the  other  children,  to  fondle  with  the 
helpless  boy.  He  pours  into  his  lap  tokens  that  he  has  not 
been  forgotten  during  the  father's  absence.  This  is  the  father 
in  man,  and  God  is  my  Father.  I  need  not  feel  that  he  will  not 
welcome  me  ;  that  others  are  better,  more  gifted,  abler  than  I, 
and  that  there  is  no  hope  for  me.  May  be  my  very  helpless- 
ness will  attract  his  strength ;  my  unworthiness  bring  more 
of  his  worthiness  to  compensate  for  it.  Only  let  me  be  his 
child,  and  all  else  is  secure.  Glory  to  God  in  the  highest." 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  865 

IT  DOTH  NOT  YET  APPEAR  WHAT  WE  SHALL  BE. 

Beloved,  now  are  we  the  sons  of  God,  and  it  doth  not  yet  appear  what  we 
shall  be ;  but  we  know  that,  when  he  shall  appear,  we  shall  be  like  him,  for 
we  shall  see  him  as  he  is.  —  1  John  3  :  2. 

f  ABOR  and  reward  are  very  unlike.  Here  we  toil,  often 
JU  in  darkness  and  in  doubt,  doing  the  most  menial  service 
for  the  Master,  while  awaiting  the  time  when  he  shall  lift  us 
up  to  a  higher  and  nobler  life  and  association.  How  changed 
will  be  the  scene  !  here  the  cross-bearing,  the  watching,  fast- 
ing, praying  —  yonder  the  glory,  the  joy  for  ever.  This  is 
sometimes  faintly  illustrated  in  this  life.  A  minister  who 
made  a  visit  to  one  of  the  coal-mines  of  Pennsylvania  thus 
describes  the  scene,  and  the  impression  made  on  his  mind. 
He  says, — 

"  We  went  down,  and  down,  till  we  were  a  thousand  feet 
below  the  surface  ;  then  off  in  long,  dark  avenues,  made  by 
taking  out  the  coal.  In  these  we  saw,  by  the  aid  of  our 
lamps,  busy  workmen  mining  the  coal.  In  worn  and  soiled 
garments,  covered  with  dust,  they  toiled  on  cheerfully,  some- 
times singing  as  they  plied  the  pick  or  struck  the  drill.  Hope 
cheered  their  hearts  ;  for,  above  them,  up  in  the  light  of  day, 
on  the  surface  of  the  earth,  directly  over  the  mines,  they  had 
comfortable  homes  and  pleasant  family  relations.  When  their 
daily  task  was  over,  they  ascended  to  their  homes,  to  greet 
the  loving  kindred  who  awaited  their  return. 

"  Now,  see  them  in  their  families,  or  in  the  church  on  the 
holy  Sabbath  !  We  could  hardly  make  it  seem  possible  those 
men  of  yesterday,  down  in  the  dark  mine,  are  these  men  of 
to-day,  so  changed  in  appearance.  So  we  say,  l  It  doth  not 
yet  appear  what  we  shall  be ;  but  we  know  that  when  he  shall 
appear,  we  shall  be  like  him ;  for  we  shall  see  him  as  he  is.' 

"  Here  we  are  miners  —  performing  our  daily  task ;  and  if  it 
be  well  and  acceptably  done,  meeting  the  favor  of  Him  who 
has  called  us  to  labor  for  him,  then  shall  we  be  raised  to  a 
higher  and  nobler  home  above,  where  the  good  await  our 
coming  to  swell  the  ranks  of  the  holy  ones. 

"  Be  cheered,  fellow- Christian ;  your  home  is  just  above."  — 
Rev.  William  Searles. 
'   109 


866  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 


HE  HAD  THE  TRUE  HOPE. 

And  every  man  that  hath  this  hope  in  him  purifleth  himself,  even  as  he  is 
pure.  —  1  John  3  :  3. 

SOME  Hindoos  were  on  a  journey  in  India.  The  road  was 
rough  and  long,  and  the  sun  burned  hotly  in  the  skies. 
Slowly  they  passed  on  their  way,  and  as  one  day  after  another 
came  to  an  end,  many  of  the  party  grew  faint  and  weary. 
There  was  one  poor  man  who  seemed  a  stranger  to  the  rest. 
He  was  old  and  feeble,  and  was  ready  to  sink  from  the  heat 
and  labor  of  the  way.  At  last  he  fell,  and  could  not  rise  again. 
The  Hindoos  looked  upon  him,  and  finding  that  he  was  likely 
to  die,  they  left  him  to  perish  without  pity  or  help,  for  these 
heathen  are  unkind  to  the  sick  and  dying.  But  there  was 
among  those  travelers  a  missionary,  on  his  way  to  a  distant 
place  to  preach  the  gospel ;  he  saw  the  old  man  fall,  and  ran 
to  aid  him,  while  the  rest  passed  along.  Yet  all  his  help  could 
not  now  save  his  life.  He  knelt  by  the  poor  man's  side,  and 
softly  said  in  his  ear,  "  Brother,  what  is  your  hope  ?  "'  The 
dying  traveler  raised  himself  to  reply,  and  with  a  great  effort 
said,  "  The  blood  of  Jesus  Christ  cleanseth  from  all  sin,"  and 
then  laid  down  his  head  again,  and  died.  The  missionary  was 
greatly  astonished  at  the  answer;  and,  from  the  calm  and 
thoughtful  manner  in  which  the  words  were  spoken,  he  could 
not  but  feel  that  the  man  had  died  safely  in  Christ.  "  How  or 
where,"  thought  he,  "  could  this  Hindoo  have  got  this  hope?" 
And,  as  he  looked  at  the  dead  body,  he  saw  a  piece  of  paper 
grasped  tightly  in  one  of  the  hands.  He  carefully  took  it  out ; 
and  what  was  his  surprise  and  delight,  when  he  saw  it  was  a 
single  leaf  of  the  Bible,  oh  which  was  the  first  chapter  of  the 
First  Epistle  of  John,  where  these  words  are  found.  On  that 
page  a  heathen  man  had  met  with  the  gospel.  This  short  ac- 
count of  a  Hindoo  and  the  one  leaf  may  teach  a  useful  lesson. 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  867 


BISHOP  HATTO,  OR  THE  MOUSE  TOWER. 

But  whoso  hath  this  world's  good,  and  seeth  his  brother  have  need,  and 
shutteth  up  his  bowels  of  compassion  from  him,  how  dwelleth  the  love  of  God 
in  him?—  Uohn  3:  17. 

JUST  on  leaving  the  narrow  valley  of  the  "  Castled  Rhine," 
we  perceive  the  old  "  Mouse  Tower/'  famed  for  its  story 
of  the  cruel  Bishop  Hatto.  The  bishop  was  known  far  and 
wide  in  the  valley  of  the  Rhine  for  his  severity  and  cruelty 
toward  his  people.  He  was  a  prelate  of  unbounded  wealth, 
that  he  had  pressed  out  of  the  bones  and  sinews  of  the  simple 
peasants.  With  his  riches  he  heaped  up  large  quantities  of 
corn,  and  then  speculated  in  the  staff  of  life.  An  evil  day 
came,  and  the  valley  was  visited  with  a  bitter  famine  ;  the  peas- 
ants came  to  Bishop  Hatto,  and  bought  as  long  as  they  had 
money.  But  their  stock  was  small,  and  soon  ran  out.  His 
granaries  remained  filled  with  corn  that  would  rescue  them 
from  death  ;  and  they  came  with  humble  prayers,  and  begged 
for  a  little  to  stay  the  hunger  of  their  wives  and  children.  He 
called  them  lazy  beggars,  and  bade  them  begone  ;  but  the  keen 
pangs  of  hunger  at  last  turned  their  prayers  into  threats.  He 
owned  the  tower  in  the  center  of  the  stream,  and  it  had  long 
been  filled  with  corn,  on  account  of  its  safety ;  to  it  he  took 
refuge,  and  set  fire  to  his  well-filled  barns  before  the  eyes  of 
the  starving  peasants.  But  a  speedy  revenge  followed  him. 
The  army  of  mice  that  had  lived  in  plenty  about  his  barns  now 
swam  the  stream,  and  attacked  the  tower.  The  bishop  called 
on  the  peasants  for  'help;  but,  instead  of  lending -aid,  they 
bade  the  mice  God-speed  in  consuming  his  corn.  When  this 
was  gone,  they  gnawed  off  his  toe-nails,  and  tormented  him 
with  all  the  tortures  of  purgatory ;  at  last  he  fell  asleep  from 
sheer  exhaustion,  and  the  mice  ate  up  the  bishop  alive.  The 
tower  took  up  the  name  of  the  "  Mouse  Tower,"  and  few  pass 
it  without  thinking  of  the  wicked  Bishop  Hatto  and  his  richly 
deserved  fate. — Professor  Wdls}  in  Ladies'  Repository.- 


868  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

EFFECT  OF  PRAYER. 

And  whatsoever  we  ask,  we  receive  of  him,  because  we  keep  his  command- 
ments, and  do  those  things  that  are  pleasing  in  his  sight.  —  1  John  3  :  22. 

DR.  HAMILTON  narrates  the  following  as  symbolic  of  the 
effect  of  prayer :  "  Among  the  forms  of  insect  life  there 
is  a  little  creature  known  to  naturalists  which  can  gather 
around  itself  a  sufficiency  of  atmospheric  air,  and  so  clothed 
upon,  it  descends  into  the  bottom  of  the  pool,  and  you  may 
see  the  little  diver  moving  about  dry,  and  at  his  ease,  pro- 
tected by  his  crystal  vesture,  though  the  water  all  around  and 
above  be  stagnant  and  bitter.  Prayer  is  such  a  protector  ;  a 
transparent  vesture  —  the  world  sees  it  not ;  a  real  defense  — 
it  keeps  out  the  world.  By  means  of  it  the  believer  can 
gather  so  much  of  heavenly  atmosphere  around  him,  and  with 
it  descend  into  the  putrid  depths  of  this  contaminating  world, 
that  for  a  season  no  evil  will  touch  him ;  and  he  knows  when 
to  ascend  for  a  new  supply.  Communion  with  God  kept  Dan- 
iel pure  in  Babylon." 

SPIRITISM. 

Beloved,  believe  not  every  spirit,  but  try  the  spirits  whether  they  are  of 
God;  because  many  false  prophets  are  gone  out  into  the  world.  —  1  John  4  :  1. 

CONCERNING  modern  Spiritism,  the  Rev.  J.  R.  Sikes  makes 
\J  the  following  expose :  "  I  determined  to  satisfy  myself  in 
regard  to  the  truth  of  the  doctrines  and  teachings  of  modern 
Spiritualists,  and  accordingly  purchased  two  of  their  most 
valuable  standard  works,  viz.,  The  Future  Life,  or  Communi- 
cations from  the  Spirit  Land  through  Mrs.  Sweet,  by  a  Host  of 
departed  Spirits,  and  The  Seers  of  the  Ages,  or  the  Doctrines 
of  Spiritualists.  These  books  I  have  read  with  care  and  deep 
thought,  and  am  forced  to  the  following  verdict :  A  more  per- 
nicious, plausible,  and  destructive  lie  has  never  been  forged  in 
the  domain  of  perdition  and  promulgated  on  earth  than  modern 
Spiritualism  presents.  It  pretends  to  be  a  new  and  improved 
system  of  religion.  Let  us  look  at  it  iu  that  light  for  a  mo- 
ment. Every  dispensation  of  religion  that  God  has  given  to 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  869 

man  has  been  attested  by  miracles  or  extraordinary  manifesta- 
tions of  divine  power.  And  in  each  successive  dispensation, 
commencing  with  Abraham,  and  coming  down  through  Moses 
and  the  prophets  to  Christ,  these  miracles,  or  extraordinary 
manifestations  of  divine  power,  have  increased  in  number  and 
'potency  for  good.  They  were  comparatively  slight  with 
Abraham,  greater  with  Moses,  greater  still  with  the  prophets, 
and  greatest  of  all  with  Christ.  The  miracles  of  Christ  infi- 
nitely surpassed  in  magnitude,  number,  and  quality,  all  the 
so-called  miracles  of  either  ancient  or  modern  pretenders. 
Now,  if  God  designed  to  communicate  to  men  a  new  and  im- 
proved edition  of  religion,  as  Spiritualists  claim  he  does,  we 
should  naturally  expect,  judging  from  the  course  God  has  pur- 
sued in  the  past,  that  this  new  religion  —  Spiritualism  —  would 
be  attested  by  greater,  more  numerous,  and  more  valuable 
miracles  than  those  of  Christ.  But  what  are  the  facts  in  the 
case  ?  They  exhibit  a  few  mesmeric  manipulations  and  psycho- 
logic dreams,  and  ask  us  to  believe  that  God  is  giving  to  them 
a  new  dispensation  of  religion,  greater  than  that  given  through 
Abraham,  Moses,  the  prophets,  or  Christ.  Their  doctrines  are 
a  medley  of  deism,  atheism,  pantheism,  and  anthropomorphism. 
Their  tricks  are  simply  those  of  ancient  pagan  necromancy, 
refined  and  modified.  Their  utterances  are  more  childish 
than  those  of  the  ancient  sibyls,  more  confused  than  those  of 
the  Delphic  oracle,  and  less  intelligible  than  those  of  the  an- 
cient statue  of  Memnon.  Themselves  are  only  modifications 
of  the  characters  which  God  commanded  Moses  to  kill  — 
witches.  And  yet  they  delude  themselves  with  the  belief 
that  all  men  must  embrace  their  follies.  Fools  that  ye  are, 
suppose  ye  no  one  thinks  but  yourselves  ?  Ye  are  the  men, 
and  wisdom  shall  die  with  you." 


NOT  ELOQUENCE,  BUT  LOVE. 

.He  that  loveth  not,  knoweth  not  God ;  for  God  is  love.  —  1  John  4  :  8. 

/CUNNING  workmen  are  quite  as  much  needed  in  the  Mas- 
\J  ter's  service  as  in  the  workshops  of  this  World.  An  ex- 
change tells  a  story  of  a  shrewd  Friend,  who,  after  listening 


870  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

to  the  eloquent  praise  bestowed  by  a  gifted  acquaintance  upon 
the  character  and  career  of  Christ,  put  the  plain  question, 
"  Friend  P.,  does  thee  love  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ  ?  "  A  test 
question,  truly,  and  fairly  it  was  answered.  Returning  the 
questioner's  gaze  steadily,  and  speaking  as  if  every  word  was 
fully  weighed,  the  low,  sad  answer  came,  "  No,  sir  j  I  anl 
ashamed  to  say  that  I  do  not." 

What  followed  ?  Reproaches,  exhortations,  long-  arguments 
over  the  inconsistency  of  the  impenitent  position  ?  Nothing 
of  the  kind ;  but  the  simple  reply,  "  We  wish  thee  did,  friend 
P.,"  delivered  with  a  tenderness,  a  significance,  an  earnest- 
ness which  could  never  be  forgotten.  What  Mr.  P.  needed 
was,  not  enlightenment,  but  the  touch  of  a  consecrated  hand. 


GOD'S  LOVE  TO  MAN. 

Herein  is  love;  not  that  \ve  loved  God,  but  that  he  loved  us,  and  sent  his 
Son  to  be  the  propitiation  for  our  sins.  —  1  John  4  :  10. 

WHERE  shall  we  go  for  manifestations  of  the  tenderness, 
the  sympathy,  the  benignity  of  God  ?  The  philosopher 
leads  us  to  nature,  its  benevolent  final  causes,  and  kind  con- 
trivances to  increase  the  sum  of  animal  happiness ;  and  there 
he  stops,  with  half  his  demonstration.  But  the  apostle  leads 
us  to  the  gift  bestowed  by  the  Father  for  the  recovery  of 
man's  intellectual  and  moral  nature,  and  to  the  cross  endured 
by  the  Son,  on  this  high  behalf.  Go  to  the  heavens,  which 
canopy  man  with  grandeur,  cheer  his  steps  with  successive 
light,  and  mark  his  festivals  with  their  chronology  ;  go  to  the 
atmosphere,  which  invigorates  his  spirits,  and  is  to  him  the 
breath  of  life ;  go  to  the  smiling  fields,  decked  with  verdure 
for  his  eye,  and  covered  with  fruits  for  his  sustenance ;  go  to 
every  scene  which  spreads  beauty  before  his  gaze,  which  is 
made  harmoniously  vocal  to  his  ear,  which  fills  and  delights 
the  imagination  by  its  glow  or  its  greatness.  We  travel  with 
you,  we  admire,  we  feel  and  enjoy  with  you,  we  adore  with 
you,  but  we  stay  not  with  you.  We  hasten  onward  in  search 
of  a  demonstration  more  convincing  that  "  God  is  love,"  and 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  871 

we  rest  not  till  we  press  into  the  strange,  the  *  mournful,  the 
joyful  scenes  of  Calvary,  and  amid  the  throng  of  invisible  and 
astonished  angels,  weeping  disciples,  and  the  mocking  multi- 
tude, under  the  arch  of  the  darkened  heaven,  and  with  the 
earth  trembling  beneath  our  feet,  we  gaze  upon  the  meek,  the 
resigned,  but  fainting  Sufferer,  and  exclaim,  "  Herein  is  love  !  " 
herein,  and  nowhere  else,  is  it  so  aifectingly,  so  unequivocally 
demonstrated,  "  not  that  we  loved  God,  but  that  he  loved  us, 
and  sent  his  Son  to  be  the  propitiation  for  our  sins.  —  R. 
Watson. 

THIS  I  DID  FOR  THEE.   WHAT  DOEST  THOU  FOR  ME? 

Beloved,  if  God   so   loved  us,  we   ought  also  to  love   one   another.  — 
Uohn  4:  11. 

IT  is  said  that  Count  Zinzendorf,  the  Patriarch  of  the  Mora- 
vian  Brethren,  was  first  taught  love  to  the    Saviour  by 
reading  the  above  motto  placed  under  a  print  of  Christ  in  the 
study  of  a  German  divine. 

I  gave  my  life  for  thee, 

My  preoious  blood  I  shed, 
That  thou  might'st  ransomed  be, 

And  quickened  from  the  dead. 
I  gave  my  life  for  thee  ; 
What  hast  thou  given  for  me  ? 

I  spent  long  years  for  thee, 

In  weariness  and  woe, 
That  an  .eternity 

Of  joy  thou  mightest  know. 
I  spent  long  years  for  thee ; 
Hast  thou  spent  one  for  me  ? 

My  Father's  house  of  light, 

My  rainbow-circled  throne 
I  left  for  earthly  night, 

For  wanderings  sad  and  lone. 
I  left  it  all  for  thee ; 
Hast  thou  left  aught  for  me  ? 


872  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

I  suffered  much  for  thee, 

More  than  thy  tongue  can  tell, 

Of  bitterest  agony, 

Thee  to  preserve  from  hell. 

I  suffered  much  for  thee  ; 

What  dost  thou  bear  for  me  ? 

And  I  have  brought  to  thee, 
Down  from  my  home  above, 

Salvation  full  and  free, 
My  spirit  and  my  love. 

Great  gifts  I  brought  to  thee  ; 

What  hast  thou  brought  to  me  ? 

0,  let  thy  life  be  given, 

Thy  years  for  me  be  spent, 

World-fetters  all  be  riven, 
And  joy  with  suffering  blent. 

Give  thou  thyself  to  me, 

Gladly  I'll  welcome  thee  I 


BOLDNESS  THROUGH  LOVE. 

There  is  no  fear  in  love;  but  perfect  love  casteth  out  fear;  because  fear 
hath  torment.     He  that  feareth  is  not  made  perfect  in  love.  —  1  John  4  :  18. 

nnHREE  Japanese  embassadors  were  recently  sent  over  to  the 
J-  United  States  to  obtain  instruction  in  commercial  matters. 
While  here  they  were  brought  to  a  saving  acquaintance  with 
the  "  truth  as  it  is  in  Jesus."  Having  been  made  consciously 
happy  in  the  love  of  the  Saviour,  they  were  put  under  instruc- 
tion, that  they  might  be  more  thoroughly  acquainted  with  Chris- 
tianity. The  minister  was  taking  them  through  the  "  Apos- 
tles' Creed,"  and  was  making  them  understand  how  the  truth, 
had  been  perpetuated  from  generation  to  generation.  They 
listened  till  he  came  to  the  words,  "  He  shall  come  to  judge 
the  quick  and  the  dead." 

"  What  is  that?  "  they  exclaimed,  in  startled  tones. 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  873 

The  minister  thought  they  stumbled  at  the  word  "  quick," 
and  he  explained  that  it  was  an  obsolete  word  for  "  living." 
"  0,"  they  said,  "  not  that."  It  was  the  first  entrance  into 
the  pagan  mind  of  the  idea  of  judgment.  It  was  the  first 
effect  of  the  thought  of  the  coming  again  of  the  Saviour  to 
judge  the  world. 

One  of  them  stood  as  if  stunned  into  catalepsy ;  another 
paced  up  and  down  in  indescribable  agony ;  the  third  bent 
down  with  his  elbows  on  the  table.  The  silence  was  painful 
and  crushing.  The  minister  waited  to  see  what  would  come 
of  it.  After  a  time,  the  man  leaning  on  the  table  raised  his 
head  and  said,  — 

"  0,  how  alarmed  I  should  have  been  if  I  had  known  that 
before  I  loved  him  !  "  This  was  the  Holy  Spirit's  work.  The 
love  of  Christ"  had  come  into  his  heart  first,  so  as  to  take  away 
all  terror  of  judgment,  and  a  startling  thought  like  this,  coming 
suddenly  on  the  spirit,  losj  all  power  to  terrify  it.  It  is  love 
that  saves.  The  most  effective  method  of  preaching  is  not  to 
thunder  the  anathemas  of  vengeance.  To  make  the  declara- 
tion of  unlimited  love  —  love  in  its  disinterestedness  —  love 
in  its  royalty,  divested  of  that  selfishness  which  attaches  itself 
to  all  earthly  relationships  —  love  incarnating  itself  that  it  may 
breathe  more  freely  —  love  shedding  its  own  blood, —  that  is 
the  master  spell  which,  like  the  rod  of  the  prophet,  will  swal- 
low up  the  enchantments  of  all  opposing  forces. 


"MINE'S  A  RELIGION  FOR  ALL  WEATHERS." 

For  this  is  the  love  of  God,  that  we  keep  his  commandments ;  and  his 
commandments  are  not  grievous.  —  1  John  5  :  3. 

THERE'S  a  fishing  village,  on  the  coast  of  Cornwall,  where 
the  people  are  very  poor,  but  pious  and  intelligent.     One 
year  they  were   sorely  tried.     The  winds  were  contrary,  and 
for  nearly  a  month  they  could  not  put  to  sea.     At  last,  on  a 
Sabbath  morning,  the  wind   changed,  and   some  of  the  men, 
whose  faith  was  weak,  went  out  toward  the  beach,  the  women 
and  children   looking  on   sadly,  many  saying,  with  sighs,  "  I'm 
sorry  it's  -Sunday,  but  —  if  we  were  not  so  poor  !  " 
110 


874  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

"  But  if,"  said  a  sturdy  fisherman,  starting  up  and  speaking 
aloud  j  "  surely,  neighbors,  your  buts  and  ifs  will  lead  you  to 
break  God's  law." 

The  people  gathered  around  him,  and  he  added,  "  Mine's  a 
religion  for  all  weathers,  fair  wind  and  foul.  l  This  is  the  lovo 
of  God,  that  ye  keep  his  law.'  '  Remember  the  Sabbath  day 
to  keep  it  holy/  That's  the  law,  friends.  And  our  Lord  came 
not  to  break,  but  to  fulfill  the  law.  True,  we  are  poor ;  what 
of  that?  Better  poor  and  have  God's  smiles,  than  rich  and 
have  his  frown.  Go,  you  that  dare ;  but  I  never  knew  any 
good  come  of  a  religion  that  changed  with  the  wind." 

These  words,  in  season,  stayed  the  purpose  of  the  rest.  They 
went  home  and  made  ready  for  the  house  of  God,  and  spent 
the  day  in  praise  and  prayer.  In  the  evening,  just  when  they 
would  have  been  returning,  a  sudden  storm  sprung  up,  that 
raged  terribly  for  two  days.  After  the  tempest  came  settled 
weather,  and  the  pilchard  fishery  was  so  rich  and  abundant, 
that  there  was  soon  no  complaining  in  the  village.  Here  was 
a  religion  for  all  weathers.  Reinember  the  words.  "  Trust  in 
the  Lord  and  do  good,  and  verily  thou  shalt  be  fed." 


YICTORY  OVER  HIMSELF. 

For  whatsoever  is  born  of  God  overcometh  the  world ;  and  this  is  the  vic- 
tory that  overcometh  the  world,  even  our  faith.  —  1  John  5  :  4. 

A  MERCHANT  in  one  of  our  Atlantic  cities  said  to  a  friend, 
J\.  "  I  wonder  why  none  of  my  clerks  have  been  converted." 
His  friend  replied,  "  Are  you  aware  that  you  have  a  hasty 
temper,  and  often  find  fault  unnecessarily  with  your  clerks, 
and  manifest  a  wrong  spirit  in  your  business  ? "  The  mer- 
chant was  conscious  that  he  was  verily  guilty,  retired  to  his 
closet,  confessed  his  sin,  and  deeply  humbled  himself  before 
God.  The  next  morning  he  called  his  eleven  or  twelve  clerks 
together  in  his  counting-room,  told  them  of  the  agony  of  his 
mind,  asked  their  forgiveness,  knelt  down  and  prayed.  Two 
of  those  clerks  were  convicted  in  that  counting-room  before 
they  left,  and  within  one  week  were  converted,  and- in  a  short 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  875 

time  three  more.     Having  achieved  a  victory  over  himself,  he 
gained  an  influence  over  others  never  before  possessed. 

The  grace  of  God  can  give  victory  over  a  hasty  temper.  — 
Old  South  Prayer  Meeting. 

A  BOY'S  FAITH  IN  GOD. 

And  this  is  the  confidence  that  we  have  in  him,  that,  if  we  ask  anything 
according  to  his  will,  he  heareth  us.  —  1  John  5  :  14. 

A  VESSEL  was  overtaken  with  a  terrific  hurricane  in  the 
middle  of  the  Atlantic  Ocean.  After  the  most  astonishing 
efforts  to  weather  the  storm,  the  awful  intelligence  of  the  cap- 
tain broke  on  the  ear  of  the  passengers,  "  The  ship  is  on  her 
beam-ends ;  she  will  never  right  again ;  death  is  certain." 

"  Not  at  all,  sir  !  not  at  all,  sir ! ".  exclaimed  a  little  sailor 
boy  ;  "  God  will  save  us  yet." 

"  Why  do  you  think  •  so  ?  "  said  the  captain,  with  strong 
feeling  and  astonishment." 

"  Because,  sir,  at  this  moment  they  are  praying  under  the 
Bethel  flag,  in  the  city  of  Glasgow,  for  all  sailors  in  distress, 
and  us  among  the  rest ;  and  God  will  hear  their  prayers ;  now 
see  if  he  don't." 

The  captain,  an  old  weather-beaten  tar,  exclaimed,  with  the 
tears  running  down  his  cheeks,  "  God  grant,  that  their  prayers 
may  be  heard  in  our  behalf,  my  little  preacher !  " 

At  that  moment  a  great  wave  struck  the  ship  and  righted 
her.  A  simultaneous  shout  of  exultation,  gratitude,  and  praise, 
louder  than  the  storm,  went  up  to  God.  A  few  days  after  the 
noble  ship  rode  safely  into  New  York  harbor. 


ANSWERS  TO  PRAYER. 

And  if  we  know  that  he  hear  us,  whatsoever  we  ask,  we  know  that  we  have 
the  petitions  that  we  desired  of  him.  —  1  John  5  :  15. 

TTOWEVER  early  in  the  morning  you  seek  the  gate  of  ac- 
XI  cess,  you  find  it  already  open ;  and  however  deep  the 
midnight  moment  when  you  ascend  a  special  PLsgah  or  Moriah, 
you  will  find  the  pathway  radiant  with  light  from  the  throne. 


876  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

It  needs  not  that  you  should  enter  some  awful  shrine,  or  put 
off  your  shoes  on  some  holy  ground.  Could  a  memento  be 
reared  from  every  spot  from  which  an  acceptable  prayer  has 
passed  away,  and  on  which  a  prompt  answer  has  come  down, 
we  should  find  Jehovah  shammah  ("  The  Lord  hath  been  here  ") 
inscribed  on  many  a  cottage  hearth  and  many  a  dungeon  floor. 
We  should  find  it  not  only  in  Jerusalem's  proud  temple,  and 
David's  cedar  galleries,  but  in  the  fisherman's  cottage,  by  the 
brink  in  Genesareth,  and  in  the  upper  chamber  where  Pente- 
cost began.  And  whether  it  be  the  field  where  Isaac  went 
to  meditate,  or  the  rocky  knoll  where  Jacob  lay  down  to  sleep, 
or  the  brook  where  Israel  rested,  or  the  den  where  Daniel 
gazed  on  the  hungry  lions  and  the  lions  gazed  on  him,  or  the 
hill-sides  where  the  Man  of  Sorrows  prayed  all  night, — we 
should  still  discern  the  prints  of  the  ladder's  feet  let  down 
from  heaven  —  the  landing-place  of  mercies  because  the  start- 
ing-point of  prayer.  —  Hamilton. 


REQUEST  OF  THE  DYING  INFIDEL. 

If  any  man  see  his  brother  sin  a  sin  which  is  not  unto  death,  he  shall  ask, 
and  he  shall  give  him  life  for  them  that  sin  not  unto  death.  There  is  a  sin 
unto  death ;  I  do  not  say  that  he  shall  pray  for  it.  —  1  John  5:10. 

TTIATHER  M.,  of  Massachusetts,  who  recently  died  in  faith, 
JL  was  once  called  to  the  dying  bed  of  an  aged  infidel  of  his 
acquaintance.  The  good  old  man  had  long  prayed  for  his 
friend,  but  his  entreaties  had  ever  been  met  by  the  infidel's 
argument  and  scorn.  As  he  approached  the  bed,  he  saw  that 
his  mind  was  in  agony.  The  man  confessed  himself  a  sinner, 
and  that  he  was  not  prepared  to  meet  death.  Father  M.  asked 
him  if  he  had  prayed. 

"  No,  I  can't  pray.  I  have  continually  refused  mercy,  until 
it  is  now  refused  me.  I  have  tried  to  pray,  but  my  lips  won't 
move." 

"  Are  you  willing  that  I  should  pray  for  you,  then,  and  let 
your  heart's  desire  go  up  with  my  words  ?  " 

"  No,  you  can  not  pray  for  me  ;  others  have  tried,  but  could 
not.  You  may  kneel,  but  it  will  be  useless." 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  877 

And  sa  the  aged  saint  knelt  at  the  bedside  of  the  ago- 
nized sinner.  Those  lips  had  daily  moved  in  prayer  for  half 
a  century.  That  tongue  had  daily  brought  the  name  of  sin- 
ners before  God's  throne  :  but,  strange  to  say,  all  his  faculties 
of  speech'  seemed  paralyzed  now.  Mercy  was  a  word  that 
he  could  not  speak,  and  for  the  first  time  prayer  was  impos- 
sible. 

"  Now,"  said  the  infidel,  as  Father  M.  rose  from  his  knees, 
"  I  want  to  preach  at  my  own  funeral ;  and  when  you  have 
closed  the  other  parts  of  the  service,  I  want  you  to  come  down 
from  the  pulpit  and  place  your  two  fore -fingers  on  my  lips,  and 
say,  '  This  soul  is  sealed  for  hell ! '  " 

"  You  must  spare  me  from  such  a  commission.  It  will 
frighten  the  people." 

"  It  is  my  dying  request,  and  I  feel  that  you  must  do  it. 
Let  others  take  warning  by  my  death.  I  can  not  excuse 
you." 

So  Father  M.,  at  his  funeral,  after  he  had  finished  the  ser- 
mon, came  down  from  the  pulpit,  and  approaching  the  coffin, 
laid  the  tips  of  his  fingers  on  those  marble  lips,  and  with  tears 
streaming  from  his  eyes,  stated  the  man's  dying  request,  .and 
pronounced  the  words,  — 

"  This  soul  is  sealed  for  hell !  " 

0,  my  reader,  whether  Christian  or  not,  be  admonished. 
If  your  peace  is  not  made  with  God,  remember  that  your  soul 
is  following  that  infidel's,  and  ere  long  will  be  sealed.  Your 
lips  can  move  in  prayer  now.  The  time  may  come  when  this, 
the  greatest  of  all  earthly  privileges,  shall  be  in  vain. 

Christian  brother,  remember  that  souls  —  the  souls  of  your 
friends,  relatives,  and  neighbors  —  are  daily  going  down  to 
hell ;  and  no  small  share  of  responsibility  is  lying  at  your  door. 
May  God  help  us  all  to  feel  the  importance  of  that  infidel's 
sermon.  —  Follower. 


878  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 


JESUS  CHRIST  THE  TRUE  GOD. 

And  we  know  that  the  Son  of  God  is  come,  and  hath  given  us  an  under- 
standing, that  we  may  know  him  that  is  true ;  and  we  are  in  him  that  is 
true,  even  in  his  Son  Jesus  Christ.  This  is  the  true  God  and  eternal  life.  — 
1  John  5 :  20. 

TWO  gentlemen  were  once  disputing  on  the  divinity  of 
Christ.  One  of  them,  who  argued  against  it,  said, — 

"  If  it  were  true,  it  certainly  would  have  been  expressed  in 
more  clear  and  unequivocal  terms." 

"  Well,"  said  the  otherr  "  admitting  that  you  believed  it ;  were 
you  authorized  to  teach  it,  and  allowed  to  choose  your  own 
language,  how  would  you  express  the  doctrine  to  make  it  in- 
dubitable ?  " 

"  I  would  say,"  replied  he;  "  that  Jesus  Christ  is  the  true 
God." 

"  You  are  very  happy,"  rejoined  the  other,  "  in  the  choice 
of  your  words  ;  for  you  happen  to  hit  upon  the  very  words  of 
inspiration.  St.  John,  speaking  of  the  Son,  says,  i  This  is  the 
true  God  and  eternal  life.'  " 


EARLY  CHRISTIAN  FAITH. 

Whosoever  transgresseth,  and  abideth  not  in  the  doctrine  of  Christ,  hath 
not  God.  He  that  abideth  in  the  doctrine  of  Christ,  he  hath  both  the  Father 
and  the  Son.  —  2  John  9. 


PHE  church,"  says  Irenasus,  "  though  dispersed  throughout 
JL  the  whole  world,"  —  observe  how  numerous  Christians 
were,  —  "  even  to  the  ends  of  the  earth,  has  received  from 
the  apostles  and  their  disciples  this  faith  ;  in  one  God,  the 
Father  Almighty,  Maker  of  heaven  and  earth  and  the  sea,  and 
all  things  that  are  in  them  ;  and  in  one  Christ  Jesus  the  Son 
of  God,  who  became  incarnate  for  our  salvation  ;  and  in  the 
Holy  Spirit,  who  proclaimed  through  the  prophets  the  dispen- 
sation of  God,  and  the  advent,  and  the  birth  from  a  virgin, 
and  the  passion,  and  the  resurrection  from  the  dead,  and  the 
ascension  into  heaven  in  the  flesh,  of  the  beloved  Christ  Jesus, 
our  Lord,  and  his  manifestation  from  'heaven  in  the  glory  of 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  879 

the  Father,  to  gather  all  things  in  one,  and  to  raise  up  anew 
all  flesh  of  the  whole  human  race,  in  order  that  to  Christ  Jesus, 
our  Lord,  and  God,  and  Saviour,  and  King,  according  to  the 
will  of  the  invisible  Father,  every  knee  should  bow,  of  things 
in  heaven,  and  things  in  earth,  and  things  under  the  earth,  and 
that  every  tongue  should  confess  to  him,  and  that  he  should 
execute  just  judgment  toward  all ;  that  he  may  send  spiritual 
wickedness  [perhaps  wicked  spirits],  and  the  angels  who  trans- 
gressed and  became  apostates,  together  with  the  ungodly,  and 
unrighteous,  and  wicked,  and  profane  among  men,  into  ever- 
lasting fire ;  but  may,  in  the  exercise  of  his  grace,  confer  im- 
mortality on  the  righteous  and  holy,  and  those  who  have  kept 
his  commandments,  and  have  persevered  in  his  love,  some 
from  the  beginning,  and  others  from  their  repentance,  and  may 
surround  them  with  everlasting  glory." 

Here,  then,  is  what  Christians  in  the  second  century  be- 
lieved. Irenseus  often  reiterates  this  creed.  He  says  nothing 
about  baptism,  though  we  know  from  other  sources  that  all 
Christians  were  baptized.  He  says  nothing  about  conversion, 
or  a  sudden  change  of  heart,  testified  to  by  the  Holy  Spirit, 
but  dwells  with  earnestness  upon  morality,  asserting  that  the' 
Decalogue  is  to  be  faithfully  obeyed  from  love,  and  maintain- 
ing that  Christian  life  is  founded  upon  love,  promoted  by 
prayer,  and  cultivated  by  discipline. 

No  candid  reader  can  fail  to  see  that  Christians  then  were 
a  moral  people,  a  prayerful  and  self-denying  people,  a  happy, 
cheerful,  and  active  people,  and  that  before  them  immorality, 
idolatry,  and  false  doctrine  disappeared. 

Our  modern  civilization  has  produced  new  enemies  to  the 
gospel,  and  brings  with  it  new  duties,  and  may  even  have 
discovered  new  resources  and  new  elements  of  power  in  the 
Bible ;  but  still  no  Christianity  can  be  genuine  that  does  not 
maintain  the  same  essentials  as  can  be  found  in  the  Christi- 
anity of  the  second  century  as  described  by  Irenasus.  —  Rev. 
E.  0.  Haven. 


880  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 


ADMIRAL  FARRAGUT  AND  THE  ROMISH  PRIEST. 

If  there  come  any  unto  you  and  bring  not  this  doctrine,  receive  him  not 
into  your  house.  —  2  John  10. 

IT  will  be  remembered  that  Admiral  Farragut  had  a  severe 
and  dangerous  illness  in  Chicago,  not  many  months  before 
his  fatal  sickness  at  Portsmouth.  While  lying  very  low  in  the 
hotel,  his  life  being  then  despaired  of,  it  was  suggested  that  a 
clergyman  should  be  sent  for.  The  admiral  desired  it,  and  a 
messenger  was  dispatched.  An  Irish  servant,  knowing  what 
was  going  on,  sent  in  all  haste  for  a  Romish  priest,  who  arrived 
before  the  clergyman,  and  was  met  at  the  door  of  the  bed- 
chamber by  Mrs.  Farragut,  who  reluctantly  admitted  him.  He 
went  to  the  bedside,  and,  in  a  low  tone  of  voice,  addressed  the 
admiral,  who  shook  his  head  decidedly.  Again  he  attempted 
to  address  him,  but  was  repulsed,  and  finally  left  the  room. 
Mrs.  Farragut  approached  her  husband,  the  old  sailor,  who 
roused  himself,  and  said,  firmly,  "  That's  not  my  pilot ;  I  want 
my  own  pilot."  This  was  the  characteristic  exclamation  of  a 
great  sea  captain,  about  to  go  through  the  dark  waters  of 
death,  and  he  wanted  his  own  pilot  then  !  No  treacherous, 
doubtful  guide  would  answer  in  making  such  a  passage. 


FAITHFULNESS  IN  THE  DISCHARGE  OF  DUTY. 

Beloved,  thou  doest  faithfully  whatsoever  thou  doest  to  the  brethren  and 
to  strangers.  —  3  John  5. 

TEN  years  ago,  when  an  unconverted  man,  I  boarded  in  the 
family  of  a  pious  woman,  whose  husband  was  not  a  Chris- 
tian. There  was  a  daughter  of  nineteen,  another  of  fourteen, 
and  a  son  often.  Every  morning  after  breakfast  I  heard  that 
humble  woman  gather  her  family  in  the  kitchen,  and  read  with 
them  a  chapter  —  "  verse  about  "  —  in  the  Bible.  Then,  as  I 
could  not  help  listening,  there  was  a  peculiarity  of  service 
that  mystified  me.  At  last  I  asked  one  day  if  I  might  remain. 
She  hesitated ;  her  daughter  blushed,  but  said  I  could  do  so 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  881 

if  I  really  desired  to.  So  I  sat  down  with  the  rest.  They 
gave  me  a  Testament,  and  we  all  read.  Then,  kneeling  on 
the  floor,  that  mother  began  her  prayer  audibly  for  her  dear 
ones  there,  her  husband,  and  herself,  and  then,  pausing  a  mo- 
ment, as  if  to  gather  her  energies  or  wing  her  faith,  uttered 
a  tender,  affectionate  supplication  for  me.  She  closed,  and 
her  daughter  began  to  pray.  Poor  girl,  she  was  afraid  of  me  ; 
I  was  from  college.  I  was  her  teacher ;  but  she  tremulously 
asked  for  a  blessing,  as  usual.  Then  came  the  other  daughter, 
and  at  last  the  son,  the  youngest  of  that  circle,  who  only  re- 
peated the  Lord's  Prayer,  with  one  petition  of  his  own.  His 
"  amen  "  was  said,  but  no  one  rose.  I  knew  on  the  instant 
they  were  waiting  for  me  ;  and  I,  poor,  prayerless  I,  had  no 
word  to  say.  It  almost  broke  my  heart.  I  hurried  from  the 
room  desolate  and  guilty.  A  few  weeks  only  passed,  when  I 
asked  their,  permission  to  come  in  once  more;  and  then  I 
prayed  too,  and  thanked  my  ever-patient  Saviour  for  the  new 
hope  in  my  heart  and  the  new  song  on  my  lips. 


HELPING  THE   PREACHER. 

We  therefore  ought  to  receive  such,  that  we  might  be  fellow-helpers  to  the 
truth.  —  3  John  8. 

DR.  BEECHER  once  said  to  an  old  lady  who  expressed  her 
wonder  to  him  that  she  was  permitted  to  live,  as  she 
could  not  do  any  more  good,  "  You  are  doing  a  great  deal  of 
good ;  you  help  me  to  preach  every  Sunday."  She  was 
greatly  surprised,  and  inquired  how  it  could  be.  "  In  the 
first  place,"  said  he,  "  you  are  always  in  your  seat  on  the  Sab- 
bath, and  that  helps  me  :  in  the  second  place,  you  are  always 
wide  awake,  and  you  look  right  up  into  my  face,  and  that  helps 
me  ;  and  in  the  third  place,  I  often  see  the  tears  running  down 
your  face,  ancUthat  helps  me  very  much." 

We  recollect  hearing  our  father  often  repeat  the  story  of 

once    attending    an    evening  lecture,  at   which   Dr.   Payson 

preached  with  a  great  deal  of  animation  and  power.     As  they 

walked  home  together,  father  said  to  the   doctor,  "  I  do  not 

111 


882  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

see  how  you  preached  so  earnestly,  for  it  seemed  to  me  the 
audience  was  very  dull  and  uninterested."  "  Ah,"  replied  Dr. 
Payson,  "  did  you  see  that  man  in  the  gallery  in  a  green  baize 
jacket?  "  "  No,  I  did  not  notice  him."  "  Well,"  was  the  re- 
joinder, "  he  fed  on  every  word  I  spoke."  A  single  really 
attentive  hearer  is  a  great  help.  Attentive  hearers  make 
earnest  preachers. 


CONTENDING  FOR  THE  FAITH. 

Beloved,  when  I  gave  all  diligence  to  write  unto  you  of  the  common  salva- 
tion, it  was  needful  for  me  to  write  unto  you,  and  exhort  you  that  ye  should 
earnestly  contend  for  the  faith  which  was  once  delivered  unto  the  saints.  — 
Jude  3. 

SAID  a  clergyman,  "  When  I  was  in  Europe  I  went  to  see  all 
the  principal  objects  of  interest  wherever  I  traveled  in 
the  old  world  —  the  paintings  of  the  best  masters,  the  statuary 
by  the  hands  of  cunning  artists.  I  looked  at  the  wonders  of 
St.  Peter's.  But  when  I  came  to  see  the  Waldensian  Synod 
in  session  assembled,  I  tell  you,  my  brethren,  I  felt  that  I  was 
looking  upon  the  greatest  sight  that  I  had  ever  seen  in  all  the 
world.  It  was  not  so  much  what  I  saw  then  and  there,  but 
what  I  saw  that  had  been  long  past  —  the  bloody  persecutions 
through  which  the  forefathers  of  these  men  had  passed,  the 
noble  testimony  which  they  have  borne  through  fagots  and 
flames,  and  their  unflagging  heroism  in  defense  of  the  truth. 
All  this,  and  much  more,  I  saw  as  I  looked  upon  that  band  of 
noble  men,  heroic  as  ever  for  the  gospel  of  Christ,  in  the  pres- 
ence of  the  hosts  of  evil ;  the  same  undaunted  Waldenses  as 
of  former  times,  whom  no  threats  or  anathemas  could  frighten, 
though  hurled  with  all  the  power  and  hatred  of  the  Vatican 
and  the  Roman  Catholic  world.  These  are  the  defenders  of 
the  faith  once  delivered  to  the  saints." 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  883 


WHY  WERE  NOT  ANGELS  REDEEMED? 

And  the  angels  which  kept  not  their  first  estate,  but  left  their  own  habita- 
tion, he  hath  reserved  in  everlasting  chains  under  darkness  unto  the  judgment 
of  the  great  day.  —  Jude  6. 

WHEN  the  question  is  asked,  Why  were  not  angels  re- 
deemed ?  the  idea  seems  to  be  that  angels,  like  Adam, 
were  subjected  to  a  trial  to  be  decided  by  a  single  act,  and 
having  sinned,  no  offer  of  mercy  was  tendered  to  them.  This 
is  altogether  more  than  we  know,  and  far  more  than  we  have 
any  right  to  infer.  How  long  and  how  gracious  their  proba- 
tion was  we  know  not.  We  know  they  had  one,  and  "  kept 
not  their  first  estate."  They  have  no  right  to  claim  another ; 
it  would  be  of  no  benefit  if  they  had  it ;  and  God  could  not, 
without  injustice,  grant  it. 

So  man  has  one  probation.  Redemption  secures  for  him 
whal  the  angels  had  without  it, -viz.,  free  agency  and  power 
of  choice.  Men  are  redeemed  before  they  are  born.  It  is,  so 
to  speak,  a  part  of  their  creation.  They  would  never  have 
been  allowed  to  be  but  for  redemption  ;  and  this  redemption 
gives  them  no  advantage  over  angels  ;  it  only  places  them 
just  where  angels  are  without  it,  and  just  where  man  would 
have  been  without  the  fall.  Let  it  not  be  forgotten  that  an- 
gels have  had  one  probation,  and  men  have  no  more. 


FUTURE  RETRIBUTION. 

Even  as  Sodom  and  Gomorrah,  and  the  cities  about  them  in  like  manner, 
giving  themselves  over  to  fornication,  and  going  after  strange  flesh,  are  set 
forth  for  an  example,  suffering  the  vengeance  of  eternal  fire.  — »Jude  7. 

11 TT  seems  to  me,"  says  Dr.  Channing,  "  that  a  man  of  com- 
JL  mon  understanding,  .reading  the  Scriptures  without  any 
knowledge  of  the  way  in  which  they  have  been  interpreted, 
would  not  think  it  possible  that  the  doctrine  should  ever  have 
been  drawn  from  them  that  there  is  to  be  no  future  punish- 
ment. Almost  any  opinion  would  seem  to  him  to  receive 
greater  countenance  from  the  Bible  than  this.  Yet  this  opin- 


884  NEW   TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

ion  lias  fooid  strenuous  advocates,  and,  from  its  very  nature, 
it  has  not  been  advocated  without  making  converts. 

"  This  error  should  be  resisted  with  earnestness,  because  it 
directly,  palpably,  and  without  disguise  diminishes  the  re- 
straints on  vice.  It  is  at  war  with  society.  It  is  a  blow  at 
the  r'oot  of  social  order.  It  lets  loose  propensities  which  are 
constantly  struggling  against  the  principle  of  duty,  and  which 
this  principle,  unaided  by  the  fear  of  future  suffering,  is,  in 
multitudes,  poorly  able  to  restrain.  The  doctrine  I  am  oppos- 
ing goes  to  the  very  extinction  of  conscience.  Conscience  in 
man  is  an  echo,  if  I  may  so  speak,  to  the  will  and  moral  sen- 
timents of  God.  Its  dictates  are  authoritative,  because  we 
feel  them  to  be  dictates  of  Him  who  made  us.  A  sense  of 
God's  abhorrence  of  sin  is  the  chief  nourishment  of  our  abhor- 
rence of  it.  Let  God  be  viewed  as  so  unconcerned  about 
character  as  not  to  punish  the  guiltiest  life,  as  to  fall  short  in 
his  administration  of  the  plainest  requisitions  of  justice^  and 
a  deadly  torpor  would  spread  over  the  human  conscience. 
Moral  sensibility  would  be  paralyzed.  The  effect  of  this  doc- 
trine, indeed,  may  not  immediately  appear,  because  its  very 
extravagance  prevents  its  being  thoroughly  believed  ;  because 
it  can  not  eradicate  the  principles  of  our  nature,  and  can  not 
entirely  efface  the  principles  of  our  education.  Guilt  and 
punishment  are  seen  to  have  a  connection  too  natural  and  in- 
timate to  be  wholly  separated  even  in  thought.  But  whilst 
the  influence  of  the  doctrine  may  be  counteracted  by  these 
and  other  causes,  such  as  natural  good  dispositions,  freedom 
from  great  temptations,  the  power  of  opinion,  and  the  like,  yet 
its  proper  effects  must  be  always  bad ;  its  fruits  are  bitter,  its 
tendency  is  to  sin  and  death." 


REBUKING  A  SCOFFER. 

But  these  speak  evil  of  those  things  which  they  know  not ;  but  what  they 
know  naturally,  as  brute  beasts,  in  those  tilings  they  corrupt  themselves.  — 
Jude  10. 

THE  itinerant  ministry  brings  the  pastor  into  many  pleasant 
associations,  and  sometimes  into  associations  that  are  not 
so  pleasant.     The  following  incident,  in  the  ministerial  labors 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  885 

of  Rev.  Joseph  De  Larme,  now  of  the  Central  New  York  Con- 
ference, was  of  the  latter  kind. 

In  the  year  1857,  a  ministerial  association  was  held  in 
Moira,  Franklin  Co.,  N.  Y.  Two  or  three  of  the  ministers  in 
attendance  upon  the  meeting  were  sent  for  entertainment  to 
the  house  of  a  worthy  Baptist  member,  residing  in  the  village. 
In  the  family  there  was  a  gentleman  boarder  who  professed 
atheism,  and  who  took  occasion,  as  soon  as  the  ministers  were 
seated  at  the  table,  for  the  first  time  to  proclaim  his  infidel 
sentiments.  Turning  to  Mr.  De  Larme,  who  sat  next  him,  he 
said,  "  I  do  not  believe  in  your  priestcraft,  neither  do  I  be- 
lieve in  your  God.  I  have  a  little  boy,"  continued  the  infidel, 
"  whom  I  have  taught,  when  he  comes  to  the  name  of  God,  in 
reading,  to  take  his  pencil  and  blacken  the  word."  Then  said 
Mr.  De  Larme,  to  whom  this  scoffer  was  directing  his  blasphe- 
mous words,  "  I  do  not  know  how  these  brethren  feel  in  being 
seated  at  this  table  with  this  brute,  but,  as  for  myself,  I  feel 
insulted.  This  creature  should  have  his  place  with  brutes  in 
the  barn  ;  for  he  who  denies  the  existence  of  his  Creator  gives 
up  his  claim  to  manhood." 

The  gentleman  of  the  house,  listening  to  the  conversation, 
said  to  the  infidel,  "  Are  the  principles  you  have  just  advanced 
your  sentiments?"  to  which  he  said,  "They  are."  "You 
.will  please  get  you  another  boarding-place  immediately. 
You  can  finish  your  dinner,  but  you  must  leave ;  for  I  have  a 
family  of  small  children  whom  I  can  not  allow  to  hear  these 
principles." 

WHO  SEPARATE  THEMSELVES. 

These  be  they  who  separate  themselves,  sensual,  having  not  the  Spirit.  — 
Jude  19. 

MR.  SPURGEON  is  an  open  communionist,  as  many  of  our 
readers  know ;  but  all  do  not  know  that  a  sermon  of  his 
from  the  text,  "  These  are  they  who  separate  themselves,"  has 
been  mutilated  in  the  American  edition  of  his  sermons.  The 
English  edition  of  this  discourse  contains,  besides  other  pun- 
gent sentences,  the  following :  "  There  is  not  a  Christian  be- 
neath the  scope  of  God's  heaven  from  whom  I  am  separated. 


886  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

At  the  Lord's  table  I  always  invite  all  Christians  to  come,  and 
sit  down  and  commune  with  us.  If  any  man  were  to  tell  me 
that  I  am  separated  from  the  Episcopalian,  the  Presbyterian, 
or  the  Methodist,  I  would  tell  him  he  did  not  know  me,  for  I 
loved  them  with  a  pure  heart  fervently,  and  I  am  not  separated 
from  them.  This  bears  rather  hard  on  our  friends  the  Strict 
Communion  Baptists.  I  should  not  like  to  say  anything  hard 
against  them,  for  they  are  about  the  best  people  in  the  world ; 
but  they  really  do  separate  themselves  from  the  great  body 
of  Christ's  people.  They  separate  themselves  from  the  great 
universal  church.  They  say  they  will  not  commune  with  it  ; 
and  if  any  one  comes  to  their  table  who  has  not  been  baptized, 
they  turn  him  away.  The  pulse  of  Christ's  body  is  commu- 
nion ;  and  woe  to  the  church  that  seeks  to  cure  the  ills  of 
Christ's  body  by  stopping  the  pulse.  I  think  it  sin  to  re- 
fuse to  commune  with  any  one  who  is  a  member  of  the  church 
of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ.  I  should  think  myself  grossly  in 
fault  if  at  the  foot  of  these  stairs  I  should  meet  a  truly  con- 
verted child  of  God,  who  called  himself  a  Primitive  Methodist, 
or  a  Wesleyan,  or  a  Churchman,  or  an  Independent,  and  I 
should  say,  l  No,  sir,  you  do  not  agree  with  me  on  certain 
points  ;  I  believe  you  are  a  child  of  God,  but  I  will  have  noth- 
ing to  do  with  you.'  I  should  then  think  that  this  text  would 
be  hard  on  me  :  l  These  be  they  who  separate  themselves, 
sensual,  having  not  the  Spirit.'  J: 


PRESENTED  FAULTLESS. 

Now,  unto  him  that  is  abb  to  keep  you  from  falling,  and  to  present  you 
faultless  before  the  presence  of  his  glory  with  exceeding  joy.  —  Jude  24. 

FROM  under  a  canopy  of  night  we  look  out  upon  these 
promised  scenes  of  blessedness,  and  we  are  comforted. 
Our  dark  thoughts  are  softened  down,  even  when  they  are  not 
wholly  brightened.  For  day  is  near,  and  joy  is  near,  and  the 
warfare  is  ending,  and  the  tear  shall  be  dried  up,  and  the 
shame  be  lost  in  glory,  and  "  we  shall  be  presented  faultless 
before  the  presence  of  his  glory  with  exceeding  joy." 

Then  the  fruit  of  patience  and  of  faith  shall  appear,  and  the 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  887 

hope  we  have  so  long  been  clinging  to  shall  not  put  us  to 
shame.  Then  shall  we  triumph  and  praise.  Then  shall  we 
be  avenged  on  death,  and  pain,  and  sickness.  Then  shall 
every  wound  be  more  than  healed.  Egypt  enslaves  us  no 
more.  Babylon  leads  us  captive  no  more.  The  Red  Sea  is 
crossed,  the  wilderness  is  passed,  Jordan  lies  behind  us,  and 
we  are  in  Jerusalem  !  There  is  no  more  curse,  there  is  no 
more  night.  The  tabernacle  of  God  is  with  us  ;  in  that  taber- 
nacle he  dwells,  and  we  dwell  with  him.  —  JR.  H.  Bonar,D.  D. 


DR.  HOLLAND'S  VIEWS  OF  UNITARIANISM. 

To  the  only  wise  God  our  Saviour  be  glory  and  majesty,  dominion  and 
power,  both  now  and  ever.  Amen.  —  Jude  25. 

DR.  HOLLAND  thus  discourses,  in  Scribner's  Monthly,  on 
Unitarianism :  — 

"We  suppose  it  must  be  a  matter  of  common  observation 
that  as  soon  as  a  Unitarian  clergyman  really  begins  in  earnest 
the  work  of  saving  men,  he  begins  to  drift  toward  the  evan- 
gelical view  of  Christ.  So  long  as  Unitarianism  works  among 
the  refined  and  the  highly-educated,  even  if  they  are  politely 
selfish,  it  gets  along  very  well ;  but  the  moment  it  is  called 
upon  to  present  the  motives  of  reformation  to  the  wicked,  the 
brutal,  the  degraded,  it  finds  itself  inexpressibly  weak.  The 
man  who  preaches  nurture,  and  culture,  and  development,  to  a 
congregation  of  brutal  men  and  vicious  women,  preaches  that 
which  every  man  and  woman  before  him  knows  to  be  nonsense. 
There  is  not  one  of  them  who  does  not  need  to  be  saved,  and 
who  does  not  know  that  the  process  of  salvation  involves  a 
revolution,  or  a  reformation,  or  a  regeneration  —  a  change, 
possibly,  that  combines  all  these  processes.  They  are  weak, 
and  need  help ;  they  are  sinful,  arid  need  pardon ;  they  are 
lost,  and  need  to  be  saved.  To  tell  such  people  that  a  i  He- 
brew philosopher'  —  who  pretended  to  be  inspired  and  to  teach 
with  authority,  but  who  was  in  reality  only  a  good  man  —  can 
save  them,  is  to  feed  starving  men  with  chaff.  The  wicked, 
selfish,  degraded  world  we  live  in  can  never  be  under  very 
great  obligation  to  a  religious  teacher  who  laughs  at  the  phrase 


888  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

'  a  change  of  heart.'  As  soon  as  a  man  realizes  the  necessity 
of  such  a  change  for  himself  and  the  world,  he  realizes  the 
necessity  of  holding,  as  the  central  figure  of  his  religious  sys- 
tem, something  more  than  a  l  Hebrew  philosopher.'  Only  his 
God  can  be  his  Saviour,  and  his  Saviour  must  be  his  God. 
The  mightier  the  Christ.of  a  church  is,  the  mightier  the  church 
as  an  influence  for  good  in  the  world.  Christ,  disarmed  of 
divine  power,  shorn  of  divine  authority,  stripped  of  his  in- 
finite loveliness,  and  despoiled  of  those  glories  which  he  shared 
*  with  the  Father  before  the  world  was/  is  only  a  milder  Ma- 
homet, or  a  finer  Joseph  Smith." 


REVELATION. 

The  Revelation  of  Jesus  Christ,  which  God  gave  unto  him,  to  shew  unto 
his  servants  things  which  must  shortly  come  to  pass  ;  and  he  sent  and  signified 
it  by  his  angel  unto  his  servant  John.  —  Rev.  1 :  1. 

CHRISTIANS  spend  far  too  little  time  in  the  study  of  the 
\J  book  of  the  "  Revelation  of  Jesus  Christ,  which  God  gave 
to  him,  to  show  unto  his  servants  things  that  must  shortly  come 
to  pass."  "  Blessed  is  he  that  readeth,  and  they  that  hear  the 
words  of  this  prophecy,  and  keep  those  things  that  are  writ- 
ten therein,  for  the  time  is  at  hand."  There  is  a  general 
impression  that  this  book  is  so  dark  that  it  is  impossible  to 
comprehend  any  of  it,  and  that  whoever  becomes  deeply  in- 
terested in  the  study  of  it  soon  gets  astray  in  his  ideas,  and 
makes  wild  and  crazy  calculations.  .  This  is  all  wrong.  If  the 
book  is  a  revelation,  there  is  something  revealed.  If  it  is 
given  to  Christians  to  comfort  them,  and  instruct  them,  and 
strengthen  their  faith,  they  ought  to  use,  and  not  fear  and 
shun  it.  Said  a  gifted  preacher,  speaking  of  this  portion  of 
the  Lord's  word,  "  The  prophecies  are  like  the  aurora  borealis 
—  they  are  not  meant  to  be  understood  until  fulfilled.  They 
are  lights  in  the  heavens  before  us,  saying,  Have  courage,  and 
hope,  and  press  forward.  God  is  this  way.  You  are  march- 
ing toward  his  glorious  kingdom.  The  lights  will  be  all 
steady  by  and  by.  Now  they  are  but  glancing,  glittering 
intimations  of  what  is  before." 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  839 

Though  much  of  this  sure  word  of  prophecy  must  long  re- 
main hidden  from  us,  we  -may  certainly  understand  quite 
enough  of  it  to  encourage  us  during  all  the  triumphs  of  infi- 
delity, superstition,  and  wickedness.  We  may  learn  how  much 
of  the  riddle  of  revelation  has  already  been  read,  and  by  that 
may  stand  the  firmer  on  our  faith  that  all  is  to  be  accomplished 
according  to  the  will  of  our  Lord.  Think  of  what  the  Bible 
says  of  the  Africans,  the  Arabians,  Turks,  Jews,  Papists  ;  of 
Tyre,  Babylon,  and  Nineveh;  also  of  the  seven  churches  of 
Asia ;  of  Jerusalem ;  and  Rome  ;  and  of  how  every  word  of 
many  of  these  prophecies  has  already  been  accomplished,  and 
how  fast  some  of  the  others  are  now  hurrying  toward  fulfill- 
ment, and  then  be  staggered  by  the  arguments  of  infidels,  or 
by  the  whispers  of  Satan,  if  you  can. 


HEAR  FOR  THY  LIFE. 

Blessed  is  he  that  readeth,  and  they  that  hear  the  words  of  this  prophecy, 
and  keep  those  things  which  are  written  therein ;  for  the  time  is  at  hand.  — 
Rev.  1 :  3. 

IN  one  of  our  large  churches,  perhaps  the  one  in  which  you, 
my  reader,  are  wont  to  sit,  there  sat  from  Sabbath  to  Sabbath 
a  tradesman  of  respectable  position  in  life.     He  came  as  many 
others  come  ;  he  went  as  many  others  go.     For  some  fourteen 
years  he  was  a  "  constant  hearer .; "  so  the  officials  said. 

This  man  was  sick,  and  was  in  view  of  death,  when  a  min- 
ister called  to  see  him,  and  carefully  inquired  into  his  state  of 
mind.  He  was  unconverted  ;  and,  more  than  this,  he  was 
dark.  When  urged  to  seek  for  pardon,  and  not  to  rest  until 
he  knew  his  sins  forgiven,  he  expressed  great  surprise.  He 
did  not  know  that  it  was  possible. 

"  Not  know  that  it  is  possible  ?  Have  you  not  attended 
church  ?  " 

"  Yes,"  was  the  reply ;  "  but  I  do  not  know  that  I  ever  heard 
a  sermon." 

"  What  do  you  mean  ?  You  have  regularly  sat  there  for 
some  fourteen  years,  and  not  heard  a  sermon?  How  can  that 
be  ?  " 

112      ' 


890  MEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

u  Why/'  said  he,  "  the  truth  is  this  :  as  soon  as  the  preacher 
took  his  text  I  began  to  think  of  my  business  j  and  I  acquired 
such  a  habit  of  abstraction  that  while  the  preacher  was  preach- 
ing, I  could  trace  out  on  the  panel  of  the  seat  before  me  all 
the  work  of  the  past  week ;  and,  having  reviewed  that,  could 
lay  all  my  plans  for  the  week  to  come.  Arid  the  consequence 
is,  that  I  do  not  know  that  I  ever  heard  a  sermon." 


UNTO  HIM  WHO  HATH  LOVED  US. 


E 


Unto  him  that  loved  us,  and  washed  us  from  our  sins  in  his  own  blood. 
Rev.  1 :  5. 

OW  hath  he  loved  us?     Ask  the  star, 

That  on  its  wondrous  mission  sped, 
Hung  trembling  o'er  that  manger  scene, 

Where  He,  the  Eternal,  bowed  his  head ; 
He,  who  of  earth  doth  seal  the  doom, 
Found  in  her  lowliest  inn  no  room. 

Judea's  mountains,  lift  your  voice, 
With  legends  of  the  Saviour  fraught ; 

Speak,  favored  Olivet,  —  so  oft 

At  midnight's  prayerful  vigil  sought ; 

And  Kedron's  brook,  whose  rippling  wave, 

Frequent,  his  wearied  feet  did  lave. 

How  hath  he  loved  us  ?     Ask  the  band 
That  fled  his  woes  with  faithless  haste, 

And  the  weak  friend's  denial  tone, 
Scarce  by  his  bitterest  tears  effaced ; 

Ask  of  the  traitor's  kiss,  and  see 

What  Jesus  hath  endured  for  thee. 

Ask  of  Gethsemarie,  whose  dews 

Shrank  from  that  moisture,  strangely  red, 

Which,  in  that  unwatched  hour  of  pain, 
His  agonizing  temples  shed, 

The  scourge,  the  thorn,  whose  anguish  sore 

Like  the  unanswcring  lamb  he  bore. 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  891 

How  hath  he  loved  us  ?     Ask  the  cross, 

The  Roman  spear,  the  shrouded  sky  j 
Ask  of  the  sheeted  dead,  who  burst 

Their  cerements  at  his  fearful  cry ; 
0,  ask  no  more,  but  bow  thy  pride, 
And  yield  thy  heart  to  Him  who  died. 


THE  PROMISES  OF  CHRIST  A  PROOF  OF  HIS 
DIVINITY. 

I  am  Alpha  and  Omega,  the  beginning  and  the  ending,  saith  the  Lord, 
which  is,  and  which  was,  and  which  is  to  come,  the  Almighty.  —  Rev.  1 :  8. 

ADMIT  that  he  was  only  a  man.  Admit  that  he  was  more 
than  man,  —  the  highest  of  created  beings,  if  you  choose, 
—  and  yet  how  strangely  will  the  promise  to  his  disciples 
read,  "  Behold,  I  give  unto  you  power  to  tread  on  serpents 
and  scorpions,  and  over  all  the  power  of  the  enemy,  and  noth- 
ing shall  by  any  means  hurt  you."  How  strange  would  this 
promise  sound  upon  the  ear,  "  I  am  the  bread  'of  life  ;  he  that 
cometh  to  me  shall  never  hunger,  and  he  that  believeth  on  me 
shall  never  thirst ;  "  or,  "  But  when  the  Comforter  is  come, 
whom  I  will  send  unto  you  from  the  Father,  ...  he  will  tes- 
tify of  me."  Certainly,  if  he  could  not  make  good  these  prom- 
ises, his  claim  to  equality  with  God  would  be  at  once  exposed 
and  shown  to  be  without  foundation.  Certainly  none  but  a 
man  bereft  of  reason  would  make  such  promises,  if  he  did  not 
feel  able  to  fulfill  them.  But  the  whole  history  of  Christ's  life 
shows  that  he  possessed  wisdom  in  an  eminent  degree,  and 
therefore  we  must  find  some  other  supposition  than  that  of 
folly  to  account  for  his  promises ;  but  there  is  no  other  except 
the  admission  that  he  is  a  divine  being,  possessing  the  power 
to  make  good  even  such  large  promises  as  we  have  quoted. 

Could  a  mere  created  being,  no  matter  how  high  the  order 
of  his  being,  satisfy  the  desire  of  men's  souls  ?  Is  it  not  true 
that  they  were  created  for  the  enjoyment  of  God?  And,  if  so, 
no  other  can  satisfy  their  need  ;  but  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ 
does.  Surely  he  must  be  divine.  His  promises,  taken  merely 


892  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

as  promises,  prove  it.  Their  fulfillment  makes  it  doubly  sure. 
We  have,  therefore,  no  hesitation  in  saying,  as  it  is  asserted 
in  the  Scriptures,  that  he  is  the  "  Alpha  and  Omega,  the  be- 
ginning and  the  ending,  which  is,  and  which  was,  and  which 
is  to  come,  the  Almighty." 


JOHN  ON  PATMOS. 

I,  John,  who  also  am  your  brother,  and  companion  in  tribulation,  and  in 
the  kingdom  and  patience  of  Jesus  Christ,  was  in  the  isle  that  is  called  Patmos, 
for  the  word  of  God,  and  for  the  testimony  of  Jesus  Christ.  —  Rev.  1 :  9. 

JOHN  had  to  take  his  head  off  the  beloved  bosom  of  the 
Saviour,  and  let  it  go  up  to  heaven  without  him ;  but  he 
remained  behind  to  behold  visions  of  glory.  He  who  had 
commanded  him  to  tarry  had  also  appointed  his  pathway  heav- 
enward ;  and  if  there  fell  upon  it  a  deeper  light  and  a  brighter 
glory  than  that  of  the  other  disciples,  if  it  lay  nearer  heaven, 
and  had  less  contact  with  the  world  and  sin,  might  it  not  be 
because,  in  his  spirit  of  love  and  purity,  he  was  peculiarly 
adapted  for  companionship  with  those  holy  beings  who  came 
to  him  from  the  skies,  was  more  assimilated  to  the  angels  and 
God?  Probably  he  had  fulfilled  the  commission  of  love  given 
by  his  Master  in  the  hour  of  his  suffering,  and  had  laid  in  the 
still  grave  the  widowed  mother  of  Jesus  before  his  banishment 
to  the  Island  of  Patmos,  where  he  was  summoned  by  God  away 
from  the  world  that  there  might  pass  before  him  in  its  mighty 
magnificence  that  glorious  panorama  that  portrayed  the  de- 
struction of  the  world,  and  the  eternal  establishment  of  the 
kingdom  of  the  Most  High. 

He  was  not,  like  Paul,  caught  up  to  paradise,  but  a  heavenly 
glory  gathered  about  the  lonely  isle  of  his  banishment,  and  his 
soul  is  rapt  in  successive  scenes  of  celestial  magnificence, 
from  the  time  when,  in  the  spirit  on  the  Lord's  day,  he  saw 
Christ,  until  he  beheld  the  holy  city,  the  New  Jerusalem,  com- 
ing down  from  God  out  of  heaven. 

We  talk  of  John  alone  in  Patmos.  Never  was  he  less  alone 
than  on  that  solitary  isle.  Never  did  he  look  forward  with 
more  joy  to  the  communings  of  life  than  when,  with  the  glad 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  893 

welcome  of  a  holy  heart,  he  greeted  his  daily  visitants  from 
the  skies.  The  white-robed  throng  were  there,  the  angelic 
hosts,  the  living  creatures,  and  the  elders,  the 'communings  of 
angels,  the  music  of  the  harpers,  and  the  voice  of  God,  as  the 
sound  of  many  waters. 

It  is  true  he  beheld  scenes  of  destruction  as  well  as  glory, 
of  woe  and  death  as  well  as  of  life  and  joy;  but  he  gazed 
upon  them  as  did  Noah  upon  the  wild  waters  of  the  flood,  or 
Moses  upon  the  sinking  hosts  of  Egypt.  .  God's  righteousness 
and  praise  were  in  them,  and  though  fearful  to  behold,  his 
heart  could  not  but  bow  in  reverence  at  the  feet  of  Jesus,  and 
add  its  glorious  hallelujah. 


IN  THE  SPIRIT  ON  THE  LORD'S  DAY. 

I  was  in  the  spirit  on  the  Lord's  day,  and  heard  behind  me  a  great  voice, 
as  of  a  trumpet.  —  Rev.  1 :  10. 

THE  Christian  Sabbath  is  called  "  the  Lord's  day  "  because 
on  this  day  the  Lord  rose  from  the  dead,  appeared  and 
re-appeared  to  his  disciples.  It  should  be  kept  holy. 

"  The  importance  of  the  Christian  Sabbath  to  produce  and 
maintain  a  well-ordered  community,  civilly,  and  socially,  and 
morally,  and  religiously,  has  been  demonstrated  a  thousand 
times.  The  history  of  every  nation  and  of  every  age,  the 
condition  of  every  community,  and  the  observations  of  every 
man  who  has  given  it  attention,  all  furnish  abundant  and  over- 
whelming evidence  that  a  blight  rests  upon  the  people  who 
have  not  a  Sabbath.  The  contrary  opinion  is  the  fruit  of  igno- 
rance or  selfishness. 

The  effect  of  Sabbath  violation  is  more  destructive,  in  the 
human  mind,  of  a  consciousness  of  divine  obligation,  than 
is  the  violation  of  any  other  divine  commandment.  It  effaces 
more  completely  all  sense  of  the  divine  presence,  resulting  in  a 
godlessness,  and  woiidliness,  and  secularity  of  mind  and  heart, 
greater  than  any  other  one  sin.  And  this  effect,  when  once 
produced,  is  more  difficult  to  remove  than  any  other.  To 
restore  such  a  mind  to  quick  and  tender  apprehension  of  the 
divine  authority,  is  almost  an  impossibility.  It  prepares  the 


894  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

way  for  the  violation  of  all  religious  obligations  with  a  greater 
facility  than  anything  else.  We  have  observed  carefully,  and 
such  has  been  the  result  of  our  observations,  and  our  conclu- 
sion has  long  been,  that  Sabbath-breaking  was  the  most  uni- 
versally destructive  sin  prohibited  in  the  whole  Decalogue." 


FAITHFUL  UNTO  DEATH. 

Be  thou  faithful  unto  death,  and  I  will  give  thee  a  crown  of  life.  —  Rev.  2  :  10. 


daughter  of  a  distinguished  officer  of  the  Emperor  of 
JL  Morocco  had  a  pious  Christian  female  slave.  The  deep 
piety  of  this  slave  made  such  an  impression  on  the  heart  of 
the  officer's  daughter  that  she  requested  her  to  instruct  her  in 
the  Christian  religion.  She  soon  found  joy  and  peace  in  be- 
lieving in  Christ,  which  she  openly  confessed,  although  aware 
of  what  a  cruel  death  awaited  every  apostate  from  Islamism. 
Her  father  and  relatives  labored  in  vain  to  undermine  her  faith. 
Neither  good  words  nor  bad,  nor  the  representation1  of  the 
terrible  sufferings  she  would  have  to  endure,  could  diminish 
her  love  to  Christ,  with  whom  all  these  trials  tended  to  unite 
her  closer.  The  emperor,  hearing  of  these  facts,  sent  for  her, 
and  asked  her  if  she  was  a  Christian.  She  answered  in  the 
affirmative,  adding  that  by  the  help  of  God  she  intended  to 
remain  a  Christian  all  her  lifetime.  Struck  by  this  decided 
answer,  the  sultan  tried  to  frighten  her  by  threatening  her 
with  death.  "  I  do  not  dread  death,"  she  replied,  "  and  will 
most  cheerfully  suffer  it  for  my  Lord  Jesus'  sake.  The  whole 
world  could  not  devise  a  torture  so  dreadful  as  to  be  able  to 
separate  me  from  him."  Thereupon  she  was  delivered  to  the 
judge,  who  pronounced  her  worthy  of  death.  The  sultan 
now  made  her  great  promises  if  she  would  recant,  offering  her 
as  a  husband  the  highest  man  in  the  realm  next  to  himself. 
But  in  vain.  She  replied  with  firm  assurance,  "The  whole 
world  is  much  too  poor  to  make  me  sell  Christ,  my  only  com- 
fort and  joy.  .1  greatly  prefer  a  happy  death  to  an  unhappy 
marriage.  I  am  but  too  well  aware  that  the  Mohammedan 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  895 

faith  is  all  false,  and  with  my  whole  heart  am  I  willing  to  lose 
my  life,  out  of  love  to  Him  who  died  for  me."  %  Sentence  of 
death  was  then  pronounced  upon  her,  and  immediately  carried 
out.  Calmly  she  submitted  her  head  to  the  ax  of  the  execu- 
cutioner. 


HOW  A  FLY  HELPED  A  MINISTER. 

He  that  hath  an  ear,  let  him  hear  what  the  Spirit  saith  unto  the  churches  : 
He  that  overcometh  shall  not  be  hurt  of  the  second  death.  —  Rev.  2:11. 

AN  infidel  was  very  desirous  to  attend  a  church  that  he 
might  hear  the  organ  played,  but  did  not  wish  to  listen 
to  the  Bible,  nor  hear  the  prayers.  He  determined  to  attend, 
but  concluded  to  stop  both  his  ears  during  the  services.  It 
so  happened  that,  during  the  reading  of  the  Scriptures,  a  fly 
alighted  on  his  cheek-bone,  and  stung  him  severely.  He  bore 
the  pain  as  long  as  he  could,  but  was  compeljed  finally  to 
unstop  his  ear  to  brush  him  off.  At  that  momenl  the  minister 
was  reading,  "  He  that  hath  ears  to  hear,  let  him  hear."  It 
made  such  an  impression  upon  his  mind  and  heart  that  he  was 
finally  converted  to  Christ. 

The  Christian  Intelligencer  adds  to  the  above  the  following: 
"  The  officiating  preacher  was  Rev.  Thomas  Haweis,  who  died 
in  1820,  nearly  ninety  years  old.  He  was  long  one  of  Lady 
Huntingdon's  chaplains,  a  rousing  and  successful  preacher,  and 
a  sweet  Christian  poet.  The  man  whose  ear  the  fly  opened 
was  a  coarse,  drunken,  profane  tavern-keeper,  living  six  miles 
off  from  the  Aldwinklo  Church,  where  Dr.  Haweis  was  rector, 
and  where  crowds  were  in  the  habit  of  resorting.  His  love 
for  music  led  him  to  the  church,  and  there  God  met  him  in  the 
singular  way  recounted  above.  After  walking  with  God  for 
eighteen  years,  '  he  died,  rejoicing  in  hope,  and  blessing  God 
for  the  fly,  the  minister  of  his  conversion/  '; 


896  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 


YE  ARE  MY  WITNESSES. 

I  know  thy  works,  and  where  thou  dwellest,  even  where  Satan's  seat  is ; 
and  thou  holdest  fast  my  name,  and  hast  not  denied  my  faith,  even  in  those 
days  wherein  Antipas  was  my  faithful  martyr,  who  was  slain  among  you, 
where  Satan  dwelleth.  —  Rev.  2  :  13. 

THE  Edinburgh  Review  narrates  the  following  anecdote  of 
Prince  Charles,  of  Hesse,  who  was  called  upon  to  testify 
of  Christ  before  Frederick,  the  king  of  Prussia  :  — 

The  prince  tells  the  story  himself.  "  I  dined,"  he  says, 
"  every  day  with  the  king.  One  day  I  had  a  sufficiently  ani- 
mated conversation  with  him  on  the  subject  of  religion.  He 
could  not  see  the  crucifix  without  blaspheming,  and  when  he 
spoke  of  it  at  dinner,  as  well  as  of  the  Christian  religion,  I 
could  not  join  in  the  conversation,  but  I  looked  down  and  pre- 
served a  complete  silence.  At  length  he  turned  to  me  with 
vivacity,  and  said,  — 

" '  Tell  me,*  my  dear  prince,  do  you  believe  in  these  things  ? ' 

"  I  replied,  in  a  firm  tone,  '  Sire,  I  am  not  more  sure  of 
having  the  honor  to  see  you,  than  I  am  that  Jesus  Christ  ex- 
isted, and  died  for  us  as  our  Saviour  on  the  cross.' 

"  The  king  remained  a  moment  buried  in  thought,  and 
grasping  me  suddenly  by  the  right  arm,  he  pressed  it  strongly, 
and  said,  l  Well,  my  dear  prince,  you  are  the  first  homme  d' es- 
prit that  I  have  found  to  believe  in  it.'  I  added  a  few  words 
'to  reiterate  to  him  the  certainty  of  my  faith. 

"  Passing  through  the  adjoining  chamber  the  same  after- 
noon, I  found  General  Tanenzien,  who  had  heard  what  had 
passed,  the  greatest  and  strongest-minded  man  I  ever  knew. 
He  put  his  hands  on  my  shoulders,  and  covered  me  with  a 
torrent  of  tears,  saying,  l  Now,  God  be  praised,  I  have  lived 
to  see  one  honest  man  acknowledge  Christ  to  the  king's  face.' 
This  good  old  man  overwhelmed  me  with  caresses.  I  can  not 
retrace  this  happy  moment  of  my  life  without  the  greatest 
gratitude  to  God  for  having  vouchsafed  to  me  the  opportunity 
of  confessing  before  the  king  my  faith  in  him  and  his  Son." 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  897 

FRUITLESS  PROFESSORS. 

He  that  hath  an  ear,  let  him  hear  what  the  Spirit  saith  unto  the  churches.  — 
Rev.  2  :  29. 

fT)HE  lives  of  a  large  majority  of  the  professed  followers  of 
JL  Christ  are,  virtually,  a  failure.  Like  the  oleaster,  a  coun- 
terfeit olive,  found  in  Palestine,  which  produces  an  abundance 
of  leaves,  but  no  fruit,  they  "  have  a  name  to  live/'  and  only 
a  name. 

Daniel  Webster  once  remarked  that  the  most  important 
thought  that  ever  occupied  his  mind  was  that  of  his  individual 
responsibility  to  God.  George  Whitefield  regretted,  to  his 
dying  day,  that  he  rode  on  one  occasion  in  a  stage-coach  for 
several  hours,  and  said  nothing  to  a  fellow-passenger  of  his 
soul's  welfare.  This  neglect  of  one  of  the  most  important 
duties  of  life  is,  unfortunately,  the  rule,  and  not  the  exception. 

Some  years  ago,  three  young  men,  members  of  the  Meth- 
odist church,  became  so  impressed  in  regard  to  the  personal 
obligations  incumbent  upon  them  to  do  more  for  Christ,  that 
they  relinquished  their  usual  pursuits  for  three  months,  and 
spent  the  time  in  gratuitous  religious  labors  from  place  to 
place,  and  from  "  house  to  house,"  circulating  religious  publi- 
cations, and  conversing  and  praying  with  the  people.  A  letter 
subsequently  received  from  one  of  the  towns  visited,  stated 
that  thirty  persons  had  been  awakened  and  led  to  Christ  as 
the  result  of  their  efforts. 


WATCHFULNESS  A  CONDITION  OF  STRENGTH. 

Be  watchful,  and  strengthen  the  things  which  remain,  that  are  ready  to 
die ;  for  I  have  not  found  thy  works  perfect  before  God.  —  Rev.  3 :  2. 

SATAN  is  watching  to  insnare  us,  the  world  is  Watching  to 
exult  over  us,  and  God  is  watching  to  protect  us.     Jesus, 
our  best  friend,  says  to  us,  "  Be  watchful."     Watch  against 
the    spirit  of  the  world,  against   the    easily  besetting   sins, 
against  seasons  of  temptation,  and  against  Satan,  the  sworn 
enemy  of  thy  soul.     Watch  for  opportunities  to  do  good,  for 
answers  to  prayer,  for  the  appearance  of  God  as  a  God  of 
113 


898  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

providence^  Unite  prayer  to  God,  dependence  on  his  holy 
word,  and  watchfulness  together  ;  pray  to  be  kept  from  sin, 
in  temptation,  unspotted  from  the  world  ;  trust  in  God  to  an- 
swer, but  do  not  leave  the  throne  ;  and  then  watch  as  though 
all  depended  upon  thy  diligence  and  efforts.  Blessed  is  lie 
that  watcheth  and  keepeth  his  garments.  "  Watch  ye,  there- 
fore, and  pray  always."  But  trust  not  thy  watchfulness,  but 
while  watching  trust  in  God.  He  that  keepeth  thee  will  not 
slumber  :  he  is  with  thee  when  on  guard,  as  well  as  when  thoti 
art  feasting  on  his  word  and  rejoicing  at  his  table.  He  with- 
draweth  not  his  eyes  from  the  righteous.  "  The  eyes  of  the 
Lord  are  upon  the  righteous,  and  his  ears  are  open  to  their 
cry."  Watch  ye,  therefore,  and  pray  always. 


WALKING  WITH  GOD. 

Thou  hast  a  few  names  even  in  Sardis  which  have  not  defiled  their  gar- 
ments ;  and  they  shall  walk  witli  me  in  white,  for  they  are  worthy.  —  Rev.  '6  :  ±. 

TWO  men  in  Scripture  are  said  to  have  walked  with  God  - 
Enoch  and  Noah ;  and  the  one  was  carried  up  that  he  should 
not  see  death,  the  other  was  carried  over  the  waves  of  the 
flood.  They  walked  by  faith.  All  the  different  parts  of  man's 
natural  life  and  movements  are  used  by  the  Spirit  to  symbol- 
ize the  spiritual.  "  My  foot  standeth  in  an  even  place."  "  I 
will  not  sit  with  the  wicked."  "  I  will  lay  me  down  in  peace." 
"  Run  with  patience  the  race  set  before  you."  "  I  have  leaped 
over  a  wall."  These  are  exceptional  movements  ;  the  re^ul  ir 
movement  of  a  man's  daily  life  is  his  walking.  His  whole 
life,  in  all  its  movements,  small  and  great,  is  comprehended 
in  thi's. 

In  walking  in  Christ  these  four  things  are  included  :  — 

1.  Reconciliation. 

2.  Abiding. 

3.  Fellowship. 

4.  Obedience. 

This  walk  on  earth  is  through  storms  and  trials  ;  but  there 
is  another  walk  when  this  is  ended ;  and  when  the  Lord 
comes  "  they  shall  walk  with  me  in  white  "  —  the  walk  of 
peace,  and  triumph,  and  glory. 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 


899 


THE  DESERTING  SOLDIER. 

He  that  overcometh,  the  same  shall  be  clothed  in  white  raiment ;  and  I  will 
not  blot  out  his  name  out  of  the  book  of  life,  but  I  will  confess  his  name  before 
my  Father,  and  before  his  angels.  —  Rev.  3  :  5. 

A  SOLDIER  who  had  served  his  country  for  a  time  in  the 
army  became  unwilling  to  remain  longer,  in  the  service. 
By  deception  he  got  his  name  returned  on  the  roll  as  dead. 
He  was  so  reported  from  his  company  to  his  regiment,  and 
from  his  regimental  headquarters  to  the  general  government. 
In  the  great  records  of  the  nation,  against  his  name  Dead  was 
written.  After  the  war  was  over,  and  peace  restored,  the 
government  began  to  dispense  its  bounties  and  pensions 
to  those  who  had  fought  its  battles  and  borne  its  burdens. 
This  runaway  soldier,  that  had  deserted  from  the  service  and 
caused  a  false  report  to  be  returned,  now  appears  for  a  reward 
at  the  hands  of  government. 

The  books  are  examined,  the  name  is  found,  but  Dead  is 
written  against  his  name.  The  government  settles  by  its  of- 
ficial records,  and  in  the  knowledge  of  the  government  he  is  a 
dead  man,  and  not  a  living  claimant. 

In  Christian  warfare  there  is  like  danger.  Christ  has  en- 
listed a  great  many  soldiers  that  have  not  answered  to  the 
roll-call  for  years.  They  deserted  in  time  of  danger,  and  the 
angel  scribe  has  written  against  their  names  —  Dead. 

The  books  of  the  last  day  will  show  erasures  as  well  as  en- 
tries ;  and  almost  the  last  words  of  the  Bible  warn  us  of  the 
blotting  out  of  names  from  the  Book  of  Life.  —  Eev.  William 
Jones. 


JESUS  THE  LOCK. 

These  things  saith  he  that  is  holy,  he  that  is  true,  he  that  hath  the  key  of 
David,  he  that  openeth,  and  no  man  slmttcth;  and  shutteth,  and  no  man 
openeth.  —  Rev,  3  :  7. 

A  LOCK  was  shown  to  Gotthold  constructed  of  rings,  which 
were  severally  inscribed  with  certain  letters,  and  could 
be  turned  round  until  the  letters  represented  the  name  Jesus. 


900  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

It  was  only  when  the  rings  were  disposed  in  this  manner  that 
the  lock  could  be  opened.  The  invention  pleased  him  beyond 
measure,  and  he  exclaimed,  "  0  that  I  could  put  such  a  lock 
as  this  upon  my  heart !  " 

Our  hearts  are  already  locked,  no  doubt,  but  generally  with 
a  lock  of  quite  another  kind.  Many  need  only  to  hear  the 
words  gain,  honor,  pleasure,  riches,  revenge,  and  their  heart 
opens  in  a  moment,  whereas  to  the  Saviour,  and  his  holy 
name,  it  continues  shut.  Lord  Jesus,  engrave  thou  thy  name 
with  thine  own  finger  upon  my  heart,  that  it  may  remain 
closed  to  worldly  joy  and  worldly  pleasure,  self-interest,  fading 
honor,  and  low  revenge,  and  open  only  to  thee  1 


WARM  HEARTS  WANTED. 

So  then  because  thou  art  lukewarm,  and  neither  cold  nor  hot,  I  will  spew 
thee  out  of  my  mouth.  —  Rev.  3  :  16. 

need  men  of  hot  hearts  to  tell  of  the  love  of  Jesus," 
was  the  appeal  sent  home  by  some  Chinese  converts 
the  other  day.  This  is  what  the  church  needs,  what  the 
world  needs — "  men  of  hot  hearts."  "  I  would  ye  were  hot," 
is  the  Master's  cry.  If  we  are  to  succeed,  we  must  be  o.n  fire 
about  it.  Dr.  Arnott,  of  Edinburgh,  tells  of  his  being  at  a  rail- 
way station  one  day,  and  wearied  of  waiting  for  the  train  to 
move,  he  asked  one  of  the  men  what  the  trouble  was.  "  Is 
there  a  want  of  water  ?  " 

"  Plenty  of  water,  sir/'  was  the  prompt  reply,  "but  it's  no 
bilin'." 

That's  the  trouble  with  the  church  to-day.  There's  abun- 
dance of  machinery,  the  engine  is  all  in  order,  the  train  is 
made  up,  the  men  are  at  their  posts  — "  there's  plenty  of 
water,  but  it's  no  bilin'."  The  great  motive  power  is  want- 
ing. We  need  to  heap  on  the  fuel  of  sound  doctrine  ;  not 
shavings  of  sentiment  which  make  a  big  blaze,  only  to  go  out 
as  quickly,  but  the  solid  logs  of  fundamental  truth  —  chunks, 
if  you  will.  But  we  need  yet  more  the  fire  —  to  be  baptized 
with  the  Holy  Ghost  as  with  fire. 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  901 

RICH  FOR  A  MOMENT. 

I  counsel  thee  to  buy  of  me  gold  tried  in  the  fire,  that  thou  mayest  be  rich ; 
and  white  raiment,  that  thou  mayest  be  clothed,  and  that  the  shame'  of  thy 
nakedness  do  not  appear;  and  anoint  thine  eyes  with  eye-salve,  that  thou 
mayest  see.  —  Rev.  3  :  18. 

THE  British  ship  Britannia  was  wrecked  off  the  coast  of 
Brazil,  and  had  on  board  a  large  consignment  of  Spanish 
dollars.  In  the  hope  of  saving  some  of  them,  a  number  of 
barrels  were-  brought  on  deck,  but  the  vessel  went  to  pieces 
so  fast  that  the  only  hope  for  life  was  in  taking  at  once  to  the 
boats.  The  last  boat  was  about  to  push  off,  when  a  young 
midshipman  went  back  to  see  if  any  one  was  still  on  board. 
To  his  surprise,  there  sat  a  man  on  deck  with  a  hatchet  in  his 
hand,  with  which  he  had  broken  open  several  of  the  casks,  the 
contents  of  which  he  was  now  heaping  up  about  him. 

"  What  are  you  doing  there  ?  "  shouted  the  youth.  "  Don't 
you  know  the  ship  is  fast  going  to  pieces  ?  " 

"  The  ship  may,"  said  the  man  ;  "  I  have  lived  a  poor  wretch 
all  my  life,  and  I  am  'determined  to  die  rich." 

The  officer's  remonstrances  were  answered  only  by  another 
flourish  of  the  hatchet,  and  he  was  left  to  his  fate. 

We  should  count  such  a  person  a  madman ;  but  he  has  too 
many  imitators.  Men  seem  determined  to  die  rich  at  all  haz- 
ards. Least  of  all  risks  do  they  count  the  chance  of  losing 
the  soul  in  the  struggle,  at  any  moment  at  all.  And  yet  the 
only  riches  we  can  hug  to  our  bosoms  with  joy,  in  our  dying 
hour,  are  the  riches  of  grace  through  Jesus  Christ,  which  we 
must  make  ours  before  the  dark  hour  comes. 


CHRIST  AT  THE  HEART'S  DOOR. 

Behold,  I  stand  -at  the  door,  and  knock;  if  any  man  hear  my  voice,  and 
open  the  door,  I  will  come  in  to  him,  and  will  sup  with  him,  and  he  with  me.  — 
Rev.  3 :  20. 

JESUS    CHRIST   sometimes    gives   last  knocks.     Where? 
We  answer,  At  the  door  of  human  hearts.     For  the  human 
heart  is  likened  in  the  word  of  God  to  a  house.     One  heart- 


902  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

house  may  be  compared  to  a  lordly  castle,  difficult  to  take, 
but  a  stronghold  for  the  truth  when  captured.  Another  is  a 
broad,  capacious  mansion  ;  another  a  lowly,  thatched  cottage. 
Each  -heart  has  room  in  it  for  various  affections  and  passions ; 
room  for  pride,  for  ambition,  for  love,  for  fear,  for  selfish- 
ness, for  unbelief.  Each  heart-house  has  room,  too,  for  the 
Lord  Jesus.  The  very  lowliest  creature  may  become  a  temple 
of  God  through  his  indwelling  spirit. 

To  that  dwelling-place  of  sin,  an  unconverted  human  soul, 
the  blessed  Saviour  cometh  in  his  condescending  love.  His 
own  tender  call  is,  "  Behold,  I  stand  at  the  door,  and  knock ! " 
He  stands  at  the  door  in  patient  importunity.  If  no  answer  is 
given,  he  waits  and  knocks  again  and  again.  He  tries  various 
doors,  and  every  method  of  knocking.  At  some  sinner's  heart- 
door  he  has  lately  knocked  by  a  powerful,  thrilling  sermon, 
that  rang  throughout  every  apartment ;  at  another,  by  a 
gentle  knock,  a  still  small  voice  of  conscience,  that  reminded 
the  ungrateful  one  of  his  guilty  ingratitude.  At  another 
heart  lately  there  has  come  the  startling  knock  of  affliction. 
The  cry  of  sorrow,  the  wail  for  the  dead,  has  resounded 
through  those  chambers.  At  some  stout  man's  stubborn 
heart  Christ  has  made  himself  heard  in  the  voice  of  a  wife's 
pleading  prayer ;  at  another,  in  the  touch  of  the  little  hand  of 
a  sick  or  dying  child.  By  scores  of  various  methods  the  lov- 
ing Jesus  knocks  at  impenitent  hearts. 

"  He  gently  knocks,  has  knocked  before ; 
Has  waited  long,  is  waiting  still : 
You  treat  no  other  friend  so  ill." 

As  the  last  knock  of  the  divine  Visitant  may  soon  be  heard  at 
the  heart's  door  of  some  of  my  impenitent  readers,  I  beseech 
you  to  "  hear  his  voice,  and  open  the  door  "  to  the  Lord  of 
light  and  glory.  This  is  my  message  to  you.  Christ  shut 
out  of  the  heart  will  be  a  condemning  Judge.  Christ  within 
the  heart  will  prove  a  faithful  and  almighty  Friend.  Your 
first  duty  is  to  open  the  door  to  him,  and  at  once. 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  903 


CROWNS  OP  THE  SAINTS. 

And  round  about  the  throne  were  four  and  twenty  seats ;  and  upon  the 
seats  I  saw  four  and  twenty  elders  sitting,  clothed  in  white  raiment ;  and  they 
had  on  their  heads  crowns  of  gold.  —  Rev.  4  :  4. 

THAT  ye  may  close  with  Christ,  remember  there  is  a  six- 
fold crown  which  shall  be  put  upon  your  head.  Would  ye 
have  a  long  life  ?  Then  come  to  Christ,  and  ye  shall  have  a 
crown  of  eternal  life.  Would  ye  have  glory  ?  Then  come  to 
Christ,  and  ye  shall  have  a  crown  of  glory.  Would  ye  have 
a  knowledge  of  the  mysteries  of  God  ?  Then  come  to  Christ, 
and  he  shall  crown  you  with  knowledge.  Would  you  have 
eternal  felicity  and  an  uninterrupted  happiness  ?  Then  come 
to  Christ,  and  ye  shall  have  an  immortal  crown.  Would  ye 
have  holiness  and  sanctification  ?  Then  come  to  Christ,  and 
ye  shall  have  a  crown  of  righteousness;  yea,  he  shall  put  a 
royal  crown  upon  your  head,  a  crown  of  pure  gold.  0,  what 
a  day,  think  ye,  it  will  be  when  Christ  shall  hold  your  crowns 
in  his  hand,  and  shall  put  them  upon  those  heads,  never  to  be 
removed  again  !  —  And.  Gray. 


WORSHIP  TO  BE  GIVEN  TO  THE  CREATOR  ONLY. 

Thou  art  worthy,  O  Lord,  to  receive  glory,  and  honor,  and  power ;  for  thou 
hast  created  all  things,  and  for  thy  pleasure  they  are  and  were  created.  — 
Rev.  4:  11. 

IT  is  the  observation  of  one  well  skilled  in  the  Jewish  learn- 
ing, that  there  is  only  one  verse  in  the  prophecy  of  the 
prophet  Jeremiah  which  is  written  in  the  Chaldee  tongue,  all 
the  rest  being  in  the  Hebrew,  viz.,  chap.  10  ill,"  So  shalt  thou 
say  to  them,  Cursed  be  the  gods  who  made  neither  heaven  nor 
earth ; "  and  this  so  done  by  the  Holy  Ghost  on  purpose,  that 
the  Jews,  when  they  were  in  captivity  and  solicited  by  the 
Chaldeans  to  worship  false  gods,  might  be  able  to  answer 
them  in  their  own  language,  "  Cursed  be  your  gods  ;  we  will 
not  worship  them,  for  they  made  neither  heaven  nor  earth." 
Thus  it  is  that  God  only  is  to  be  worshiped  as  the  great  Cre- 


904  A'EIV   TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

ator  of  all  things ;  God  must  have  the  glory  in  all,  being  the 
Maker  of  all.  The  whole  scope  of  Psalms  147  and  148  tends  to 
this  effect,  that  God  must  be  praised  because  he  is  Creator  of 
all  things.  "  Let  any  make  a  world  and  he  shall  be  a  god," 
saith  St.  Augustine  ;  hence  is  it  that  the  Holy  Catholic  church 
maketh  it  the  very  first  article  of  her  creed  to  believe  in  God 
the  Father  Almighty,  Maker  of  heaven  and  earth ;  and  par- 
ticular churches  abroad  begin  their  public  devotions  thus : 
"  Our  help  be  in  the  name  of  the  Lord,  who  hath  made  both 
heaven  and  earth."  Let  us  then  with  the  four  and  twenty 
elders  fall  down  before  him,  and  say,  "  Thou  art  worthy,  0 
Lord,  to  receive  honor,  glory,  and  power,  for  thou  hast  created 
all  things,  and  for  thy  pleasure  they  are  and  were  created.'7 
(Rev.  4:11.) 

As  the  Scriptures  tell  us  that  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ  was 
the  Maker  of  all  things,  "  and  without  him  was  not  anything 
made  that  was  made  "  (John  1:3),  and  "  by  him  were  all 
things  created  that  are  in  heaven  and  that  are  in  earth,  visi- 
ble and  invisible  "  (Col.  1  :  16),  supreme  worship,  therefore, 
should  be  given  to  Jesus  Christ  as  Lord  of  all. 


INEXHAUSTIBLE  STOREHOUSE  OF  TRUTH. 

And  I  saw  in  the  right  hand  of  him  that  sat  on  the  throne  a  book  written 
within  and  on  the  back  side,  sealed  with  seven  seals.  —  Rev.  5  :  1. 

IT  is  characteristic  of  the  Bible  to  be  inexhaustible  in  divine 
resources  of  moral  light  and  truth.  Like  the  sun,  which  for 
ages  gave  the  world  light  and  heat,  when  it  came  to  be  known 
the  sunlight  had  chemical  qualities,  and  later  it  was  discovered 
to  possess  curative  power,  and  later  still,  it  has  been  found  to 
have  photographic  power,  and  may  yet  be  found  to  possess 
qualities  not  yet  understood,  —  so  it  is  with  the  Bible.  It  is 
far  more  to  the  world  now  than  ever  before.  With  a  more 
thorough  study,  with  higher  experience  in  divine  things,  and 
the  greater  progress  of  Christ's  kingdom  in  the  world,  new 
excellences  and  far-reaching  truths  come  to  light.  The 
Israelites  saw  in  the  first  command  of  the  Decalogue  that 
they  were  to  have  no  other  gods;  no  Isis,  no  Moloch,  no 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  905 

Dagon,  but  were  to  worship  Jehovah  only.  With  the  in- 
creasing light  which  comes  out  of  the  Holy  Scriptures  like  the 
flower  from  the  bud,  we  see  the  first  command  to  signify 
vastly  more  than  the  old  Hebrew  saw  in  it.  No  ambitious 
scheme,  no  purpose,  no  passion,  no  popular  sentiment  may 
'control  us,  if  thereby  God's  authority  or  will  is  antagonized. 
To  have  God  is  to  be  ruled  by  him  in  all  things.  While  the 
Bible  means  more  in  its  developed  state  than  in  earlier  ages, 
yet,  like  the  sun,  it  has  lost  nothing.  All  it  was  it  is. 


A  ¥AR  AGAINST  THE  BOOK. 

And  I  saw  a  strong  angel  proclaiming  with  a  loud  voice,  Who  is  worthy  to 
open  the  book,  and  to  loose  the  seals  thereof?  —  Rev.  5  :  2. 

fTlHE  antagonisms  to  the  Holy  Scriptures  have  been  many, 
_L  long-continued,  and  violent.  The  Bible  is  a  target,  against 
which  many  a  weapon  has  been  leveled,  and  upon  which  many 
an  arrow  has  been  broken.  It  has  passed  unscarred  through 
the  war  of  the  ages,  and  to-day  is  the  pillar  and  ground  of  the 
truth  for  all  the  world.  Suppose  all  the  books  that  have  ever 
been  written  against  the  Bible  were  brought  together  and 
arranged  .tier  above  tier,  from  floor  to  ceiling,  in  one  great 
room,  till  every  enemy  shall  have  his  book,  his  essay,  his  ar- 
gument, his  false  philosophy,  his  sarcastic  sneers,  all  arranged 
against  that  one  volume,  which  I  will  suppose  is  lying  on  a 
table  in  the  center  of  that  room.  I  will  bring  in  one  who 
never  saw,  nor  has  he  heard  of  the  Bible.  I  will  point  him 
to  those  many  thousands  of  volumes,  all  brought  forth  to  kill 
that  one  book.  I  will  ask  him  what  he  thinks  of  this  strange 
warfare.  Here  is  one  book,  older  than  any  other  in  the  world, 
that  has  promises  and  encouragements  to  men  superior  to  all 
other  books,  and  yet  no  other  book  has  been  so  perseveringly 
fought  as  this. 

From  front  and  rear  have  its  enemies  waged  an  unceasing 
warfare,  though  with  so  little  success  that  the  Bible  not  only 
lives,  but  is  infusing  its  spirit  into  more  minds  in  these  later 
years  than  ever  before.  It  is  loved  and  trusted  in  by  more 
persons,  and  over  a  wider  breadth  of  earth,  than  in  any  former 
114 


906  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

age.  It  is  published  in  more  languages  than  any  other  book. 
It  is  handled  by  more  hands,  both  of  old  and  young,  than  any 
other  volume  the  world  ever  saw.  I  will  ask  that  stranger 
what  he  thinks  of  a  book  that  can  not  be  destroyed  ;  a  book 
that  good  men  love,  and  only  bad  men  hate  ;  a  book  that  en- 
courages every  virtue  and  condemns  every  vice  ;  that  in  its 
breadth  of  instruction  covers  more  than  all  time,  reaching 
from  before  time  began  to  the  eternity  to  come,  after  the  end 
of  time.  In  the  presence  of  such  a  book  he  will  stand  awe- 
stricken,  and  declare,  "  It  is  of  God."  Through  all  the  world, 
none  but  blinded,  prejudiced,  ignorant,  and  wicked  men  will 
dissent  from  his  verdict. 

If  the  Bible  as  a  whole  be  of  God,  so  are  its  separate  and 
individual  truths,  and  every  promise,  every  threatening,  to  its 
last  "jot  and  tittle,"  will  be  found  true. 

Reader,  are  you  prepared  to  meet  those  truths? — W.  J. 


REMARKABLE  EXAMPLES  OF  BIBLE  READING. 

And  he  came  and  took  the  book  out  of  the  right  hand  of  him  that  sat  upon 
the  throne.  —  Rev.  5  :  7. 

MANY  of  the  anecdotes  compressed  within  the.  following 
paragraph  it  is  easy  to  verify  ;  and  every  reader  will 
acknowledge  the  value  of  the  lesson  which  they  are  intended 
to  teach.  Remarkable  as  some  of  them  are,  not  one  ap- 
proaches what  is  related,  and  earnestly  believed,  in  the  East, 
of  a  famous  Mohammedan,  namely,  that,  during  his  confinement 
in  the  prison  at  Bagdad,  where  he  died,  he  read  over  the  Ko- 
ran seven  thousand  times. 

"  That  we  may  see,"  says  Dr.  Plummer,  "  what  can  be  done 
in  becoming  acquainted  with  the  Bible,  let  us  look  at  a  few 
facts.  Eusebius  tells  us  of  one  who  had  his  eyes  burned  out 
in  the  Diocletian  persecution,  and  who  repeated  in  a  public 
assembly  the  very  words  of  Scripture  with  as  much  accuracy 
as  if  he  had  been  reading  them.  Jerome  says  of  Nepotian 
that  by  reading  and  meditation  he  had  made  his  soul  a  library 
of  Christ.  Theodosius  the  younger  was  so  familiar  with  the 
word  of  God  that  he  made  it  a  subject  of  conversation  with 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  907 

the  old  bishops  as  if  ho  had  been  one  of  them.  Augustine  says 
that  after  his  conversion  he  ceased  to  relish  even  Cicero,  his 
former  favorite  author,  and  that  the  Scriptures  were  his  pure 
delight.  Tertullian  spent  a  greater  part  of  his  time  in  read- 
ing the  Scriptures,  and  committed  large  portions  of  them  to 
memory.  In  his  youth,  Beza  learned  all  Paul's  Epistles  in 
Greek  so  thoroughly  that,  when  he  was  eighty  years  old,  he 
could  repeat  them  in  that  language.  Cranmer  is  said  to  have 
been  able  to  repeat  the  New  Testament  from  memory.  Luther 
\vas  one  of  the  most  indefatigable  students  of  the  Bible  that 
the  world  has  ever  seen.  Ridley  said,  i  The  walls  and  trees 
of  my  orchard,  could  they  speak,  would  bear  witness  that  there 
I  learned  by  heart  almost  all  the  Epistles,  of  which  study, 
although  in  time  a  great  part  was  lost,  yet  the  sweet  savor 
thereof,  I  trust,  I  shall  carry  with  me  to  heaven.'  Sir  John 
Hartop,  a  man  of  many  cares,  made  the  book  of  God  so  much 
his  study  that  it  lay  before  him  night  arid  day.  A  French 
nobleman  used  to  read  three  chapters  of  the  Bible  every  day 
on  his  bended  knees,  with  his  head  uncovered." 


BILLY  DAAVSON'S  ELOQUENCE. 

And  I  looked,  and  behold  a  pale  horse  ;  and  his.  name  that  sat  on  him  was 
Death,  and  Hell  followed  with  him.  And  power  was  given  unto  them  over 
the  fourth  part  of  the  earth,  to  kill  with  sword,  and  with  hunger,  and  with 
death,  and  with  the  beasts  of  the  earth.  —  Rev.  6  :  8. 

A  CORRESPONDENT  of  the  New  York  Christian  Advocate 
and  Journal  is  giving  some  sketches  of  celebrated  English 
preachers  among  the  Wesleyans.  In  his  second  number  we 
find  a  very  interesting  account  of  William  Dawson,  a  local 
preacher,  and  a  "  Yorkshire  farmer,"  familiarly  called  Billy 
Dawson.  We  select  the  following  as  illustrative  of  his  power 
as  a  preacher. 

Mr.  Dawson  was  delivering  a  discourse  which  was  pecu- 
liarly suited  to  his  genius,  and  which  will  be  long  remembered 
in  many  towns  and  villages  in  England,  because  of  the  effect 
it  almost  always  produced.  The  sermon  was  generally  known 
to  be  one  of  his  favorite  discourses,  —  and  such  he  preached 


908  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

many  times  over,  —  and  was  called  by  his  admirers  "Death 
on  the  Pule  Horse."  As  the  reader  will  readily  suppose,  it 
was  founded  upon  Revelation  6  :  7,  8.  I  have  heard  the  ser- 
mon more  than  once,  and  know  not  that  I  ever  heard  one  that 
was  throughout  of  so  startling  a  character.  In  bold  and  strik- 
ing imagery,  in  powerful,  thrilling,  irresistible  appeal,  it 
scarcely  could  have  a  parallel.  When  Mr.  Dawson  had  been 
happy  in  its  delivery,  I  have  seen  the  congregation  listen  with 
such  absorbing  interest  that  it  seemed  as  though  their  very 
breathing  was  suspended,  and  in  the  pauses  of  the  preacher  a 
long  and  deep  inspiration  was  resorted  to  as  a  relief. 

This  discourse  Mr.  Dawson  was  delivering  at  the  village  in 
question,  and  was  indulging  in  that  peculiarly  vivid  imagery 
which  was  at  the  basis  of  his  popularity :  "  Come  arid  see  ; 
the  sinner  is  in  the  broad  road  to  ruin ;  every  step  takes  him 
nearer  to  hell  and  further  from  heaven.  Onward,  onward  he 
is  going ;  death  and  hell  are  after  him  ;  quickly,  untiring  they 
pursue  him ;  with  swift  but  noiseless  hoof  the  pale  horse  and 
his  paler  rider  are  tracking  the  godless  wretch.  See,  see,  they 
are  getting  nearer  to  him ;  they  are  overtaking  him  ! "  At 
this  moment,  so  perfect  was  the  stillness  of  the  congregation 
that  the  ticking  of  the  clock  could  be  distinctly  heard  in  every 
part  of  the  chapel;  and  upon  this,  with  a  facility  peculiarly 
his  own,  he  promptly  seized,  and,  without  any  seeming  inter- 
ruption, leaning  over  the  pulpit  in  the  attitude  of  attention,  he 
fixed  his  eyes  upon  those  who  sat  immediately  beneath,  and 
in  an  almost  supernatural  whisper,  continued,  "  Hark,  hark  ; 
here  they  come  ;  that's  their  untiring  footstep  —  hark,  hark  !  " 
and  then  imitating  for  a  moment  the  beating  of  the  pendulum, 
he  exclaimed,  in  the  highest  pitch  of  his  voice,  "  Save  the  sin- 
ner—  save  him!  See,  the  bony  arm  is  raised;  the  dart  is 
poised !  0,  my  God,  save  him  !  save  him  !  for  if  death  strikes 
him  he  falls  into  hell,  and  as  he  falls  he  shrieks,  '  Lost, 
lost,  lost !  Time  lost,  Sabbaths  lost,  means  lost,  heaven  lost, 
all  lost !  lost !  lost ! '  "  The  effect  was  so  overpowering  that 
two  of  the  congregation  fainted,  and  it  required  all  the  preach- 
er's tact  and  self-command  to  ride  through  the  storm  which 
his  own  brilliant  fancy  and  vivid  imagination  had  roused. 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  909 


MARTYRDOM  OF  PASCHAL. 

And  when  he  had  opened  the  fifth  seal,  I  saw  under  the  altar  the  souls  of 
them  that  were  slain  for  the  word  of  God,  and  for  the  testimony  which  they 
held.  —  Rev.  6 :  9. 

OF  all  its  opponents,  Rome  most  hated  the  Yaudois.  To 
bind  one  of  the  primitive  Christians  to  the  stake  seemed  to 
give  strange  satisfaction  to  their  modern  persecutors.  In  Sep- 
tember, 1560,  Pope  Pius  IY.  and  his  holy  college  gathered  at 
Rome  to  witness  one  of  their  favorite  spectacles.  A  pile  had 
been  raised  in  the  square  of  St.  Angelo,  near  the  bridge  over 
the  Tiber.  The  people  assembled  in  a  great  throng.  The 
condemned  —  a  pale  and  feeble  young  man  —  was  led  forth, 
when  suddenly  he  began  to  speak  with  such  rare  eloquence 
and  force  that  the  people  listened.  The  pope  grew  angry 
and  troubled,  and  the  inquisitors  ordered  the  Yaudois  to  be 
strangled,  lest  his  voice  might  be  heard  above  the  flames. 
Pius  IY.  then  saw  the  martyrdom  in  peace,  and  directed  the 
ashes  of  his  foe  to  be  thrown  into  the  Tiber. 

The  martyr  was  John  Louis  Paschal,  a  young  pastor  of  great 
eloquence,  who  had  been  called  from  Geneva  to  a  congrega- 
tion of  Yaudois  in  Calabria.  The  post  of  danger  had  a  singu- 
lar charm  for  the  brilliant  preacher.  He  was  betrothed  to  a 
young  girl  of  Geneva.  When  he  told  her  of  his  call  to  Cala- 
bria, "  Alas,"  she  cried,  with  tears,  "  so  near  to  Rome,  and  so 
far  from  me  !  "  Yet  she  did  not  oppose  his  generous  resolve, 
and  he  went  to  his  dangerous  station.  Here  his  eloquence 
soon  drew  a  wide  attention.  He  courted  by  his  boldness  the 
crown  of  martyrdom.  He  was  shut  up  in  a  deep  dungeon, 
was  chained  with  a  gang  of  galley  slaves,  was  brought  to 
Rome,  where  Paul  had  suffered,  and  was  imprisoned  in  a  long 
confinement.  His  persecutors  strove  to  induce  him  to  recant, 
but  no  bribes  nor  terrors  could  move  him.  He  wrote  a  last 
fond  exhortation  to  Camilla  Guina,  his  betrothed,  and  his  elo- 
quence was  heard  for  the  last  time  as  he  was  strangled  before 
the  stake.  —  Harper's  Magazine. 


910  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 


SCARLET  AND  CRIMSON  SINS. 

And  white  robes  were  given  unto  every  one  of  them ;  and  it  was  said  unto 
them,  that  they  should  rest  yet  for  a  little  season,  until  their  fellow-servants, 
also,  and  their  brethren,  that  should  be  killed  as  they  were,  should  be  ful- 
filled. —  Rev.  6:  11. 

had  some  little  difficulty/'  said  a  scientific  lecturer, 
who  was  explaining  the  process  of  paper-making,  "with 
the  iron  dyes  ;  but  the  most  troublesome  of  all  are  Turkey-red 
rags.  You  see  I  have  dipped  this  rag  in  my  solution  ;  its  red 
is  paler,  but  it  is  still  strong.  If  I  steep  it  long  enough  to 
efface  the  color  entirely,  the  fiber  will  be  destroyed  ;  it  will 
be  useless  for  our  manufacture.  How,  then,  are  we  to  dispose 
of  our  red  rags  ?  We  make  them  into  red  blotting  paper. 
Perhaps  you  have  wondered  why  your  writing  pad  is  red. 
Now  you  know  the  reason." 

I  could  hardly  sleep  that  night  for  joy  at  the  acquisition  of 
so  striking,  though  unintentional,  an  illustration  of  the  riches 
of  grace,  and  the  power  of  "  the  precious  blood  of  Christ." 
The  Spirit  of  God  led  the  prophet  Isaiah  to  write,  —  not, 
"  Though  your  sins  be  as  blue  as  the  sky,  or  as  green  as  the 
olive  "leaf,  or  as  black  as  night/'  —  he  chose  the  very  color 
which  modern  science,  with  all  its  appliances,  finds  to  be  in- 
destructible :  "  Though  your  sins  be  as.  scarlet,  they  shall  be 
as  white  as  snow ;  though  they  be  red  like  crimson,  they  shall 
be  as  wool." 


NOT  DENOMINATIONAL,  BUT  CHRISTIAN. 

After  this  I  beheld,  and,  lo,  a  great  multitude,  which  no  man  could  num- 
ber, of  all  nations,  and  kindreds,  and  people,  and  tongues,  stood  before  the 
throne,  and  before  the  Lamb,  clothed  with  white  robes,  and  palms  in  their 
hands.  —  Rev.  7  :  9. 

AT  a  Wesleyan  missionary  meeting,  a  few  years  since,  the 
Rev.  Henry  Townley  said,  that  a  very  pious  person  once 
affirmed  to  him  that  on  the  previous  night  he  had  had  the  fol- 
lowing dream :  He  dreamed  that  he  had  died,  and  arrived  at 
the  gates  of  heaven.     When  he  applied  to  the  holy  watchmen 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  911 

to  admit  him  within  the  sacred  walls,  they  inquired,  lt  Whom 
do  you  want  ?  "  He  replied  that  he  had  belonged  to  the  In- 
dependents, and  wished  to  join  them  in  that  place.  "  There 
are  no  such  people  here  ! "  was  the  answer  that  he  got. 
"  Well,'7  said  he,  "  I  have  had  some  connection  with  the  Bap- 
tists ;  may  I  join  them  ?  "  "  We  don't  know  any  of  that  name,'' 
replied  the  heavenly  watchmen.  It  was  in  vain  that  he  asked 
for  Churchmen  —  they  had  never  heard  of  such  a  term  ;  there 
were  not  even  any  Wesleyans  there.  He  was  just  going' away 
in  despair,  when,  as  a  last  resource,  he  said,  "  But  I  am  a 
Christian"  At  this  word  the  gate  of  bliss  flew  open,  and  he 
was  received  as  a  welcome  guest. 

GRACE  A  SPIRITUAL  SIGHT. 

These  are  they  which  came  out  of  great  tribulation,  and  have  washed  their 
robes,  and  made  them  white  in  the  blood  of  the  Lamb.  —  Rev.  7  :  14. 

IN  a  journal  of  a  tour  through  Scotland,  by  the  Rev.  C.  Sime- 
on, of  Cambridge,  we  have  the  following  passage  :  "  Went 
to  see  Lady  Ross's  grounds.  Here  also  I  saw  blind  men 
weaving.  May  I  never  forget  the  following  fact :  one  of  the 
blind  men,  on  being  interrogated  with  respect  to  his  knowl- 
edge of  spiritual  things,  answered,  <  I  never  saw  till  I  was 
blind ;  nor  did  I  ever  know  contentment  when  I  had  my  eye- 
sight, as  I  do  now  that  I  have  lost  it.  I  can  truly  affirm, 
though  few  know  how  to  credit  me,  that  I  would  on  no  account 
change  my  present  situation  and  circumstances  with  any  that 
I  ever  enjoyed  before  I  was  blind.'  He  had  enjoyed  eyesight 
till  twenty-five,  and  had  been  blind  now  about  three  years.  My 
soul,"  Mr.  Simeon  adds,  "  was  much  affected  and  comforted 
with  his  declaration.  Surely  there  is  a  reality  in  religion  ! " 

FIGURES  OF  HEAVEN. 

For  the  Lamb  which  is  in  the  midst  of  the  throne  shall  feed  them,  and  shall 
lead  them  unto  living  fountains  of  waters ;  and  God  shall  wipe  away  all  tears 
from  their  eyes.  —  Rev .  7  :  17. 

EAVEN  is  variously  represented.     It  is  held  forth  to  our 
view  as  a  banquet,  where  our  souls  shall  be  satisfied  for 


H 


912  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

evermore ;  the  beauties  of  Jehovah's  face,  the  mysteries  of 
divine  grace,  the  riches  of  redeeming  love,  communion  with 
God  and  the  Lamb,  fellowship  with  the  infinite  Father,  Son, 
and  Holy  Ghost,  being  the  heavenly  fullness  on  which  we  shall 
feed.  As  a  paradise  —  a  garden  of  fruits  and  flowers,  on 
which  our  spiritual  natures  and  gracious  tastes  will  be  regaled 
through  one  ever- verdant  spring  and  golden  summer  ;  a  para- 
dise where  lurks  no  serpent  to  destroy,  and  where  fruits  and 
flowers  shall  never  fade  and  droop,  nor  die.  As  an  inher- 
itance ;  but  then  an  inheritance  that  is  incorruptible,  un- 
defiled,  and  that  fadeth  not  away  —  the  inheritance  of  the 
saints  in  light.  As  a  kingdom,  whose  immunities,  felicities, 
and  glories  are  splendid  and  vast,  permanent  and  real,  quite 
overwhelming,  indeed,  to  our  present  feeble  imaginings.  As 
a  country ,  over  whose  wide  regions  we  shall  traverse  in  all  the 
might  of  our  untried  faculties,  and  in  all  the  glow  of  new  and 
heaven-born  energies,  discovering  and  gathering  fresh  har- 
vests of  intelligence,  satisfaction,  and  delight.  As  a  city,  whose 
walls  are  burnished  gold,  whose  pavement  is  jasper,  sardonyx, 
and  onyx,  through  which  flows  the  river  of  life ;  the  inhabit- 
ants of  which  hunger  no  more,  thirst  no  more,  sicken  no  more, 
weep  no  more,  die  no  more ;  a  city  where  there  is  no  need  of 
the  sun  by  day,  in  which  there  is  no  night  at  all,  and  of  which 
the  Lord  God  Almighty  is  the  light,  and  the  Lamb  the  glory. 
As  a  palace,  where  dwells  the  Lord  our  righteousness,  the 
King  in  his  beauty  displayed  —  his  beauty  of  holiest  love  ;  in 
the  eternal  sunshine  of  whose  countenance  bask  and  exult  the 
host  that  worship  at  his  feet.  As  a  building,  that  has  God  for 
its  maker,  immortality  for  its  walls,  and  eternity  for  its  day. 
As  a  sanctuary,  where  the  thrice-holy  divinity  enshrined  in 
our  own  nature  in  the  person  of  Immanuel  is  worshiped  and 
adored,  without  a  sigh,  without  an  imperfection,  and  without 
intermission ;  where  hymns  of  praise,  hallelujahs  of  salvation, 
and  hosannas  of  redemption,  uttered  by  blest  voices  without 
number,  ever  sound  before  the  throne.  As  a  tenyjle,  bright 
with  the'  divine  glory,  filled  with  the  divine  presence,  stream- 
ing with  divine  beauty,  and  peopled  with  shining  monuments 
of  divine  goodness,  mercy,  and  grace. — Dr.  Beaumont. 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 


913 


GOSPEL  LIKENED  UNTO  AN  ANGEL. 

And  I  saw  the  seven  angels  which  stood  before  God ;   and  to  them  were 
given  seven  trumpets.  —  Rev.  8  :  2. 

AS  to  its  origin  and  glory,  the  gospel  may  be  compared  to 
an  angel  "  standing  in  the  sun ;  "  as  to  the  territorial 
range  of  its  commission,  it  may  be  compared  to  "  an  angel 
flying  in  the  midst  of  heaven ;  "  as  to  the  gracious  mysteries 
of  salvation,  to  which  it  points,  it  may  be  compared  to  the 
angels  looking  into  the  ark  of  the  covenant ;  as  to  the  pure 
and  holy  worship  which  it  enjoins,  and  over  which  it  presides, 
it  may  be  compared  to  the  angel  standing  beside  the  altar  of 
incense ;  as  to  the  hope's  and  inspirations  which  it  warrants 
and  sustains,  it  may  be  compared  to  an  angel  at  heaven's  gate, 
saying  to  us  poor  dusty  wayfarers,  "  Come  up  hither."  But 
looking  at  the  relations  of  the  gospel  to  men  in  the  business  of 
every-day  life,  we  may  regard  it  still  as  an  angel  (losing  noth- 
ing of  its  ethereal  beauty  and  celestial  brightness) ;  but  then 
it  is  an  angel  full  of  condescension  and  brotherly  companion- 
ship ;  an  angel  mingling  with  us,  and  talking  to  us,  helping, 
and  guiding,  and  comforting  us ;  an  angel  recognizing  our 
earthly  wants,  and  sympathizing  with  us  in  our  earthly  trials, 
like  the  angel  who  came  to  Abraham  under  the  trees  of  Mamre, 
and  to  Lot  in  his  house  at  Sodom ;  like  the  angel  who  ap- 
peared to  Oman  while  he  was  threshing  wheat ;  like  the 
angel  who  appeared  to  Zechariah  in  the  shop  of  the  four 
carpenters;  like  the  angel  who  touched  Elijah  asleep,  and 
showed  him  a  "  cake  baken  on  the  coals,  and  a  cruse  of  water 
at  his  head  ;  "  and  like  the  angel  who  came  to  Peter  in  prison, 
and  took  off  his  chains,  and  set  him  free.  Thus  does  the  re- 
ligion of  the  Bible  come  home  to  us,  and  put  itself  on  a  level 
with  us,  entering  fully  into  our  temporal  circumstances,  tem- 
poral necessities,  temporal  duties,  and  temporal  trials. — J. 
Stoughton. 

115 


914  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

WISE  IN  SPIRITUAL  THINGS. 

And  another  angel  came  and  stood  at  the  altar,  having  a  golden  censer ; 
and  there  was  given  unto  him  much  incense,  that  he  should  offer  it  with  the 
prayers  of  all  saints  upon  the  golden  altar  which  was  before  the  throne.  — 
Rev.  8  :  3. 

A  NUMBER  of  ministers  were  assembled  for  the  discussion 
of  difficult  questions  ;  and,  among  others,  it  was  asked  how 
the  command  to  "  pray  without  ceasing  "  could  be  complied 
with.  Various  suppositions  were  started,  and  at  length  one 
of  the  number  was  appointed  to  write  an  essay  upon  it  to  read 
at  the  next  monthly  meeting,  which  being  overheard  by  a 
female  servant,  she  exclaimed,  — 

"  What !  a  whole  month  wanted  to  tell  the  meaning  of  that 
text !  It  is  one  of  the  easiest  and  best  texts  in  the  Bible." 

"  Well,  well,"  said  an  old  minister,  "  Mary,  what  can  you  say 
about  it  ?  Let  us  know  how  you  understand  it.  Can  you  pray 
all  the  time  ?  " 

"  0,  yes,  sir." 

"  What !  when  you  have  so  many  things  to  do  ?  " 

"  Why,  sir,  the  more  I  have  to  do,  the  more  I  can  pray." 

"  Indeed!  Well,  Mary,  do  let  us  know  how  it  is;  for  most 
people  think  otherwise." 

"  Well,  sir,"  said  the  girl,  "  when  I  first  open  my  e}'es  in 
the  morning,  I  pray,  Lord,  open  the  eyes  of  my  understanding  ; 
and  while  I  am  dressing,  I  pray  that  I  may  be  clothed  with 
the  robe  of  righteousness  ;  and  when  I  have  washed  me,  I  ask 
for  the  washing  of  regeneration  ;  and  as  I  begin  work,  I  pray 
that  I  may  have  strength  equal  to  my  day;  when  I  begin  to 
kindle  up  the  fire,  I  pray  that  God's  work  may  revive  in  my 
soul ;  and  as  I  sweep  out  the  house,  I  pray  that  my  heart  may 
be  cleansed  from  air  its  impurities;  and  while  preparing  and 
partaking  of  breakfast,  I  desire  to  be  fed  with  the  hidden 
manna,  and  the  sincere  milk  of  the  word;  and  as  I  am  busy 
with  the  little  children,  I  look  up  to  God  as  my  Father,  and 
pray  for  the  spirit  of  adoption  that  I  may  be  his  child,  and  so 
on  all  day.  Everything  I  do  furnishes  me  with  a  thought  for 
prayer." 

"  Enough,  enough,"  cried  the  old  divine  ;  "  these  things  are 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  915 

revealed  to  babes,  and  often  hid  from  the  wise  and  prudent. 
Go  on,  Mary/'  said  he  :  "  pray  without  ceasing.  And  as  for  us, 
my  brethren,  let  us  bless  the  Lord  for  this  exposition,  and  re- 
member that  he  has  said,  '  The  meek  will  he  guide  in  judg- 
ment.' " 

The  essay,  as  a  matter  of  course,  was  not  considered  ne- 
cessary after  this  little  event  occurred. 


NOT  AFRAID  OF  FATHER'S  VOICE. 

And  there  were  voices,  and  thunderings,  and  lightnings,   and  an  earth- 
quake. —  Rev.  8  :  5. 

A  PROFANE  persecutor  discovered  great  terror  during  a 
J\.  storm  of  thunder  and  lightning  which  overtook  him  on  a 
journey.  His  pious  wife,  who  was  with  him,  inquired  the 
reason  of  his  terror.  He  replied  by  asking, . "  Are  you  not 
afraid  ?  "  She  answered,  "  No  ;  it  is  the  voice  of  my  heav- 
enly Father ;  and  should  a  child  be  afraid  of  its  father  ? " 
"  Surely/1  thought  the  man,  "  these  Puritans  have  a  divine  prin- 
ciple in  them  which  the  world  seeth  not ;  otherwise  they  could 
not  have  such  serenity  in  their  souls  when  the  rest  of  the 
world  are  filled  with  dread."  Soon  after,  going  to  Mr.  Bolton, 
of  Broughton,  near  Kettering,  he  lamented  the  opposition 
which  he  had  made  to  his  ministry,  and  became  a  godly  man 
ever  after. 


PUNISHED  BY  A  JUDGMENT  FROM  GOD. 

And  they  had  a  king  over  them,  which  is  the  angel  of  the  bottomless  pit, 
whose  name  in  the  Hebrew  tongue  is  Abaddon,  but  in  the  Greek  tongue  hath 
his  name  Apollyon.  — Rev.  0  :  11. 

JOHN  NISBET,  a   lawyer  of  Glasgow,  was  a  mocker  of 
piety  and  a  drunkard.     In   1681,  when  the   Rev.  Donald 
Cargill  was  called  to  suffer  martyrdom  for  his  Master's  cause, 
he  was  most  cruelly  insulted  by  Nisbet.     Mr.  Cargili  was  an 
aged  man,  venerable  in  his  appearance,  his  hair  white  as  snow, 


916  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

and  had  long  been  loved  and  revered  by  all  good  men  as  the 
eloquent  minister  of  the  High  Church  of  Glasgow.  As  he  stood 
in  chains,  "  ready  to  be  offered,"  Nisbet  said  to  him,  "  Mr. 
Donald,  will  you  give  us  one  word  more  ?  "  alluding,  in  mockery, 
to  a  familiar  phrase  which  this  eminent  servant  of  Christ 
frequently  used  when  concluding  his  discourses.  The  martyr 
turned  on  him  his  eyes  in  tears  of  sorrow  and  regret,  and  said, 
in  a  deep  and  solemn  tone,  "  Mock  not,  lest  your  bands  be 
made  strong  !  "  Then,  after  a  solemn  pause,  he  added,  "  That 
day  is  coming  when  you  shall  not.have  one  word  to  say,  though 
you  would  !  "  A  few  days  after  this  he  fell  suddenly  ill,  and 
for  three  days  his  tongue  swelled ;  and  though  he  seemed  very 
earnest  to  speak,  yet  he  could  not  command  one  word,  and  he 
died  in  great  torment  and  seeming  terror.  Wodrow,  the 
faithful  historian,  who  gives  the  above  facts,  has  added  these 
words  :  "  Some  yet  alive  know  the  truth  of  this  passage.'7 


FIVE  STEPS  TO  THE  GALLOWS. 

Neither  repented  they  of  their  murders,  nor  of  their  sorceries,  nor  of  their 
fornication,  nor  of  their  thefts.  — Rev.  9  :  21. 

A  MAN  had  committed  murder,  was  tried,  found  guilty,  and 
condemned  to  be  hanged.  A  few  days  before  his  execu- 
tion, upon  the  walls  of  his  prison  he  drew  the  -figure  of  a 
man  hanging  on  a  gallows,  with  five  steps  leading  up  to  it. 

On  the  first  step  he  wrote,  Disobedience  to  Parents.  Solo- 
mon says,  "  The  eye  that  mocketh  at  his  father  and  despiseth 
to  obey  his  mother,  the  ravens  of  the  valley  shall  pick  it  out, 
and  the  young  eagles  shall  eat  it ;  "  that  is,  he  shall  perish  by 
a  violent  death ;  he  shall  come  to  a  miserable,  wretched  end. 

On  the  second  step  he  wrote,  Sabbath-breaking.  God,  in  his 
command,  said,  "  Remember  the  Sabbath  day,  to  keep  it  holy." 
Visit  your  prisons  and  jails,  and  you  will  find  that  nine  tenths 
of  its  inmates  have  begun  their  downward  course  by  breaking 
this  command.* 

On  the  third  step  he  wrote,  Gambling  and  Drunkenness. 
The  late  Dr.  Nott,  for  more  than  fifty  years  president  of  Union 
College,  having  been  a  close  observer  of  human  events,  truly 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  917 

says,  "  The  finished  gambler  has  no  heart.  He  would  play  at 
his  brother's  funeral,  he  would  gamble  upon  his  mother's 
coffin." 

On  the  fourth  step  he  wrote,  Murder.  God's  command  is, 
"  Thou  shalt  not  kill."  To  prevent  man  from  unlawfully  taking 
the  life  of  his  fellow-man,  God  has  annexed  an  awful  penalty : 
"  Whoso  sheddeth  man's  blood,  by  man  shall  his  blood  be 
shed." 

On  the  fifth  step  he  wrote,  The  Fatal  Platform.  It  is  im- 
possible for  us  to  form  a  correct  idea  of  the  thoughts  that 
must  rush  through  the  mind  of  a  man  under  such  circum- 
stances —  the  disgrace  and  ignominy  attached  to  his  name ; 
the  pains  and  agony  of  such  a  death ;  the  want  of  sympathy  in 
the  community  around  him  ;  the  fearful  forebodings  of  his 
guilty  soul  before  the  bar  of  a  holy  God. 


CHRIST  DESCRIBED  BY  JOHN. 

And  I  saw  another  mighty  angel  come  down  from  heaven,  clothed  with  a 
cloud ;  and  a  rainbow  was  upon  his  head,  and  his  face  was  as  it  were  the  sun, 
and  his  feet  as  pillars  of  fire.  —  Rev.  10  :  1. 

WHO  is  this  mighty  angel  ?  After  considering  the  various 
opinions  which  have  been  offered  in  answer  to  this 
question,  I  agree  with  Hengstenberg,  that  this  angel  is  none 
other  than  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ.  Nor  is  it  a  valid  objection  to 
this  conclusion  that  he  is  here  called  angel.  The  word  angel  sig- 
nifies messenger ;  and  in  executing  his  mediatorial  work,  Christ 
often  appears  and  acts  as  the  messenger  of  God,  and  is  not 
unfrequently  called  an  angel.  He  is,  as  it  seems  to  me,  called 
so  here.  My  first  proof  of  the  divine  character  of  this  angel 
is  found  in  the  transcendent  glory  of  his  appearance,  so  very 
like  to  that  of  his  appearance  to  John,  as  recorded  in  the 
tenth  chapter  of  the  Revelation,  transcending  in  some  par- 
ticulars the  glory  even  of  that  Epiphany.  Then  the  planting 
of  his  right  foot  upon  the  sea,  and  his  left  foot  on  the  earth, 
reveals  him  as  the  rightful  Proprietor  and  Sovereign  of  the 
world.  And  the  solemn  oath  which  he  takes  shows  him  to  be 
one  who  has  the  times  and  the  seasons  in  his  own  power,  to 
prolong,  curtail,  and  decide,  according  to  his  pleasure.  — 
The  Seols  Opened,  by  Dr.  Pond. 


918  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

THE  DESTROYER'S  WORK. 

And  the  angel  which  I  saw  stand  upon  the  sea  and  upon  the  earth  lifted  up 
his  hand  to  heaven,  and  sware  by  him  that  liveth  for  ever  and  ever,  who  cre- 
ated heaven,  and  the  things  that  therein  are,  and  the  earth,  and  the  things  that 
therein  are,  and  the  sea,  and  the  things  which  are  therein,  that  there  should  be 
time  no  longer.  —  Rev.  10  :  5,  6. 

I  SAW  a  temple  reared  by  the  hands  of  man  standing  with 
its  pinnacle  in  the  distant  plain.  The  storms  beat  about 
it,  the  God  of  nature  hurled  his  thunderbolts  against  it,  yet  it 
stood  firm  as  adamant.  Revelry  was  in  the  halls ;  the  gay, 
the  happy,  the  young,  the  beautiful  were  there.  I  returned, 
and,  lo  !  the  temple  was  no  more.  Its  high  walls  lay  in  scat- 
tered ruin ;  moss  and  grass  grew  rankly  there ;  and  at  the 
midnight  hour  the  owl's  long  cry  added  to  the  deep  solitude. 
The  young  and  gay  who  had  reveled  there  had  passed  away. 

I  saw  a  child  rejoicing  in  his  youth,  the  idol  of  his  mother, 
and  the  pride  of  his  father.  I  returned,  and  that  child  had 
become  old.  Trembling  with  the  weight  of  years,  he  stood, 
the  last  of  his  generation,  a  stranger  amidst  the  desolation 
around  him. 

"  Who  is  this  destroyer  ?  "  said  I  to  my  guardian  angel. 

"  It  is  Time,"  said  he.  "  When  the  morning  stars  sang 
together  for  joy  over  the  new-made  world,  he  commenced 
his  course  ;  and  when  he  has  destroyed  all  that  is  beautiful 
on  earth,  plucked  the  sun  from  his  sphere,  vailed  the  moon 
in  blood,  yea,  when  he  shall  have  rolled  the  heavens  and  earth 
away  as  a  scroll,  then  shall  an  angel  from  the  throne  of  God 
come  forth,  and  with  one  foot  upon  the  sea  and  one  on  the 
land,  lift  up  his  hand  toward  heaven  and  swear,  by  heaven's 
Eternal,  Time  is,  Time  was,  but  Time  shall  be  no  longer."  — 
Paulding. 

WARRING  AGAINST  THE  SAINTS. 

And  when  they  shall  have  finished  their  testimony,  the  beast  that  ascendeth 
out  of  the  bottomless  pit  shall  make  war  against  them,  uiul  shall  overcome 
them,  and  kill  them.  —  Rev.  11:7. 

"  said  Caesar,  "  we  will  soon  root  up  this   Christianity. 
Off  with  their  heads  ! "     The  different  governors  has- 


o; 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  919 

tened  one  after  another  of  the  disciples  to  death ;  but, 
the  more  they  persecuted  them,  the  more  they  multiplied. 
The  proconsuls  had  orders  to  destroy  Christians  ;  the  more 
they  hunted  them,  the  more  Christians  there  were,  until,  at 
last,  men  pressed  to  the  judgment-seat,  and  asked  to  be  per- 
mitted to  die  for  Christ^  They  invented  torments ;  they 
dragged  saints  at  the  heels  of  wild  horses ;  they  laid  them 
upon  red-hot  gridirons ;  they  pulled  off  the  skin  from  their 
flesh  piece  by  piece ;  they  were  sawn  asunder ;  they  were 
wrapped  up  in  skins,  and  daubed  with  pitch,  and  set  in 
Nero's  gardens  at  night  to  burn ;  they  were  left  to  rot  in 
dungeons  ;  they  were  made  a  spectacle  to  all  men  in  the  am- 
phitheater ;  the  bears  hugged  them  to  death  ;  the  lions  tore 
them  to  pieces  ;  the  wild  bulls  tossed  them  upon  their  horns  : 
and  yet  Christianity  spread.  All  the  swords  of  the  legion- 
aries which  had  put  to  rout  the  armies  of  all  nations,  and  had 
overcome  the  invincible  Gaul  and  the  savage  Briton,  could 
not  withstand  the  feebleness  of  Christianity  j  for  the  weakness 
of  God  is  mightier  than  men.  —  Spurgeon. 


MEETING  FOR  THE  FIRST  TIME-  IN  HEAVEN. 

And  they  ascended  up  to  heaven  in  a  cloud;  and  their  enemies  beheld 
them.  —  Rev.  11 :  12. 

"PRESIDENT  EDWARDS  and  the  celebrated  Erskine  of 
JL  Scotland  were  correspondents  for  many  years  ;  but  they 
never  met  on  earth.  Their  first  interview  was  in  heaven.  It 
was  doubtless  a  joy  for  them  to  meet  in  the  presence  of  the 
Saviour,  respecting  whose  cause  they  had  taken  counsel  to- 
gether when  on  earth,  across  the  billows  of  the  ocean. 

There  will  be  many  joyous  meetings  in  heaven  for  the  first 
time.  The  man  of  benevolence,  who  has  taken  the  poor  lad 
from  the  abode  of  poverty,  will  meet  with  many  in  heaven 
who  will  give  him  a  hearty  welcome.  That  boy,  -it  may  bo, 
goes  as  a  missionary  to  the  heathen,  and  many  benighted  souls 
are  converted  through  his  instrumentality.  In  heaven,  the 
causes  and  connections  of  events  will  doubtless  be  more 
clearly  known  than  they  can  be  in  this  world.  A  band  of 


920  NEW   TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

converted  heathens  may  give  a  grateful  welcome  to  the  man 
who  trained  and  sent  forth  him  from  whose  teachings  they 
Jearned  the  way  to  heaven. 

The  writer  of  a  good  book  which  has  reached  the  heart  of 
some  distant  reader,  and  led  to  his  conversion,  may  learn  in 
heaven  that  his  labors  were  not  in  vain,  by  the  welcome  of 
some  who  would  not  have  been  there  but  for  him.  Let  us 
labor  to  prepare  for  ourselves  joyful  greetings  in  heaven. 


BE  A  CHRISTIAN  EVERYWHERE. 

The  kingdoms  of  this  world  are  become  the  kingdoms  of  our  Lord,  and  of 
his  Christ;  and  he  shall  reign  for  ever  and  ever.  —  Rev.  11 :  15. 

IT  not  unfrequently  happens  that  some  professors  of  religion 
are  more  exemplary  in  their  lives  at  home,  among  acquaint- 
ances, than  when  away  from  home,  especially  when  at  places 
of  public  resort ;  as  at  watering-places,  seaside,  mountain  ram- 
blings,  in  summer  vacations. 

That  the  use  of  wine,  cards,  dancing,  billiards,  Sabbath- 
riding  for  pleasure,  <fcc.,  —  practices  which  would  not  be  in- 
dulged in  at  home  because  they  are  wrong,  —  are  indulged  in 
when  in  the  society  of  those  who  frequent  such  places.  He 
makes  a  poor  bargain,  who,  to  gain  health  to  his  body,  con- 
tracts moral  diseases  upon  his  soul.  Be  a  Christian  every- 
where, and  if  the  temptations  be  greater,  let  prayer  be  more 
frequent  and  earnest. 

This  subject  has  applications  of  special  interest  to  metro- 
politan Christians  who  spend  the  summer,  or  a  part  of  it,  in 
the  country ;  and,  indeed,  to  all  Christians  who  make  tours  of 
travel  for  pleasure  or  recreation.  "Wearied  with  the  wear  and 
tear  of  city  life,  they  delight  to  fly  for  a  few  weeks,  or  even 
days,  from  the  scenes  of  their  year-long  strife,  to  the  banks  of 
rivers  or  lakes,  or  to  shady  retreats  among  the  mountains. 
They  gladly  exchange  commodious  homes  or  palatial  mansions 
in  town  for  the  most  contracted  quarters  within  sight  of  green 
fields  and  sparkling  waters.  Such  persons  ought  by  all  means 
to  remember  that  new  surroundings  weaken  the  force  of  reli- 


NEW   TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  921 

gious  habits,  and  interpose  obstacles  to  the  exercise  of  them. 
It  is  more  difficult  to  maintain  family  worship  in  a  hotel  or 
boarding-house  than  in  your  own  home  ;  and  more  necessary, 
because  of  the  novel  temptations  which  are  to  assail  you  and 
your  children  during  the  day.  Take  your  religion  with  you 
to  the  sea-shore,  the  springs,  and  the  mountains ;  retain  its 
spirit,  and  in  order  to  do  this,  jealously  maintain  its  forms. 


BY  THESE  WE  OVERCOME. 

And  they  overcame  him  by  the  blood  of  the  Lamb,  and  by  the  word  of  their 
testimony ;  and  they  loved  not  their  lives  unto  the  death.  —  Rev.  12 :  11. 

THE  following  original  letter  from  Dr.  Adam  Clarke,  of 
November  23,  1822,  to  Rev.  Duncan  McColl,  was  pub- 
lished in  the  Provincial  Wesley  an,  January  17,  1872:— 

"  God  has  promised  to  his  upright  followers  all  that  they 
need  to  make  them  wise,  holy,  happy,  and  useful ;  and  every 
promise  is, '  Yea  in  him  and  Amen  through  Christ  Jesus.'  We 
can  not  please  him  better  than  by  putting  him  to  his  word,  and 
asking  the  fullness  of  the  blessing  of  the  gospel  of  peace. 

"  The  testimony  of  God  is  very  powerful.  Where  his  truth 
is  zealously  preached,  there  .is  his  presence,  and  there  his 
especial  blessing.  I  am  also  getting  old,  and  shall,  if  spared, 
soon  be  in  the  grand  climacterical  year  of  my  life.  I  have 
traveled  a  good  deal  —  I  have  seen  the  church  of  God  in  all 
its  states  ;  but  I  have  never  known  one  instance  where  the 
doctrine  of  justification  by  faith,  the  witness  of  the  Spirit,  and 
redemption  from  all  sin  in  this  life,  were  faithfully  and  zeal- 
ously preached,  that  the  work  of  God  was  not  both  deepened 
and  extended.  These  are  our  credentials,  and  we  overcome 
by  the  blood  of  the  Lamb  and  our  testimony. 

"You  are  in  the  wilderness" ;  but  God  is,  in  all  places  ;  he 
fills  the  heaven  and  the  earth,  and  wherever  he  is,  he  is  a 
fountain  of  ever-flowing  benevolence  to  every  part  of  his  in- 
telligent offspring.  You  can  neither  ask  nor  expect  too  much, 
when  you  come  unto  God  by  Christ  Jesus.  Plaee  high  things 
before  your  people  :  excite  their  expectation  ;  show  them  the 
good  that  God  has  provided  for  them ;  and  in  all  communica- 
116 


922  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

tion  from  God  to  man,  show  them  that  now  is  the  accepted 
time.  He  who  contents  himself  with  expecting  salvation  to- 
morrow can  scarcely  be  said  to  expect  it  at  all :  most  cer- 
tainly such  a  one  is  not  in  earnest  for  the  redemption  of  his 
soul." 


IGNATIUS,  A  PRIMITIVE  MARTYR. 

And  the  dragon  was  wroth  with  the  woman,  and  went  to  make  war  with  the 
remnant  of  her  seed,  which  keep  the  commandments  of  God,  and  have  the 
testimony  of  Jesus  Christ.  —  Rev.  12  :  17. 

HHRAJAN,  the  Roman  emperor,  commanded  the  martyrdom 
_L  of  Ignatius,  Bishop  of  Antioch.  This  holy  man  is  sup- 
posed to  be  the  person  whom,  when  an  infant,  Christ  took 
into  his  arms,  and  showed  to  his  disciples.  And  it  is  also  said 
that  he  received  the  gospel  from  St.  John  the  evangelist.  He 
boldly  defended  the  faith  of  Christ  before  the  emperor,  for 
which  he  was  grievously  tormented  by  scourging,  his  flesh 
burned  by  papers  dipped  in  oil,  and  torn  by  red-hot  pin- 
cers, <fec. 

But  before  he  suffered  martyrdom,  he  wrote  to  several 
churches,  to  confirm  them  in  the  faith  of  the  gospel.  Tn  his 
epistle  to  the  Ephesians,  he  observes,  "  Though  I  am  in  bonds 
for  the  name  of  Christ,  I  am  not  as  yet  perfect  in  Christ  Jesus. 
Now  I  begin  to  be  a  disciple." 

Surprising  language  !  What  deep  humility  !  An  aged 
bishop,  the  disciple  of  St.  John,  just  about  going  to  martyr- 
dom, yet  says,  "  Now  I  begin  to  be  a  disciple."  What  a 
lesson  to  Christians  to  acknowledge  themselves  "less  than 
the  least "  !  Again,  in  a  letter  to  the  Magnesians,  he  says,  "  It 
becomes  us  not  only  to  be  called,  but  to  be  Christians." 

In  an  epistle  to  the  Romans  he  says,  "  Living,  but  in  love 
with  dying,  I  write  unto  you  ;  my  love  is  crucified,  and  there 
is  not  in  me  a  fire  of  love  toward  anything  of  an  earthly  matter, 
but  living  water  ;  and  he  that  speaks  within  me  says,  l  Come 
unto  the  Father.'  " 

In  his  letter  to  the  Philadelphians,  he  says,  Ci  Children  of 
the  light,  avoid  wicked  doctrines:  follow  as  sheep  your  Pastor. 
If  any  do  not  preach  Christ  Jesus,  they  are  to  be  funeral  pil- 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  923 

lars,  and  monuments  of  the  dead,  upon  whom  names  only  are 
inscribed.  Where  division  and  anger  is,  God  is  not.'; 

And  elsewhere  he  says,  that  "  good  and  wicked  men  are 
like  true  and  counterfeit  money :  the  one  seems  to  be  good, 
and  is  not ;  the  other  both  seems  to  be,  and  is,  good."  And, 
again,  "  Grace  flowing  from  the  blessed  Spirit  of  God  makes 
the  soul  like  a  fountain,  whose  water  is  pure,  wholesome,  and 
clear." 

Mark  how  ready  he  was  to  suffer  for  Christ.  "  Let  fire, 
cross,  breaking  of  bones,  quartering  my  members,  crushing 
my  body,  or  all  the  torments  that  men  and  devils  can  invent, 
befall  me,  so  that  I  may  enjoy  my  Lord  Jesus.  It  is  better  for 
me  to  die  for  Christ  Jesus  than  to  reign  over  the  ends  of  the 
earth." 

Such  was  the  holy  and  heavenly  man  who  was  torn  to  pieces 
by  lions  in  the  year  107  or  108.  He  zealously  supported  the 
divinity  of  Christ. 


BLASPHEMY. 

And  he  opened  his  mouth  in  blasphemy  against  God,  to  blaspheme  his 
name,  and  his  tabernacle,  and  them  that  dwell  in  heaven.  — -  Rev.  13  :  6. 

TO  blaspheme  is  to  speak  of  the  Supreme  Being  in  terms  of 
impious  irreverence  ;  to  revile,  or  speak  reproachfully  of 
God,  or  the  Holy  Spirit ;  or  to  speak  evil  of  the  Deity,  by 
uttering  abuse   or   calumny   against  him,  or  by  uttering  re- 
proachful language  of  him. 

The  mind  of  the  writer  has  been  painfully  turned  to  the 
subject  of  this  article  by  a  circumstance  which  recently  oc- 
curred in  one  of  the  interior  counties  of  California.  A  man  of 
more  than  ordinary  intelligence,  and  not  without  friends,  feel- 
ing restive  and  a  sense  of  discomfort  as  a  consequence  of  his 
confinement  by  business  during  the  days  usually  given  to  sec- 
ular employments,  was  accustomed  to  take  his  gun  and  ramble 
over  the  fields  and  through  the  woods,  hunting,  on  the  Lord's 
day.  Recently  a  Christian  acquaintance  ventured  to  mildly 
reprove  him,  and  to  remonstrate  with  him  on  account  of  his 
sin.  But  instead  of  receiving  the  reproof  in  the  spirit  in 


924  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

which  it  was  given,  the  transgressor  of  God's  requirement  to 
keep  the  Sabbath  day  holy,  became  very  angry,  and,  using  the 
most  terrible  imprecations,  cursed  the  Sabbath  and  the  God 
of  the  Sabbath,  and  used  the  most  contumelious  reproaches  of 
the  Deity  for  having  set  apart  one  day  in  seven  for  religious 
observance.  Soon  after  he  returned  home,  he  was  taken  ill, 
and  in  a  few  days  "  died  as  the  fool  dieth,"  without  being 
permitted  to  behold  the  light  of  another  Sabbath. 


POLYCARP'S  NOBLE  CONFESSION. 

And  it  was  given  unto  him  to  make  war  with  the  saints,  and  to  overcome 
them ;  and  power  was  given  him  over  all  kindreds,  and  tongues,  and  nations.  — 
Rev.  13  :  7. 

WHEN  Herod  and  Nicetes  attempted  to  turn  Polycarp  from 
the  faith,  by  insinuating  that  there  was  no  evil  in  calling 
Caesar  lord,  and  offering  sacrifices  to  him,  he  replied,  that  he 
had  served  Jesus  Christ  for  many  years,  and  had  always  found 
him  a  good  Master ;  that  he  should,  therefore,  submit  himself 
to  all  the  tortures  they  should  inflict,  rather  than  deny  him ; 
and  when  he  was  threatened  to  be  burned,  he  replied  to  the 
proconsul,  "  Thou  threatenest  me  with  a  fire  that  burns  for  an 
hour  and  then  dies,  but  art  ignorant  of  the  fire  of  the  future 
judgment  and  eternal  damnation  reserved  for  the  ungodly. 
But  why  do  you  make  delays  ?  Order  what  punishment  you 
think  fit." 

It  is  recorded,  concerning  one  of  the  martyrs,  that  when  he 
was  going  to  the  stake,  a  nobleman  besought  him,  in  a  com- 
passionate manner,  to  take  care  of  his  soul.  "  So  I  will,"  he 
replied,  "  for  I  give  my  body  to  be  burned  rather  than  have 
my  soul  defiled." 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  925 

POWERFUL  PREACHING  OF  THE  GOSPEL. 

And  I  saw  another  angel  fly  in  the  midst  of  heaven,  having  the  everlasting 
gospel  to  preach  unto  them  that  dwell  on  the  earth,  and  to  every  nation,  and 
kindred,  and  tongue,  and  people,  saying,  with  a  loud  voice,  Fear  God,  and 
give  glory  to  him,  for  the  hour  of  his  judgment  is  come ;  and  worship  him 
that  made  heaven,  and  earth,  and  the  sea,  and  the  fountains  of  waters.  — 
Rev.  14  :  6,  7. 

IT  is  said,  in  the  Revelation  of  St.  John,  that  amongst  many 
other  visions,  he  saw  an  angel  fly  in  the  midst  of  heaven, 
having  the  everlasting  gospel  to  preach  unto  them  that  dwell 
upon  the  earth,  and  to  every  nation,  and  kindred,  and  tongue, 
and  people,  saying  with  a  loud  voice,  Fear  God,  and  give  glory 
to  him,  <fcc.  And  what  next  followed  ?  another  angel,  saying, 
Babylon  is  fallen,  is  fallen,  Babylon  the  great  city  is  fallen,  &c. 
(Rev.  14 :  7,  8.)  See  here  now  the  efficacy  and  power  of 
gospel  preaching ;  let  but  the  gospel  be  sincerely  preached, 
Babylon  must  down ;  the  devil  and  Dagon  must  fall  before  the 
ark  of  God's  presence.  Whatsoever  the  purposes,  projects, 
pretenses,  policies,  conspiracies,  combinations,  and  confedera- 
cies of  lewd,  atheistical,  and  wicked  men  be,  yet  they  shall 
never  be  able  to  stop  the  stream  of  God's  word,  dam  up  the 
wells  of  salvation,  or  hinder  the  free  passage  of  the  gospel,  no 
more  than  to  bind  up  the  wind  in  their  fists,  or  stop  the  rain 
of  heaven  from  watering  the  earth.  It  is  true  that  the  minis- 
ters of  the  gospel  may,  by  the  instruments  of  Satan,  be  stocked, 
stoned,  hewn  asunder,  burned  with  fire,  slain  with  the  sword, 
clapped  up  in  prison,  fettered  in  chains,  sequestered,  plun- 
dered, decimated,  <fcc.,  yet  the  gospel  itself  may  be,  nay,  is,  in 
lively  operation,  a  light  that  can  not  be  put  out,  a  heat  that 
can  not  be  smothered,  a  power  that  can  not  be  broken.  For 
even  then,  the  constant  sufferings  and  patient  bearing  of  the 
cross  doth,  as  by  a  lively  voice,  publish  and  proclaim  the  truth 
of  the  gospel  for  which  they  suffer,  and  serveth  to  win  many 
to  the  faith  of  Christ  Jesus. 


926  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

BLESSED  ARE  THE  DEAD. 

And  I  heard  a  voice  from  heaven  saying  unto  me,  Write,  Blessed  are  the 
dead  which  die  in  the  Lord  from  henceforth  :  Yea,  saith  the  Spirit,  that  they 
may  rest  from  their  labors  ;  and  their  works  do  follow  them.  —  Rev .  14  :  13. 

DR.  CUMMINGr,  in  a  recently  published  scheme,  mentioning 
the  passage  of  Scripture,  "  Blessed  are  the   dead  which 
die  in  the  Lord/'  relates  the  following  striking  anecdote :  — 

A  Roman  Catholic  lady  I  was  the  means  of  bringing  out  of 
that  church,  told  me  that  the  words  repeated  by  me,  "  Blessed 
are  the  dead  which  die  in  the  Lord,  .  .  .  that  they  may  rest," 
kindled  in  her  heart  convictions  which  she  could  not  allay,  and 
which,  on  application  to  the  priest,  he  could  not  hush.  She  told 
me  that  she  was  once  supposed  to  be  on  the  point  of  death.  "  I 
was  given  up  as  dying/'  she  said,  "  and  a  priest  was  sent  for, 
a  venerable  man,  to  administer  extreme  unction.  He  did  so  ; 
I  had  full  possession  of  my  mind,  and  I  asked  him,  "  Now,  tell 
me,  my  father,  am  I  saved  ?  "  And  he  answered,  "  I  can 
pledge  my  own  salvation  that  you  will  be  ultimately  safe." 
"  Ultimately ;  what  does  it  mean  ?  "  "  My  childr  you  must 
pass  through  purgatory."  "  I  said,  I  have  had  extreme  unc- 
tion administered.  .  .  .  What  is  the  nature  of  that  purgatory 
through  which  I  have  to  pass  ?  "  "  My  child,  purgatory  is  a 
place  where  you  must  endure  the  torments  of  the  damned, 
only  of  shorter  duration."  Such  was  the  comfort  with  which 
she  was  left  to  die ;  but  this  text  seemed  to  her  to  annihilate 
purgatory. 


SHALL  I  BE  ONE  OF  THEM? 

And  I  saw  as  it  were  a  sea  of  glass  mingled  with  fire  ;  and  them  that  had 
gotten  the  victory  over  the  beast,  and  over  his  image,  and  over  his  mark,  and 
over  the  number  of  his  name,  stand  on  the  sea  of  glass,  having  the  harps  of 
God.  And  they  sing  the  song  of  Moses,  tin-  servant  of  God,  and  the  song  of 
the  Lamb,  saying,  Great  and  marvelous  are  thy  works,  Lord  God  Almighty; 
just  and  true  are  thy  ways,  thou  King  of  saints.  —  Rev.  15  :  2,  3. 

HOW  divinely  full  of  glory  and  pleasure  shall  that  hour  be, 
when  all  the  millions  of  mankind,  that  have   been  re- 
deemed by  the  blood  of  the  Lamb  of  God,  shall  meet  together 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  927 

and  stand  around  him,  with  every  tongue  and  every  heart  full 
of  joy  and  praise !  How  astonishing  will  be  the  glory  and  the  joy 
of  that  day,  when  all  the  saints  shall  join  together  in  one  com- 
mon song  of  gratitude  and  love,  and  of  everlasting  thankful- 
ness to  their  Redeemer  !  With  what  unknown  delight  and 
inexpressible  satisfaction  shall  all  that  are  saved  from  the 
ruins  of  sin  and  hell  address  the  Lamb  that  was  slain,  and  re- 
joice in  his  presence  !  —  Dr.  Watts. 


FAITHFULNESS  REWARDED. 

Who  shall  not  fear  thee,  O  Lord,  and  glorify  thy  name?  for  thou  only  art 
holy ;  for  all  nations  shall  come  and  worship  before  thee ;  for  thy  judgments 

are  made  manifest.  —  Rev.  15  :  4. 

« 

E  day,  in  my  travels,"  says  Mr.  Jay,  "  I  heard  of  a  ser- 
vant  who  had  attended  a  Wesleyan  chapel.  This  of- 
fended her  master  and  mistress,  who  told  her  that  she  must 
discontinue  the  practice  or  leave  their  service.  She  received 
the  information  with  modesty,  said  she  was  sorry,  but  so  it 
must  be ;  she  could  not  sacrifice  the  convictions  of  her  con- 
science to  keep  her  place.  So  they  gave  her  warning ;  and  she 
was  now  determined,  if  possible,  to  be  more  circumspect  and 
exemplary  than  ever,  determined  that,  if  she  suffered  for  her 
religion,  her  religion  should  not  suffer  for  her.  Some  time 
after  this,  the  master  said  to  the  mistress,  '  Why,  this  is  rather 
a  hard  measure  with  regard  to  our  servant ;  has  she  not  a 
right  to  worship  God  where  she  pleases,  as  well  as  ourselves  ?  J 
1  0,  yes,'  said  the  mistress;  '  and  we  never  had  so  good  a  ser- 
vant ;  one  who  rose  so  early,  and  got  her  work  done  so  well, 
was  so  clean,  and  was  so  economical,  never  answering  again.' 
And  so  they  iritimated  that  she  might  remain.  Some  time 
after  this  the  wife  said  to  her  husband,  1 1  think  Mary's  reli- 
gion does  her  a  great  deal  more  good  than  our  religion  seems 
to  do  us  ;  I  should  like  to  hear  her  minister.'  And  so  she 
went,  and  was  impressed,  and  prevailed  upon  her  husband  to 
go,  and  he  was  impressed  ;  and  now  they  are'  all  followers  of 
God;  and  have  the  worship  of  God  in  their  house." 


928  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 


A  SOLEMN  JUDGMENT. 

And  I  heard  another  out  of  the  altar  say,  Even  so,  Lord  God  Almighty, 
true  and- righteous  are  thy  judgments.  —  Rev.  16  :  7. 

A  SOME  WHAT  extraordinary  case  of  blasphemy  and  sud- 
den death  once  occurred  near  Farmington,  Van  Buren 
County,  Iowa.  A  farmer  living  there,  while  talking  to  his 
neighbors  about  the  dry  weather,  began  an  outburst  of  the 
most  terrible  blasphemy,  using  the  vilest  epithets  toward 
the  Almighty  and  the  Saviour,  because  he  did  not  send  rain. 
The  man  was  going  on  in  frightful  language,  when  all  at  once 
his  jaws  became  palsied,  his  tongue  became  powerless,  his 
voice  ceased,  and  he  fell  on  the  earth  a  corpse. 

We  can  not  regard  an  instance  like  this  in  an^  other  light 
than  as  an  interposition  of  divine  Providence.  Others  may 
think  differently ;  they  may  consider  the  man's  sudden  seizure 
and  death  as  caused  by  an  epileptic  or  apoplectic  attack,  and 
it  may  have  been  so ;  but,  if  that  were  conceded,  it  would  not 
therefore  be  less  a  divine  visitation  for  the  horrible  blas- 
phemy in  which  the  man  was  indulging.  "  It  is  a  fearful 
thing  to  fall  into  the  hands  of  the  living  God." 


KEEPING  OUR  GARMENTS  PURE. 

• 

Behold,  I  come  as  a  thief.     Blessed  is  he  that  watcheth,  and  keepeth  his 
garments,  lest  he  walk  naked,  and  they  see  his  shame.  —  Rev.  1G  :  15. 

IN  a  discourse  on  the  words,  "  Blessed  are  the  pure  in  heart/' 
Mr.  Caughey  once  remarked  that  it  was'  impossible  to  sully 
a  sunbeam.  "  And  while  that  sunbeam,"  said  he,  "  may  dart 
down  into  the  darkest  hole  of  filth  and  illuminate  it,  it  will 
soil  nothing,  and  yet  not  be  soiled  itself.  So  the  ray  of  heav- 
enly life  and  love  existing  in  the  perfect  believer's  heart,  goes 
into  and  comes  out  into  contact  with  the  dark  dwelling-places 
of  iniquity  and 'filth,  and  cheers,  and  enlivens,  and  encourages 
by  its  presence,  but  is  always  kept  unspotted  from  the  stains 
of  the  world.  It  is  God  who  gives  to  the  pure  heart  this  great 


NEW   TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  929 

gift  and  distinction.  It  is  he  only  who  can  keep  the  heart  in 
perfect  peace.  Suppose  a  white-robed  female  were  walking 
along  some  turnpike  road  where  the  mud  was  flying,  and 
where  the  horses  and  wagons,  as  they  hurried  and  splashed 
along,  at  every  turn  and  step  increased  the  confusion",  hemmed 
up  the  footpath,  and  threw  the  water  and  dirt.  Suppose  that 
white-robed  female  should  find  at  her  journey's  end  her  dress 
white  and  spotless  as  when  she  was  first  robed.  Would  not 
this  be  a  miracle  ?  Most  surely  it  would.  But  a  greater  mir- 
acle it  is  that  the  Christian,  in  waging  his  course  through  this 
world,  in  fighting  through  trials  and  temptations,  and  in  strug- 
gling with  the  fiery  adversary,  does  not  have  some  stain  or 
mark  of  conflict  on  his  garments.  He  cries  out,  '  Glory  to 
God,  free  and  unspotted  too  ! '  It  is  a  miracle  of  grace  —  of 
the  grace  of  our  Lord  and  Saviour  Jesus  Christ.  Praises  be 
unto  his  precious  name  !  " 


"A  SCARLET-COLORED  BEAST." 

So  he  carried  me  away  in  the  spirit  into  the  wilderness ;  and  I  saw  a  wo- 
man sit  upon  a  scarlet-colored  beast,  full  of  names  of  blasphemy,  having  seven 
heads  and  ten  horns.  —  Rev.  17  :  3. 

THIS,  it  will  be  remembered,  is  the  appellation  given  by  the 
Holy  Scriptures  to  the  Papal  power,  &c.  We  were  never 
more  forcibly  struck  with  its  appropriateness  than  by  an  ac- 
'count  recently  given  us  by  Dr.  Muzzy,  of  Cincinnati,  of  a  great 
procession  of  the  pope  and  his  cardinals,  on  the  celebration 
of  grand  mass  at  St.  Peter's,  witnessed  by  him  on  a  late  visit 
to  Rome.  The  pope  wore  the  tiara,  a  tripled  crown,  worn  ori- 
ginally single,  by  Pope  Sylvester,  to  which  Boniface  VIII.,  in 
1300,  added  a  second  crown,  and  Urban  Y.  added  a  third,  in- 
dicating the  combination  of  the  pontifical,  imperial,  and  royal 
authority,  or,  as  some  say,  the  sovereignty  of  three  kingdoms. 
His  magnificent  coach  was  of  "brilliant  scarlet,  his  splendid 
robe  of  the  same  color  ;  a  long  train  of  gorgeous  carriages  pre- 
ceded him,  all  of  scarlet  likewise,  in  which  his  cardinals  were 
seated  in  scarlet  attire.  Headley,  in  describing  a  like  pom- 
pous display  seen  by  him  at  St.  Peter's,  speaks  of  the  superb. 
117 


930  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

plumes  decorating  the  horses,  as  also  of  the  same  brilliant 
color.  It  would  seem  that  no  intelligent  reader  of  the  New 
Testament  could  contemplate  such  a  spectacle  without  being 
somewhat  impressed,  like  ourselves,  with  the  applicability  and 
accuracy  of  the  inspired  prediction. 


CHRIST  IS  OUR  KING. 

These  shall  make  war  with  the  Lamb,  and  the  Lamb  shall  overcome  them ; 
for  he  is  Lord  of  lords,  and  King  of  kings ;  and  they  that  are  with  him  are 
called,  and  chosen,  and  faithful.  —  Rev.  17  :  14. 

VILLIAM  DAWSON  preaching  in  London  on  the  offices 
of  Christ,  after  presenting  him  as  the  great  Teacher  and 
Priest,  who  made  himself  an  offering  for  sin,  the  preacher  in- 
troduced him  as  the  King  of  saints.  Having  shown  that  lie 
was  King  in  his  own  right,  he  proceeded  to  the  coronation. 
Borrowing  his  ideas  from  scenes  familiar  to  his'  audience,  he 
marshaled  the  immense  procession  moving  toward  the  grand 
temple  to  place  the  insignia  of  royalty  upon  the  King  of  the 
universe. 

So  vividly  did  the  preacher  describe  the  scene,  that  his 
hearers  almost  thought  they  were  gazing  upon  that  long  line 
of  patriarchs  and  kings,  prophets  and  apostles,  martyrs  and 
confessors,  of  every  age  and  clime,  until  at  length  the  great 
temple  was  filled,  and  the  solemn  and  imposing  ceremony  of 
coronation  was  about  to  take  place.  The  audience  by  this 
time  were  wrought  up  to  the  highest  pitch  of  excitement,  ami 
while  momentarily  expecting  to  hear  the  anthem  peal  out  from 
the  vast  assemblage,  the  preacher  commenced  singing,  — 

"  All  hail  the  power  of  Jesus'  name ! 
Let  angels  prostrate  fall,"  &c. 

The  effect  was  electrical.  The  audience  started  to  their  feet, 
and  sang  the  hymn  with  such  spirit  and  feeling  as,  perhaps,  it 
was  never  sung  before  or  since.  Right  loyally  did  that  great 
congregation  pay  homage  to  the  Saviour  as  their  Sovereign 
that  Sabbath  morning. 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  931 


.FAITHFUL  DEALING  WITH  SINNERS. 

For  her  sins  have  reached  unto  heaven,  and  God  hath  remembered  her 
iniquities.  —  Rev.  18  :  5. 

I  HA  YE  some  here  who  have  had  warnings  so  terrible  that 
they  might  have  known  better;  they  have  gone  into  lusts 
which  have  brought  their  bodies  into  sickness  ;  and  perhaps  this 
day  they  have  crept  up  to  this  house,  and  they  dare  not  tell  to 
their  neighbor  who  stands  by  their  side  what  is  the  loathsome- 
ness that  even  now  doth  breed  upon  their  frame.  And  yet 
they  will  go  back  to  the  same  lusts  :  the  fool  will  go  again  to 
the  stocks,  the  sheep  will  lick  the  knife  that  is  to  slay  him. 
You  will  go  on  in  your  lust  and  in  your  sins,  despite  warnings, 
despite  advice,  until  you  perish  in  your  guilt.  How  worse 
than  children  are  grown-up  men  !  The  child  who  goes  for  a 
merry  slide  upon  a  pond,  if  he  be  told  that  the  ice  will  not 
bear  him,  starteth  back  affrighted  ;  or,  if  he  daringly  creepeth 
upon  it,  how  soon  he  leaves  it  if  he  hears  but  a  crack  upon 
the  slender  covering  of  the  water.  But  you  men  have  con- 
science, wjiich  tells  you  that  your  sins  are  vile,  and  that  they 
will  be  your  ruin  ;  you  hear  the  crack  of  sin  as  its  thin  sheet 
of  pleasure  gives  way  beneath  your  feet j  ay,  and  some  of 
you  have  seen  your  comrades  sink  in  the  flood,  and  lost,  and 
yet  ye  go  sliding  on.  Worse  than  childish,  worse  than  mad, 
are  you,  thus  presumptuously  to  play  with  your  own  everlast- 
ing state.  —  Spurgeon. 


SOMETHING  MORE  YALUABLE  THAN  GOLD. 

For  in  one  hour  so  great  riches  is  come  to  naught.  —  Rev.  18  :  17. 

A  SHIP  bearing  a  hundred  emigrants  has  been  driven  from 
her  course,  and  wrecked  on  a  desert  island,  far  from  the 
tracks  of  man.  There  is  no  way  of  escape ;  but  there  are 
means  of  subsistence.  An  ocean,  unvisited  by  ordinary  voy- 
agers, circles  round  their  prison  ;  but  they  have  seed,  with  a 
rich  soil  to  receive,  and  a  genial  climate  to  ripen  it.  Ere  any 
plan  has  been  laid,  or  any  operations  begun,  an  exploring  party 


932  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

returns  to  headquarters,  reporting  the  discovery  of  a  gold 
mine.  Thither  instantly  the  whole  party  resort  to  dig.  They 
labor,  successfully,  day  by  day,  and  month  after  month.  They 
acquire  and  accumulate  large  heaps  of  gold.  -But  spring  is 
past,  and  not  a  field  has  been  cleared,  nor  a  grain  of  seed  com- 
mitted to  the  ground.  The  summer  comes,  and  their  wealth 
increases ;  but  the  store  of  food  is  small.  In  harvest  they 
begin  to  discover  that  their  heaps  of  gold  are  worthless. 
When  famine  stares  them  in  the  face,  a  suspicion  shoots  across 
their  fainting  hearts  that  the  gold  has  clteated  them.  They 
rush  to  the  woods,  fell  the  trees,  dig  the  roots,  till  the  ground, 
sow  the  seed.  It  is  too  late  !  Winter  has  come,  and  their 
seed  rots  in  the  ground.  They  die  of  want  in  the  midst  of 
their  treasures.  This  earth  is  the  little  isle,  eternity  the  ocean 
round  it ;  on  this  shore  we  have  been  cast.  There  is  a  living- 
seed  ;  but  gold  mines  attract  us.  We  spend  spring  and  sum- 
mer there ;  winter  overtakes  us  toiling  there,  destitute  of  the 
bread  of  life,  forgetting  that  we  ought  to  "  seek  first  the  king- 
dom of  God,  and  his  righteousness,  and  all  these  things  shall 
be  added  unto  us."  —  Rev.  W.  Arnot. 


A  REMARKABLE  MEETING. 

And  I  heard  as  it  were  the  voice  of  a  great  multitude,  and  as  the  voice  of 
many  waters,  and  as  the  voice  of  mighty  thunderings,  saying,  Alleluia;  for 
the  Lord  God  omnipotent  reigneth.  —  Rev.  19  :  6. 

THE  following  notice,  by  an  American  missionary,  of  a  late 
meeting  in  Constantinople,  shows   the  harmonizing  ten- 
dency of  missions  :  — 

"  Think  of  a  great  union  meeting,  consisting  of  Armenians, 
Jews,  Americans,  English,  Scotch,  Germans,  Catholics,  and 
Greeks,  and  all  sitting  down  together  at  the  table  of  the  Lord  ; 
Congregationalists,  Presbyterians,  Lutherans,  Baptists,  Metho- 
dists, baptized  Jews,  and  Protestant  Armenians.  The  elements 
were  distributed  by  a  Jew,  a  German,  and  the  two  deacons 
of  the  Protestant  Armenians.  Prayers  were  offered  in  three 
languages  —  Turkish,  English,  and  Armenian.  Remarks  and 
exhortations  were  made  in  four  languages —  German,  English, 


NEW.  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  933 

Armenian;  and  Turkish.  And  hymns  were  sung  to  the  same 
tune,  and  at  the  same  moment,  in  three  different  languages  — 
Armenian,  German,  and  English.  The  first  was  Old  Hundred, 
the  same  that-  will  be  sung  in  the  millennium.  There  was  no 
confusion,  no  discord.  No  one  was  out  of  time  or  out  of  tune. 
The  harmony  was  perfect;  while  each  with  the  spirit  and  the 
understanding,  and  with  the  greatest-  power  and  might,  was 
singing  in  his  own  tongue  wherein  he  was  born,  or  with  which 
he  is  now  familiar,  l  the  high  praises  of  our  God.'  The  effect 
was  overpowering.  It  was  '  the  voice  of  a  great  multitude/ 
redeemed  out  of  many  nations,  kindreds,  and  tongues ;  and  it 
rose  on  high  like  '  the  sound  of  many  waters.'  Our  chapel 
was  crowded  with  communicants,  and  our  hearts  were  filled 
with  emotions  too  big  for  utterance." 


"LET  ME  GO,  FOR  I  AM  A  CHRISTIAN." 

And  to  her  was  granted  that  she  should  be  arrayed  in  fine  linen,  clean  and 
white ;  for  the  fine  linen  is  the  righteousness  of  saints.  —  Rev.  19  :  8. 

T  ET  me  go,  for  I  am  a  Christian  and  prepared  to  die,  and 
Jj  you  are  not." 

During  the  terrible  flood  of  1870,  in  the  Shenandoah  River, 
West  Virginia,  that  swept  before  it  some  fifty  buildings  at 
and  near  Harper's  Ferry,  and  caused  to  perish  forty-six  per- 
sons, the  following  touching  incident  occurred.  It  was  re- 
lated to  me  by  the  mother  of  the  man  whose  Christian  wife 
uttered  the  words  quoted  above. 

It  was  night.  •  Mr.  S.  and  his  wife  sat  by  the  window  of  their 
dwelling,  watching  with  intensest  interest  the  rising  of  the 
waters,  and  hoping  in  vain  for  a  timely  abatement  of  the  same. 
At  length  portions  of  the  building  they  were  in  gave  way,  and 
it  was  evident  that  longer  delay  must  hurl  them,  together  with 
their  crumbling  tenement,  to  utter  destruction.  Then,  grasp- 
ing firmly  his  wife  with  one  hand,  they  dropped  into  the 
foaming  current,  the  husband  struggling  heroically  to  keep 
his  wife  above  the  waves,  and  gain  a  point  of  safety  with  his 
precious  charge.  The  rush  and  roaring  of  the  waters  were 
most  terrific.  But  little  progress  was  made  in  the  direction 


934  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

of  the  shore,  and  when-  they  had  reached  a  point  from  one 
fourth  to  one  half  a  mile  down  stream,  believing  that  her  hus- 
band, as  well  as  herself,  must  perish,  if  he  continued  his  efforts 
to  save  her,  with  wonderful  deliberation  she  said  to  him,  "  Let 
me  go,  for  I  am  a  Christian  and  prepared  to  die,  and  you  are 
not ! " 

Her  body  sank  in  death,  but  her  pure  spirit  rose  to  glory,  we 
can  not  doubt.  Mr.  S.,  sometimes  under  water  and  sometimes 
on  the  surface,  barely  succeeded  in  maintaining  his  hold  on 
life  until,  nearly  a  mile  below  the  place  of  his  residence,  and 
much  exhausted,  he  caught  on  the  roof  of  another  building, 
and  the  next  morning  was  rescued  from  his  perilous  situation. 

This  thrilling  event  impresses  us  with  the  value  of  a  good 
hope  for  the  future. 

THE  DEVIL  LEADS  ON  TO  DESTRUCTION. 

And  the  devil  that  deceived  them  was  cast  into  the  lake  of  fire  and  brim- 
stone, where  the  beast  and  the  false  prophet  are,  and  shall  be  tormented  day 
and  night  for  ever  and  ever.  —  Rev.  20  :  10. 

TREADING  in  an  English  magazine,  lately,  we  met  with  an 
-Li  account  of  a  curious  device  of  the  London  butchers.  It 
is  a  difficult  task,  as  might  be  supposed,  to  drive  a  flock  of 
sheep  through  the  streets  of  a  large  city,  where  the  resem- 
blance is  so  small  to  green  pastures  and  country  roads.  They 
are  liable  to  be  scattered  in  all  directions  by  the  crowd  of 
vehicles,  and  to  turn  every  few  rods  down  the  cross  streets,  in 
a  manner  sorely  trying  to  patience.  Hence,  when  the  butcher 
has  purchased  a  number  of  sheep  at  the  general  market,  it  is 
no  small  matter,  even  with  the  help  of  a  dog,  to  get  them  to 
his  private  yard  for  slaughter.  Can  any  expedient  lessen  the 
trouble  ?  A  knowledge  of  the  animal's  instincts  points  out  a 
method  of  relief.  A  sheep  is  taken  and  petted  till  it  becomes 
wonted  to  the  place,  and  attached  to  its  owner.  It  is  then 
used  as  a  decoy,  being  led  to  the  market-place,  where  the 
purchase  is  made  of  the  little  flock  for  the  slaughter,  and  there 
placed  at  their  head.  The  butcher  then  starts  for  home,  the 
decoy  sheep  accompanies  him,  the  others  instinctively  follow, 
according  to  sheep-nature,  and  refuse  to  be  separated,  thread- 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  935 

ing  their  way  through  streets  and  lanes,  carts  and  carriages, 
pleased  with  following  their  leader,  till  they  reach  the  place 
of  death. 

We  said,  just  now,  that  this  was  according  to  sheep-nature. 
Is  there  nothing  like  it  in  human  nature  ?  Alas  !  we  see  the 
same  device  in  use  on  every  hand  by  the  great  enemy  of  souls. 
How  few  he  would  entrap  without  a  decoy  !  Fish  do  not  bite 
the  bare  hook.  Birds  will  not  enter  an  empty  trap-cage.  Even 
sheep  do  not  go  wittingly  to  the  slaughter,  but  must  be  en- 
ticed there.  Sinners  love  sin,  but  not  death,  and  do  not 
crowd  the  broad  road  with  any  idea  that  it  leads  to  destruc- 
tion. Satan  has  made  a  study  of  nature  ever  since  he  found 
our  first  parents  in  paradise,  and  he  understands  it  well.  He 
knows  that  men,  like  sheep,  are  gregarious,  and  prone  to  go 
in  troops,  after  leaders.  He  shapes  his  policy  accordingly. 
He  wastes  little  time  or  work  on  the  common  mass,  but  he 
takes  great  pains  to  train  the  leaders.  One  good  decoy  sheep 
will  conduct  a  thousand  flocks  to  the  slaughter. 


JUDGED  AT  THE  LAST  DAY. 

And  I  saw  the  dead,  small  and  great,  stand  before  God ;  and  the  books 
were  opened ;  and  another  book  was  opened,  which  is  the  book  of  life ;  and 
the  dead  were  judged  out. of  those  things  which  were  written  in  the  books 
according  to  their  works.  —  Rev.  20  :  12. 

WHAT  discoveries  will  be  made  then  !  What  development 
of  hidden  virtue  and  of  secret  vice  !  How  that  which 
is  covered  now  will  be  revealed  !  and  how  that  which  is  hidden 
now  will  be  displayed,  as  upon  the  house-top !  How  those 
who,  in  the  present  world,  have  been  despised  and  rejected 
on  account  of  the  character  of  their  earthly  employment,  will 
be  found  exalted  to  the  high  places  of  honor,  while  those  who 
have  held  here  high  station  in  the  world,  and  it  may  be  in 
the  professing  church,  will  be  found  in  a  station  of  everlasting 
shame  and  contempt. '  What  discoveries  will  be  made  then  ! 

And  what  unions  will  occur  then !  The  saints  of  God,  from 
various  climes  and  in  various  ages,  reciprocally  unknown  to 
each  other  at  all,  will  mingle  together;  while  those  who  have 


936  NEW   TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

trodden  the  same  path  of  pilgrimage  will  rush  to  each  other's 
arms,  under  the  sanction  of  the  great  President,  acknowledging 
themselves  to  be  to  each  other  a  glory,  a  crown  of  rejoicing, 
and  a  joy  in  the  day  of  his  coming.  What  unions  will  be 
then! 

And  what  separations  will  be  then !  Besides  the  grand 
separation  of  the  classes,  the  righteous  and  the  wicked,  what 
separations  will  there  be  of  those  who  formerly  were  joined 
in  social  habitudes  and  relations  of  life,  pastors  from  people, 
teachers  from  scholars,  husbands  from  wives,  parents  from 
children,  friends  from  friends  !  and  the  separations  irrevocable. 
It  will  be  the  season  of  everlasting  farewell !  How  overpow- 
ering, then,  is  to  be  that  great  event,  when  the  assembly  shall 
separate,  never  to  approach  and  never  to  commingle  more  !  — 
Rev.  James  Parsons. 

LOST!  LOST! 

And  whosoever  was  not  found  written  in  the  book  of  life  was  cast  into  the 
lake  of  fire.  —  Rev.  20  :  15. 

WAS  called,"  says  a  venerable  divine,  "  in  the  early  part 
JL  of  my  ministry,  to  stand  beside  the  bed  of  a  beautiful 
young  mother  whose  life  was  fast  ebbing  away.  Anguish, 
deep,  hopeless  anguish,  was  riveted  on  her  countenance. 
Death  was  knocking  for  admission.  Her  time  had  come.  I 
asked  her  if  she  was  willing  that  I  should  pray  with  her. 
Her  reply  was,  ( I  have  no  objection,  but  prayers  will  be  of 
no  avail  now  ;  it  is  too  late,  too  late  ;  I  must  die  ;  I  am  lost ! 
lost  for  ever ! '  I  prayed  earnestly  with  her,  but  her  hard 
heart  was  untouched ;  there  was  in  it  no  fountain,  of  love  to 
its  Maker;  it  was  '  too  late.' 

"  What  was  the  cause  of  her  cold  and  careless  indifference  ? 
Listen, mothers, and  from  her  who,  'being  dead,  yet  speaketh,' 
learn  a  lesson.  This  lovely  mother  was,  at  a  very  early  period 
of  her  life,  deeply  and  seriously  impressed  with  the  importance 
of  religion,  and  the  arrows  of  conviction  'were  fastened  in  her 
heart.  '  My  mother,'  says  she,  '  sent  me  to  the  dancing  school, 
and  I  danced  all  my  convictions  away.'  As  she  lived,  so  did 
she  die  —  without  Christ  in  the  world."  . 


NEW   TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  937 

POWER  OF  THE  BIBLE. 

And  he  that  sat  upon  the  throne  said,  Behold,  I  make  all  things  new.  And 
he  said  unto  me,  Write  :  for  these  words  are  true  and  faithful.  —  Rev.  21 :  5. 

THE  chief  duty  of  Protestantism  is  with  the  Scriptures.  It 
is  clearly  to  declare  and  publish  them  abroad.  Neither 
attacks  upon  the  Papacy  nor  polemics  against  infidelity  are 
our  most  important  work.  If  we  can  only  pour  the  light  of 
the  Scriptures  clear  and  in  full-orbed  glory  upon  the  world, 
all  the  power  of  the  Papacy  will  vanish  as  the  night  before 
the  morning,  and  the  forms  of  infidelity  disappear  as  glow- 
worms cease  to  shine  when  the  day  has  come.  The  Bible 
does  not  need  any  defense  so  much  as  it  needs  a  proclama- 
tion. It  defends  itself  wherever  it  is  known.  Deep  in  every 
soul  there  dwells  for  ever  a  witness  to  the  truth,  whose  clear 
eye  and  steady  voice  will  see  and  respond  to  it  wherever  it  is 
known.  We  do  not  need  to  implore  men  to  believe  the  truth. 
We  only  need  that  they  shall  adequately  apprehend  it,  and 
then  we  may  defy  them  to  deny  it.  And  thus  the  Bible,  as 
eternal  truth,  needs  no  other  argument  for  its  support  than 
itself  clearly  preached. 

There  are  defenders  of  the  truth  who  think  it  otherwise. 
They  treat  the  Bible  as  a  weakly  infant,  which  must  be  bol- 
stered up  and  carefully  sustained,  lest  it  fall.  And  so  they 
bring  together  their  learning  and  philosophy,  their  human 
reasoning  and  research,  which  they  use  as  proofs  to  keep  the 
Bible  up,  trembling  all  the  while  lest  one  of  these  should  fail, 
and  the  truth,  unsupported,  sink  to  its  hurt.  But  the  Bible 
disdains  all  these  appliances.  It  is  no  weakly  infant !  It  has 
more  than  a  giant's  strength,  and  can  not  only  stand  unaided, 
but  can  walk  forth  alone,  conquering  and  to  conquer.  —  Pro- 
fessor Seelye. 

"DID  YOU  EVER  DRINK  AT  THAT  GREAT  FOUNTAIN?" 

And  he  said  unto  me,  It  is  done.  I  am  Alpha  and  Omega,  the  beginning 
and  the  end.  I  will  give  unto  him  that  is  athirst  of  the  fountain  of  the  water 
of  life  freely.  —  Rev.  21:6. 

A    FRIEND  of  mine,  Deacon  E.,  in  1839,  was  on  a  visit  to 
1\.    Saratoga   Springs.     One  morning,  taking  a  draught  at 

118  " 


938  NEW   TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

Congress  Spring,  a  lady  came  to  take  her  usual  glass  at  the 
same  time.  The  deacon  turned  to  her,  and  asked,  — 

"  Have  you  ever  drank  at  that  Great  Fountain  ?  " 

She  colored,  and  looked  surprised,  but  turned  away  with- 
out a  word  of  reply.  The  next  winter  Deacon  E.  was  in  Roch- 
ester, and  one  evening  attended  a  conference  and  prayer  meet- 
ing in  the  Baptist  church.  A  gentleman  invited  him  to  go 
home  with  him  and  see  his  wife,  who  was  very  sick.  As  he 
entered  the  room,  she  looked  up  and  smiled,  and  said,  — 

"  Don't  you  know  me  ?  " 

"  No,"  said  he. 

"  Don't  you  remember  asking  a  woman  at  Congress  Spring, 
1  Have  you  ever  drank  at  that  Great  Fountain  ? ; ; 

"  Yes,"  says  he. 

"  Well."  said  she,  "  I  am  the  person  ;  I  thought  at  first  you 
were  very  rude  ;  but  your  words  kept  ringing  in  my  ears. 
They  followed  me  to  my  chamber,  to  my  pillow.  I  found  no 
rest  till  I  found  it  in  Christ.  I  expect  to  die  pretty  soon,  and 
go  to  heaven,  and  you,  under  God,  are  the  means  of  my  sal- 
vation !  Be  as  faithful  to  others  as  you  have  been  to  me. 
Never  be  afraid  to  talk  to  strangers  on  the  subject  of  reli- 
gion." 


SWEARING  ALONE. 

He  that  overcometh  shall  inherit  all  things ;  and  I  will  be  his  God,  and  he 
shall  be  my  son.  —  Rev.  21:7. 

A  GENTLEMAN  heard  a  laboring  man  swearing  dreadfully 
in  the  presence  of  conlpanions.  He  told  him  that  it  was 
a  cowardly  thing  to  swear  in  company  with  others,  when  he 
dared  not  do  it  by  himself.  The  man  said  he  was  not  afraid  to 
swear  at  any  time  or  place. 

"  I'll  give  you  ten  dollars,"  said  the  gentleman,  "  if  you  will 
go  to  the  village  graveyard  at  twelve  o'clock  to-night,  and 
swear  the  same  oaths  you  have  uttered  here,  when  you  are 
alone  with  God." 

"  Agreed,"  said  the  man  ;  "  it's  an  easy  way  of  earning  ten 
dollars." 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  939 

"  Well,  you  come  to  me  to-morrow,  and  say  you  have  done 
it,  and  the  money  is  yours." 

The  time  passed  on ;  midnight  came.  The  man  went  to 
the  graveyard.  It  was  a  night  of  pitchy  darkness.  As  he 
entered  the  graveyard,  not  a  sound  was  heard  ;  all  was  still 
as  death.  Then  the  gentleman's  words,  "  Alone  with  God," 
came  over  him  with  wonderful  power.  The  thought  of  the 
wickedness  of  what  he  had  been  doing  and  what  he  had  come 
there  to  do,  darted  across  his  mind  like  a  flash  of  lightning. 
He  trembled  at  his  folly.  Afraid  to  take  another  .step,  he  fell 
upon  his  knees,  and  instead  of  the  dreadful  oaths  he  came  to 
utter,  the  earnest  cry  went  up,  "  God,  be  merciful  to  me  a 
sinner." 

The  next  day  he  went  to  the  gentleman,  and  thanked  him 
for  what  he  had  done,  and  said  he  had  resolved  not  to  swear 
another  oath  as  long  as  he  lived. 


THE  NEW  JERUSALEM. 

And  he  carried  me  away  in  the  spirit  to  a  great  and  high  mountain,  and 
shewed  me  that  great  city,  the  holy  Jerusalem,  descending  out  of  heaven  from 
God.  —  Rev.  21 :  10. 

DR.   BONAR,  of   Edinburgh,    thus  discourses  upon    Rev. 
21  :  10,  and  Sunday  school  teachers  may  get  a  hint  from 
these  heads  how  to  divide  and  briefly  to  enforce  their  les- 
sons :  — 

1.  It  is  a  great  city.     "That  great  city/'  said  John,  gazing 
on  it.     Its  circuit  is  vast  —  beyond  Babylon  or  Nineveh,  or 
Paris  or  London.     That  "mighty  city,"  says  .John,  speaking 
of  Babylon  the  great  (Rev.  13  :  10) ;  but  this  is  mightier  far. 
There  has  been  no  city  like  it.     It  is  the  city,  the  one  city,  the 
great  metropolis  of  the  mighty  universe,  the  mighty  city  of 
the  mighty  God. 

2.  It  is  a  well-built  city.     Its  "  builder  and  maker  is  God." 
Its  foundations  are   eternal.     Its  walls  are  jasper,  its  gates 
pearls,  its  streets  paved  with  gold.     It  is  "  compactly  built 
together,"  lying  four-square,  and  perfect  in  all  its  parts  j  with- 
out a  break,  or  flaw,  or  weakness,  or  deformity. 


940  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

3.  It  is  a  well-lighted  city.     Something  brighter  than  sun  or 
moon  is  given  to  fill  its  heaven.     The  glory  of  God  lightens 
it.     The  Lamb  is  its  "  light,"  or  "  lamp  j  "  so  that  it  needs  no 
candle,  no  sunlight.     There  is  no  night  there. 

4.  It  is  a  well-watered  city.     A  pure  river  of  the  water  of 
life  flows  through  its  streets,  proceeding  from  the  throne  of 
God  and  the  Lamb.     What  must  its  waters  be  !     Who  in  it 
can  ever  thirst  ?     Its  inhabitants  shall  thirst  no  more, 

5.  It  is  a  well-provisioned  city.     The  tree  of  life  is  there, 
with  its  twelve  varieties  of  fruit,  and  its  health- giving  leaves. 
It  has  more  than  Eden  had.     It  is  Paradise  restored.    Paradise 
and  Jerusalem  in  one ;  Jerusalem  in  Paradise,  and  Paradise  in 
Jerusalem. 

6.  It  is  a  well-guarded  city.     Not  only  has  it  gates,  and 
walls,  and  towers,  which  no  enemy  could  scale  or  force,  but 
at  the  gates  are  twelve  angels,  keeping  perpetual  watch. 

7.  It  is  a  well-governed  city.     Its  king  is  the  Son  of  God ; 
the  King  of  kings,  Emmanuel ;  the  King  eternal,  whose  scepter 
is  righteousness ;  who  loveth  righteousness,  and  hateth  in- 
iquity.    No  misrule  is  there,  no  disorder,  no  lawlessness. 

8.  It  is  a  well-peopled  city.     It  has  gathered  within  its  walls 
all   generations  of  the  redeemed.     Its  population  is  as  the 
sands  or  the  stars  j  the  multitude  that  no  man  can  number ; 
the  millions  of  the  risen  and  glorified. 

9.  It  is  a  holy  city.     Its  origin  is  heavenly,  and  it  is  perfect 
as  its  Builder.     Nothing  that  defileth  shall  enter  —  no  spot,  or 
speck,  or  shadow  of  evil.     All  is  perfection  there  —  divine 
perfection. 

10.  It  is  a  glorious  city.     The  glory  that  fills  it  and  encircles 
it  is  the   glory  of  God.     All  precious  stones  are  there ;  no 
marble  nor  granite,  such  as  we  boast  of  now ;  all  about  it  is 
gold,  -and  pearls,  and  gems.     Everything  resplendent  is  there. 

11.  It  is  a  blessed  city.     It  is  truly  the  joyous  city.     It  is 
the  throne  and  seat  of  the  Blessed  One,  and  all  in  it  is  like 
him.     Its  name  is  Jerusalem,  the  city  of  peace.     Its  king's 
name  is  Solomon,  the  Prince  of  Peace.     There  is  no  enemy 
there,  no  danger,  no  darkness,  no  sickness,  no  curse,  no  death, 
no  weeping,  no  pain,  no  sorrow,  no  change  for  ever.    They  that 
dwell  in  it  shall  "  hunger  no  more,  neither  thirst  any  more  " 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  941 

(Rev.  7  :  16,  17 ) ;  for  the  "  ransomed  of  the  Lord  shall  return, 
and  come  to  it  with  songs ;  sorrow  and  sighing  shall  flee 
away."  (Isa.  35  :  10.)  Blessed  city  !  City  of  peace,  and  love, 
and  song  !  Fit  accompaniment  of  the  new  heavens  ;  fit  metrop- 
olis of  the  new  earth,  wherein  dwelleth  righteousness  !  How 
eagerly  should  we  look  for  it !  How  worthy  of  it  should  we  live  ! 


"HAVING  THE  GLORY  OF  GOD." 

Having  the  glory  of  God ;  and  her  light  was  like  unto  a  stone  most  pre- 
cious, even  like  a  jasper-stone,  clear  as  crystal.  —  Rev.  21 :  11. 

ALL  that  is  glorious,  whether  visible  or  invisible,  natural  or 
spiritual,  must  have  its  birthplace  in  God.  "  Of  him, 
and  through  him,  and  to  him,  are  all  things,  to  whom  be  glory 
for  ever."  (Rom.  11  :  36.)  All  glorious  things  come  forth  out 
of  him,  and  have  seeds,  or  germs,  or  patterns  in  himself.  We 
say  of  that  flower,  "  How  beautiful !  "  but  the  type  of  its  beau- 
ty —  the  beauty  of  which  it  is  the  faint  expression  —  is  in 
God.  We  say  of  that  star,  "  How  bright ! "  but  the  bright- 
ness which  it  represents  or  declares  is  in  God.  So  of  every 
object  above  and  beneath.  And  so  especially  shall  it  be  seen 
in  the  objects  of  glory  which  shall  surround  us  in  the  king- 
dom of  God.  Of  each  thing  there,  as  of  the  city  itself,  it  ^hall 
be  said,  «  It  has  the  glory  of  God."  (Rev.  21 :  11.)  —  Rev.  H. 
Bonar,  D.  D. 

FROM  DARKNESS  TO  LIGHT. 

And  there  shall  he  no  night  there ;  and  they  need  no  candle,  neither  light 
of  the  sun,  for  the  Lord  God  giveth  them  light ;  and  they  shall  reign  for  ever 
and  ever.  —  Rev.  22  :  5. 

I  HAVE  recently  read  of  a  young  lady,  twenty-five  years  of 
age,  who  had  been  blind  from  birth.  For  twenty-five 
years  she  had  lived  in  midnight  darkness,  groping  through 
the  glooms  of  an  unbroken  night.  She  could  not  form  the 
faintest  conception  of  the  features  of  those  she  loved,  of  rain- 
bow hues,  of  the  bloom  of  a  summer's  morning,  of  the  sublime 
loveliness  of  the  expanded  ocean,  earth,  and  sky.  As  her 


942  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

friends  endeavored  to  picture  to  her  these  scenes,  exhausting 
the  power  of  language  and  illustration  in  the  attempt,  her  soul 
struggled  in  sad  and  unavailing  effort  to  form  some  concep- 
tion of  the  wonders  which  light  could  reveal. 

A  successful  operation  was  performed,  and  sight  was  re- 
stored. For  several  days  she  was  kept  in  a  partially  darkened 
chamber,,  until  the  visual  organs  gained  strength,  and  she  had 
become  a  little  accustomed  to  their  use.  Then  on  a  lovely, 
pure  morning  the  window-blinds  were  thrown  open,  and  she 
was  allowed  to  look  out  for  the  first  time  in  her  life  upon  the 
wondrous-  workmanship  of  God's  hand.  Then  was  unfolded 
to  her  enraptured  gaze  the  verdure  of  the  carpeted  earth,  the 
luxuriance  of  its  vegetation,  the  flowers,  the  towering  trees 
waving  their  leaves  in  the  gentle  air,  the  wide-spread  land- 
scape extending  apparently  into  infinity,  and  the  grandeur  of 
the  overarching  skies,  with  their  gorgeous  drapery  of  clouds. 

She  nearly  fainted  from  excess  of  rapture.  Tears  of 
more  than  earthly  delight  gushed  from  those  eyeballs  which 
had  so  long  been  sightless.  "  0,  wonderful,  wonderful !  "  she 
exclaimed ;  "  heaven  surely  can  not  surpass  this.  I  never 
dreamed  of  aught  so  lovely.  Upon  such  a  scene  I  could  gaze 
for  ever,  for  ever,  unwearied.  No  language  can  describe  such 
grandeur  and  loveliness.  0  God,  this  must  be  thy  dwelling- 
place,  thine  effulgent  throne." 

Thus  in  an  ecstasy  of  bliss  she  gazed  and  gazed,  exhausting 
the  language  of  admiration,  till  her  physician,  fearing  the  effect 
of  excitement  so  intense,  closed  the  blinds. 

And  thus  shall  it  be  with  you,  0  happy,  happy  disciple  of 
Jesus,  when  the  film  which  earth  and  sin  have  incrusted  shall 
be  removed  from  your  eyes,  and,  entering  in  at  the  golden 
gates,  the  splendors  of  the  celestial  paradise  shall  be  opened 
to  your  view. 

THE  BIBLE  TO  BE  MUCH  READ. 

And  he  saith  unto  me,  Seal  not  the  sayings  of  the  prophecy  of  this  book ; 
for  the  time  is  at  hand.  —  Rev.  22  :  10. 


A 


PERSON  who  has  perfect  love  will  love  his  Bible  above 
all  other  books.      It  will  be  dear  to  his  heart,  an  in- 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 


943 


expressible  treasure.  And  the  reason  is  obvious.  It  is  be- 
cause in  the  Bible  he  learns  the  will  of  God  which  he  delights 
in  more  than  anything  else.  And  hence  it  is  one  of  the  artifices 
of.  Satan,  who  is  no  friend  of  the  Bible,  to  endeavor  to  detach 
devout  minds  from  the  study  of  the  divine  word,  under  the 
plausible  pretense  that  the  inward  teachings  of  the  Spirit  are 
of  more  value  than  the  outward  letter  —  an  artifice  which 
he  who  desires  a  close  walk  with  God  will  carefully  guard 
against,  remembering  that  God  can  not  consistently,  and  will 
not,  neglect  and  dishonor  his  own  divine  communications  ;  that 
the  Holy  Spirit  operates  in  a  peculiar  manner,  in  connection 
with  the  written  word  ;  and  that  he  who  deserts  the  word  of 
God  may  reasonably  expect  to  be  deserted  by  the  Spirit.  — 
Professor  Upham. 


WHAT  SHALL  I  CARRY  WITH  ME  INTO  ETERNITY? 

He  that  Is  unjust,  let  him  be  unjust  still ;  and  he  which  is  filthy,  let  him  be 
filthy  still ;  and  he  that  is  righteous,  let  him  be  righteous  still ;  and  he  that  is 
holy,  let  him  be  holy  still.  —  Rev.  22  :  11. 

I  CAN  carry  no  earthly  goods,  wealth,  nor  possessions  gained 
in  time.  Therefore  I  should  not  set  my  affections  on  earthly 
things.  "  Houses,  lands,  riches,  business,  pleasures,  I  must 
give  you  all  up ;  I  can  take  none  of  you  with  me  when  I  de- 
part to  another  world."  But  "  though  no  earthly  possessions 
can  go  with  me  into  eternity,  is  there  anything  else  that  can?" 
Yes  ;  my  character,  or  state  of  my  soul.  For  what  we  are 
when  we  die  we  shall  be  after  death,  and  for  ever.  It  is  not 
said,  what  we  have  when  we  die  we  shall  possess  after  death, 
but  what  we  are  when  we  die  we  shall  be  after  death.  "  He 
that  is  unjust,  let  him  be  unjust  still ;  he  that  is  faithful,  let 
him  \)Q  faithful  still ;  and  he  that  is  holy,  let  him  be  holy  still." 
(Rev.  22:11.)  Solemn  consideration!  Die  in  sin,  you  are 
lost  for  ever.  Die  in  Jesus,  you  are  blessed  for  ever.  Death 
makes  no  change  in  character  —  it  is  not  a  saviour  —  it  does 
not,  can  not  regenerate  the  soul.  The  elements  of  hell  lie  in 
character.  I  conclude,  therefore,  that  since  an  ungodly  man 
must  take  his  unholy  nature  with  him  into  eternity,  "  every 
man  who  will  suffer  the  torments  of  the  lost,  in  the  bottomless 


914:  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

pit,  will  do  so  because  he  will  carry  with  him  to  that  abode  of 
darkness  unpardoned  guilt  and  unsubdued  depravity "  —  as 
the  unfailing  seed  and  source  of  ceaseless  and  remediless  mis- 
ery. Men  reap  in  eternity  only  what  they  sow  in  time.  (Gal. 
6:8.)  The  man  who  serves  sin  and  Satan,  lives  and  dies  in 
impenitence  and  unbelief — treasuring  up  wrath  against  the 
day  of  wrath,  and  has  no  treasure  but  sin  and  an  unholy  heart 
to  carry  with  him  into  eternity,  must  be  miserably  poor  for 
ever,  while  he  who  has  no  other  treasure  than  the  blood  of 
Christ  in  possession,  at  death,  is  eternally  rich.  Reader,  in  a 
little  while  it  will  be  of  little  moment  whether  thou  wert  rich 
or  poor  here,  but  it  will  be  of  infinite  consequence  whether 
you  were  a  child  of  God. 


"I  AM." 

I  am  Alpha  and  Omega,  the  beginning  and  the  end,  the  first  and  the  last.  — 
Rev.  22 :  13. 

GOD  doth  not  say,  I  am  their  light,  their  guide,  their 
strength,  their  tower ;  but  only,  I  AM.  He  sets,  as  it  were, 
his  hand  to  a  blank,  that  his  people  may  write  under  it  what 
they  please  that  is  good  for  them.  As  if  he  would  say,  Are 
they  weak?  I  am  strength.  Are  they  poor?  I  am  riches. 
Are  they  in  trouble?  I  am  comfort.  Are  they  sick?  I  am 
health.  Are  they  dying  ?  I  am  life.  Have  they  nothing  ?  I 
am  all  things.  I  am  wisdom  and  power.  I  am  justice  and 
mercy.  I  am  grace  and  goodness.  I  am  glory,  beauty,  holi- 
ness, eminency,  supereminency,  perfection,  all-sufficiency, 
eternity!  Jehovah,  I  am.  Whatsoever  is  amiable  in  itself, 
or  desirable  unto  them,  that  I  am.  Whatsoever  is  pure  and 
holy  —  whatsoever  is  great  or  pleasant  —  whatsoever  is  good, 
or  needful  to  make. men  happy,  that  I  am.  —  Bishop  Beveridge. 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  945 

WORK  OF  THE  SPIRIT. -SAY,  COME. 

And  the  Spirit  and  the  bride  say,  Come.  And  let  him  that  heareth  say, 
Come.  And  let  him  that  is  athirst  come.  And  whosoever  will,  let  him  ttiko 
the  water  of  life  freely.  —  Rev.  22  :  17. 

THE  migh'tiest  forces  in  the  universe  are  silent  forces. 
Who  ever^heard  the  budding  of  an  oak?  Who  was  ever 
deafened  by  the  falling  of  the  dew  ?  Who  was  ever  stunned 
by  a  solar  eclipse  ?  So  it  is  with  the  august  phenomenon  of  a 
change  of  heart.  So  far  as  we  know,  it  is  the  most  radical 
change  a  human  spirit  can  experience.  It  is  a  revolutionary 
change.  Disembodiment  by  death,  morally  estimated,  is  not 
so  profound.  Still  a  change  of  heart  is  not  an  unnatural 
change.  It  is  not  necessarily  even  destructive  of  self-posses- 
sion. God  employs  in  it  an  instrument  exquisitely  adjusted 
to  the  mind  of  man  as  an  intelligent  and  free  being.  Truth 
may  act  in  it  with  an  equipoise  of  forces  as  tranquil  as  that  of 
gravitation  in  the  orbit  of  the  stars.  No,  it  is  not  of  necessity 
a  tumultuous  experience  to  whrch  God  calls  us  when  he  in- 
vites us  to  be  saved.  By  what  emblems  have  the  Scriptures 
expressed  the  person  of  the  Holy  Ghost  ?  Is  it  an  eagle  ? 
"  And  John  bare  record,  saying,  I  saw  the  Spirit  descending 
like  a  dove.'1  "  Come,"  is  the  select  language  of  inspiration  ; 
"  come,  and  I  will  give  you  —  "  What  ?  a  shock,  the  rack,  a 
swoon  f  No  ;  "  I  will  give  —  rest."  "  Come,  and  ye  shall 
find  —  "  What  ?  struggle,  terror,  torture  !  No ;  ye  shall  find 
— "  peace."  "  Come  ye."  Come  who  ?  "  Let  him  that  is 
athirst  come.  And  whosoever  will,  let  him  take  the  water  of 
life  freely."  —  Dr.  A.  Phdps. 

Yes,  Christian,  say,  Come.  As  you  go  to  and  from  the 
sanctuary,  where  you  have  heard  the  joyful  sound,  say, 
every  man  to  his  neighbor,  Come  —  come  and  see  what  God 
is  doing  ;  come  and  witness  the  triumphs  of  grace ;  come  and 
hear,  and  your  soul  shall  live. 

1.  The  invitation  is  easy.      It  requires   no   learning   nor 
eloquence  ;  it  is  only,  Come. 

2.  It  will  discharge  an  obligation  resting  upon  all  to  those 
around  them.     You  may  not  selfishly  enjoy  these  great  privi- 

119 


946  NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS. 

leges.     You  must  bring  others,  that  they  also  many  be  par- 
takers of  them. 

3.  It  can  not  be  without  effect.     Though  they  put  their 
fingers  in  their  ears,  and  will  not  hearken,  yet  you  will  have 
made  a  lodgment  in  the  conscience  and  the  heart  which  they 
can  not  shake  off.     They  can  not  say,  "  I  have  not  been  in- 
vited ;  I  feel  no  responsibility." 

4.  Say,  Come,  and  you  fulfill  the  great  missien  of  the  Chris- 
tian, which  is  to  be  useful.     You  will  cause  them  to  reflect. 
You  may  convert  a  sinner  from  the  error  of  his  ways,  and  save 
a  soul  from  death. 

5.  You  may  secure  to  yourself  happiness  unspeakable  for 
time  and  eternity.     O  the  joy  of  leading  souls  to  Christ !    What 
a  meeting  it  will  be  in  heaven,  when  one  saved  spirit  shall  say 
to  another,  "  You  said  to  me,  Come,  and  I  went,  and  found 
salvation  ! " 

Reader,  to-day  is  yours,  to-morrow  is  uncertain ;  but  if  it 
dawns  upon  you,  say  to  all-  around  you,  Come.  Parent,  say 
to  your  child,  Come.  Man  of  business,  say  to  those  in  your 
employ,  Come.  Young  man,  say  to  your  friends  and  com- 
panions, Come.  Citizen,  say  to  the  stranger,  Come.  Chris- 
tian, go  out  into  the  streets  and  alleys,  and  say  to  the  poor, 
and  the  blind,  and  the  halt,  Come,  and  welcome.  There  is 
room  for  all.  Now  is  the  accepted  time,  now  is  the  day  of 
salvation.  0  the  joyful  sound  !  COME.  Let  him  that  is  athirst 
come,  and  take  of  the  water  of  life  freely. 


CLINGING  — A  SCRIPTURE  POEM. 

He  which  testifieth  these  things  saith,   Surely  I  come  quickly.     Amen. 
Even  so,  come,  Lord  Jesus.  —  Rev.  22  :  20. 

A    CURIOUS  and  beautiful  arrangement  of  different  biblical 
!JL  texts  is  given  in  the  following  poem :  — 

Cling  to  the  Mighty  One,  Ps.  89  : 19. 

Cling  in  thy  grief;  Heb.  12  :  11. 

Cling  to  the  Holy  One,  Ps.  16  : 10. 

He  gives  relief.  Ps.  116  :  8. 


NEW  TESTAMENT  ILLUSTRATIONS.  947 

Cling  to  the  Gracious  One,  Ps.  116  :  5. 

Cling  in  thy  pain  ;  Ps.  55  :  4. 

Cling  to  the  Faithful  One,  1  Thess.  5  :  24. 

He  will  sustain.  Ps.  28  :  8. 

Cling  to  the  Living  One,  Heb.  7  :  25. 

Cling  in  thy  woe ;  Ps.  86  :  7. 

Cling  to  the  Loving  One,  1  John  4  :  16. 

Through  all  below.  Rom.  8  :  38. 

Cling  to  the  Pardoning  One,  Is.  4  :  7. 

He  speaketh  peace  ;  John  14  :  27. 

Cling  to  the  Healing  One,  Exod.  15  :  26. 

Anguish  shall  cease.  Ps.  147  :  3. 

Cling  to  the  Bleeding  One,  1  John  1  :  7. 

Cling  to  his  side  ;  John  20  :  27. 

Cling  to  the  Risen  One,  Rom.  6  :  9. 

In  him  abide.  John  15  :  4. 

Cling  to  the  Coming  One,  Rev.  22  :  20. 

Hope  shall  arise  ;  Titus  2 : 13. 

Cling  to  the  Reigning  One,  Ps.  96  : 1. 

Joy  lights  thine  eyes.  Ps.  16  : 11. 


INDEX, 


MATTHEW. 

Chap. 

A  Christian  Queen,  ....  12 
Acknowledging  God  in  Eating,  14 

A  Lost  Man, 18 

A  Martyr  of  the  Roman  Coli- 
seum,        10 

A  Mother's  Faith  rewarded,  .  15 
A  Religion  that  can  be  despised,  10 

A  Shining  Church, 5 

A  Son  that  preached  his  Fa- 
ther's Funeral  Sermon,  . 
A  True  Harvest  Laborer,  .  . 
Baptizing  in  the  Name  of  Jesus, 
Believe,  and  not  doubt,  .  .  . 
Bethlehem  of  Judea,  .... 

Bible  or  no  Bible, 4 

Bound  with  his  own  Chain,  .  .  22 
Building  on  the  Sand,  ...  7 
Cares  of  this  World,  ....  13 
Character  indicated  by  Works,  7 
Christ's  Appeal  to  the  Scriptures,  4 

Christ  in  the  Garden 26 

Christ  in    Sympathy  with  the 

Suffering, 9 

Christ  the  Son  of  God,  .  .  . 
Christian  Faithfulness,  .  .  . 
Christianity  a  Finality,  .  .  . 
Chrysostom's  Eloquence,  .  . 
Coming  of  the  Son  of  Man,  .  '. 
Communion  Wines,  .... 
Daniel's  Prophecy  fulfilled,  .  . 
Dealing  with  a  Young  Infidel,  . 

Death  of  a  Noted  Infidel,     .     . 

Dr.   Hall's  Tract,    "Come  to 

Jesus,"     

Eloquent  Tribute  to  the  Bible, 

Eternal  Duration, 

Exposition  of  Matthew  16:  18,  . 

Fair-weather  Christians,  .     .     . 

Faithful  Preaching,      .... 

False  Conscientiousness,  .    .    . 

Follow  the  True  Light,     .    .    . 

For,  or  against,  Christ,     .     .     . 

Getting  on  too  fast,       ...» 

Gifts  of  Gold  to  Jesus,      .    .    . 

God  answers  Prayer,    .... 

God's  Testimony  of  Approbation,   17 

Good  Things  given  with  Grace,       6 

He  was  God  and  Man,      ...      8 

His  Name  called  Jesus,    ...      i 


Verse.  Page. 
42  60 
19  68 
II  83 


14 


24 


6 
16 
13 
26 

22 

20 

7 

39 

12 

33 
7 

14 
3 

27 

27 

14 

3,  4 

28 

35 
16 
18 
56 
45 
24 
2 
30 

2 
II 
22 

5 

33 
27 

21 


38,  39  64 
38  46 
19 

21 


119 


23 

28 

95 
42 
61 

27 
"3 

45 

72 
47 

IOO 

67 

102 
112 
101 
84 
"5 

55 
103 

75 
"5 
103 

IOO 

2 

56 
26 
23 

93 

79 
38 
44 
20 


Chap. 

"  How  Do  you  treat  my  Master  ?"  10 
How  the  pure  in  Heart  see  God,  5 
Idlers  in  the  Church,   ....  20 
Intended  for  a  Joke,  but  over- 
ruled for  Good,     .    .    .    .  18 

"It  is  I," 14 

"  I  was  sick,  and  ye  visited  me,"  25 

Jesus  swift  to  save, 14 

Jewish  Phylacteries,     ....  23 

John  Maynard,  the  Faithful  Pilot,  25 

Judgment-day  Separations,  .     .  3 

Keep  the  Commandments,    .     .  19 

Lamentations  of  a  Lost  Soul,     .  26 

Least  in  the  Kingdom  of  Heaven,  1 1 

Left  behind, 8 

Life  printing  itself,  .....  12 

Living  by  the  Day, 6 

"  Lo,  I  am  with  you,"       ...  28 

"  Lord,  save  me," 14 

Ministering  at  the  Sick-bed,  .     .  25 
Ministering  to  him,       ....  25 
Moral  and  Christian  men  con- 
trasted,       19 

Moral  Instincts,  or  Soul  Powers,  1 1 

No  Hope  to  Lost  Souls,   ...  25 

"  Nothing  to  do," 20 

Not  saved, 13 

"  Now,  God,  take  Baby,"     .     .  21 

Pearl  of  Great  Price,  .      ...  13 

Plants  that  shall  be  rooted  up,  .  15 

Power  of  a  Mother's  Prayer,     .  15 

Preach  pointedly,  and  to  save,  .  1 i 
Prevailing   Prayer  in    the  Old 

South  Church, 17 

Profane  Language,       ....  23 

Relief  obtained  by  a  Dream,     .  27 

Remarkable  Facts, 13 

Rewarded  now,  or  then  ?  .     .     .  6 

"  Saying  the  Same  Words,"      .  26 

Scriptural  Titles  of  Christ,    .    .  i 

Scripture  Transcribers,     ...  13 

Secret  Prayer, 6 

Selling  a  Soul 16 

"  Send  for  the  Gas-man,"     .    .  22 

Simple  Preaching,   .....  4 

Sin  against  the  Holy  Ghost,       .  12 

Solemn  Thought  awakened,       .  3 

Some  One  must  pray,  ....  8 

Speaking  of  Christ,       .     .    .    .  18 

Striking  God's  Children,  ...  25 

(949) 


Verse.  Page. 

24 

50 

8 

3o 

3 

88 

19 

85 

27 

69 

36 

108 

31 

71 

5 

98 

23 

106 

12 

27 
86 

24 

in 

II 

52 

22 

43 

36 

w 

34 

38 

20 

121 

30 

70 

38,  39 

10;) 

35 

I07 

20 

87 

25 

54 

46 

in 

6 

88 

30 

62 

16 

90 

46 

65 

13 

73 

22,  23 

74 

24 

53 

21 

80 

22 

99 

19 

IJ7 

33 

63 

5 

3'> 

44 

"4 

23 

20 

52 

66 

6 

37 

26 

78 

5 

93 

23 

29 

3i 

57 

7 

c6 

II,  12 

43 

3 

81 

40 

no 

950 


INDEX. 


Swearing  in  Hebrew,    ....      5 

Table  of  Bible  Money,      .     .     . 

The  Book  that  is  ever  ahead,     . 

The  Cruse  that  faileth  not,    .     . 

"The  Door  is  shut,"    .... 

The  Early  Conversion  of  Child- 
ren  

The  Pen  of  Heaven 

The  Price  of  Blood 

The  Rector's  Happy  Experience, 

They  took  no  Oil  with  them,      . 

•' To  Bristol  either  Way,"     .     . 

Walking  in  the  Fatherhood  of 
God, 

Warned  by  a  Dream,   .... 

What  Jesus  is  able  to  do,      .     . 

What  shall  I  do  with  Jesus,  .     . 

What  think  ye  of  Christ,       .     . 

What  will  you  say,  Sir?    .     .    . 

Where  is  our  Self-denial?      .     . 

Why  the  Infidel  was  troubled,  . 

Wise  in  Winning  Souls,    .     .     . 

Working  for  a  Penny  a  Day,     . 

Working  in  God's  Vineyard,      . 

Works  acceptable  to  God,     .     . 

"  Ye  are  the  Salt  of  the  Earth," 

MARK. 

A  Great  Change  in  a  Short  Time, 

A  Hard  Problem  to  solve,     .     . 

"  And  the  Book  was  not  there," 

Anecdote  of  Father  Sewall,  .     . 

An  Honest  Hearer,      .... 

A  Timely  Warning  unheeded,  . 

A  Word  to  Ministers,  .... 

Change  of  the  Sabbath,    .     .     . 

Characteristics  of  the  Gospel,    . 

Childhood  recognized  in  Christ- 
ianity,   

Christian  Character  a  Growth,  . 

Christ's  Heart  given  for  the 
World, 

Covenant  of  Salt, 9 

Cranmer's  Forgivingness,     .     . 

Cups  of  Cold  Water,    .... 

Dancing  that  led  to.  Murder,     . 

Daniel  confirmed  by  Historic 
Discoveries,  *3 

Dome  of  God's  Providence, 

Double  Sufferings  of  Christ,      . 

Dr.  Guthrie's  Secret,    .... 

Effectiveness  of  Appropriate  Il- 
lustrations,   2 

Embarrassing  a  Priest,     . 

Eternity, 3 

Faith  that  removes  Mountains, 

Far  from  God — a  Punishment, 

C,o,     .     .     .     . 

"  Have  Faith  in  God,"      .     . 

Heaven  entered  with  Difficulty, 

How  this  World  may  end,     . 


hap.  Verse.  Page. 

5 

34,  35 

33  I 

17 

27 

81  J 

i 

i 

«9  J 

5 

42 

34  J 

25 

10 

105  J 

18 

6 

82 

12 

37 

59 

27 

6 

116 

5 

48 

35 

25 

3 

104 

7 

i3,  14 

40 

7 

ii 

39 

2 

12 

25 

9 

28 

46 

27 

22 

118 

22 

42 

97 

22 

12 

94 

16 

24 

77 

2 

3 

22 

10 

16 

48 

20 

13 

89 

21 

28 

92 

22 

20 

96 

5 

»3 

31 

5 

19 

137 

8 

36 

148 

12 

II 

162 

14 

23 

169 

4 

20 

133 

4 

24 

134 

3 

14 

130 

16 

2 

174 

i 

I 

121 

10 

13,  i4 

»53 

4 

28 

134 

14 

34 

170 

9 

50 

152 

ii 

26 

161 

9 

4i 

'Si 

6 

22 

143 

13 

14 

166 

7 

37 

146 

IS 

34 

173 

4 

33,34 

135 

2 

16,  17 

128 

7 

5 

144 

3 

29 

132 

ii 

23 

160 

9 

46 

»5» 

16 

'5 

175 

ii 

21,  22 

»59 

10 

25 

'54 

J3 

31 

167 

Chap.    Verse  Pnge. 

Intention  is  rewarded,       ...  14            8      167 

Jehoiada's  Idea  of  Giving,    .     .  12          41       163 

Jesus  and  the  Blind  Man,     .     .  8          23       146 

Jesus  tempted  by  Satan,   ...  i          13      -123 

Judas,  the  Covetous  Disciple,    .  14      10,  ii    168 

Learn  to  be  silent, 15            3       172 

^caving  all  for  Christ,  .     .     .     .  10          28       155 

Misfortune  changed  to  a  Blessing,  5          15       136 

Modern  Iscariots, 14          44      171 

VIoney  received    in    Exchange 

for  his  Soul,       .....  8          37       149 

Natural  Goodness, 7      21,  22    145 

Nothing  but  Leaves,     .    ...  IX          13       158 

Only  believe,  .......  5          36      140 

Over-scrupulousness,    ....  13            9      165 

Peace  proclaimed— an  Illustra- 
tion,        5          20 

Preach  for  the  Masses,      ...  12          37 

Preach  to  them  as  Sinners,    .     .  6          12 

President  Humphrey  on  Novel- 
reading,    3          27      131 

Prince  of  Excellency,    ....  15          39      "73 

Private  Prayer, 6          46       143 

Reaching    the    Hearts    of    the 

People, 3 

Reason  and  Religion,  ....  2 

Repenting  of  Apostasy;    ...  14 

Sabbath-keeping  a  Blessing,      .  2 

She  preferred  Christ  to  Home,  8 

The  Last  Time,  ......  10 

The  Marvelousness  of  unbelief,  6 

The  Salvation  of  One  Soul,  .     .  16 

The  Widow's  Mite,       .     .     .     .  n 

Transfiguration  of  Christ,      .     .  9 

Transubstantiation,       ....  14 

Various  Seasons  of  Prayer,    .     .  i 

Why  am  I  not  a  Christian  ?   .     .  10 

LUKE. 

A  Beautiful  Incident,        ...  12 

An  Incident  with  a  Lesson,  .     .  14 

A  Straight  Road  to  Heaven,      .  16 

A  Trusting  Faith  the  Best,   .     .  5 

Authority  of  the  Bible,     ...  4 

Beautiful  Prayers 18 

Be  alive  for  Christ,       .     .     .    .  «22 

Begin  your  Religion  aright,       .  24 

Be  Merciful  to  the  Poor,       .     .  6 

Brilliant,  but   not  Successful,    .  9 

"  Call  his  name  Jesus,"         .    .  i 

Can  you  settle  your  Account?    .  16 

Christ  our  City  of  Refuge,     .     .  3 

Christian  Women, 24 

Christ's  Agony  in  the  Garden,  .  22 

Christ's  Ascension,       24 

Christ's  Teaching  on  Universal- 


72 

28 

34 
47 
6 
16 
42 
4,  5 

22 

35 
49 


139 
163 
142 


129 
126 
172 
129 


141 

'75 
124 
150 
169 
126 
157 


218 
228 
239 
192 
191 
245 
257 
266 
194 

201 

I78 

n>> 

186 


sm,      ........  » 

Come  now, *4 

Continued  all  Night  in  Prayer,  6 

Converted  late  in  Life,     .     •     •  '4 

Danger  of  Riches, 18 


41,  43  258 

50,  51  268 

23,  24  224 

,7  22', 

12  193 

22  227 

23,  24  246 


INDEX. 


951 


.      Chap.  Verse.  Page. 
Death-bed    Testimony    against 

Avariciousness,      ....  12  21  221 

"'  Deliver  us  from  Evil,"  .    .     ,  n  4  214 

Do  not  fret,     ........  21  19  253 

Do-nothing  Religion,    .     .     .     .  10  28  208 

Essential  to  acceptable  Prayer,        i  13  176 

Fear  the  Sexton, 12  4,  5  216 

Female  Influence, 23  55  262 

Final  Destination  of  the  Covet- 
ous,         16  14  238 

Foolish    Questions    wisely    an- 
swered,       20  40  251 

Forgiveness  among  Neighbors,  17  3  240 
Go  ye  and  do  likewise,  .  .  .  10  36,37  211 
"God  and  Two  Cents  are  Ev- 
erything," ...,,.  17  5  241 
Great  is  the  Holy  Bible,  ...  3  2  186 
Harmony  of  Voice  and  Life,  .  7  23  198 
Hearing  and  Retaining,  ...  8  15  199 
He  mistook  the  Light,  ...  21  8  252 

He  pleads  guilty, 19  22  248 

He  receiveth  Sinners,       ...  15  2  230 

His  Blood  shed  for  us,      ...  22  20  256 

Honor  to  Christ  not  to  be  divided,  9  35  204 
How  an  Ignorant  Cobbler  knew 

Christ  to  be  God,  ....       7  48,  49  198 
How  could  you  say  the  Lord's 

Prayer? 6  37  195 

How  much  do  you  owe  .the  Lprd?  16  5 

Hugh  Latimer's  Conversion,      .8  39 

Humility  and  Truth,     .     .     .     .  10  21 

Importunity  in  Prayer,      ,     .     .  n  8 

Infidelity  does  not  know,  .     .     .  10  22 

" I  will  give  Nothing,"     ,     ,     ,  .6  30 

Jesus  in  his  Childhood,     ...       2  52 

Joy  in  Heaven, 15  jo 

Liberal  Christians  and    Broad- 

Churchism 19  14  247 

Love    to  Christ    stronger  than 

Filial  Relations,     ....  14  26  229 

Making  mock  of  Divine  Things,  13  3  224 

Martius,  the  Young  Martyr,       .       9  24  202 

Modern  Dancing  and  the  Bible,  15  25  233 

My  Master's  Errand,  .     .     .     .       i  19  176 
Named  by  the  Angel  "The  Son 

of  God," i  35  179 

Nathaniel  R.  Cobb's  Covenant 

against  Riches,       ....       6  38  196 

New  Testament  Parables,     .     .  10  30  209 

Noah  did  not  close  the  Door,     .  17  26,  27  242 

Not  satisfied  with  a  Part,       .     .       2  32  183 

"O,  he  is  a  great  Forgiver!"    .  23  43  261 

Persistent  Praying  illustrated,    .  18  i  244 

Pigalle's  Alms-giving,  n  ,1  215 

Power  cf  the  Lord  to  save,         .       5  17  192 
Prayer  answered,   though  long 

delayed, 18  7  244 

Preaching  accompanied  with  Di- 
vine Power, 4  32  189 

"  Put  a  Ring  on  his  Hand,"      .  15  22  232 

Queen  Victoria  and  the  Sabbath,  23  56  263 

Reasons  for  serving  the  Lord,    .  *5  17  232 


235 

200 

205 

207 
194 

231 


Chap.    Verse.  Page. 

Rebuked  for  false  pretenses,      .     22      47,  48    259 

Recognition  of  Friends  in  Hea- 
ven,   20  35,  36  250 

Reproducing  the  New  Testa- 
ment,    21  33  255 

Religious  Conversation,    ...     24          32      266 

St.  Chrysostom's  View  of  Prayer,  n  i       212 

Salvation,  the  Central  Idea  of 

the  Bible, i 


76»  77 

19,  20 

18 
9 
49 
20 

12 
20 
21 
42 
15 

34 
6 


2'7 

189 

241 

22O 

2  54 

2  12 
219 
230 
225 

22  222 

35,  36  223 

43  204 

23  177 
15  264 

181 
237 


Sins  are  linked  together,  ...  3       19,  20    187 

The  Eternal  Rock,       ....  20          18      249 

The  Glory  of  the  Lord,     ...  2 

The  Indispensable  Power,     .     .  24 

The  Inestimable  Book,     .     .    \  4 

The  Lepers  of  Jerusalem,      .     .  17 

The  Miser, J2 

The  Mountains  of  Scripture,      ,  21 

The  One  Thing  needful,  .     .     .  10 

The  Sin  of  Covetousness,      .     .  12 

The  Value  of  Churches,    ...  14 

Thomas  Paine  silenced,    .     .     .  14 

Trusting  in  God's  Providence,  .  12 
Uncle  Johnson  bound  for  Canaan,  12 

Value  of  a  Single  Tract,    ...  9 

Waiting  to  be  released,     ...  i 

Walking  and  talking  with  Christ,  24           15 

Well  answered, i          79 

What  I  have  seen,        .    .     .     .  16          13 

What  it  cost  him,     ,    *     ,     .     .  9          25      203 

Why  Jewesses  are  beautiful,      .  23          28      261 

Wise  for  the  World  to  come,     .  16          18      236 

JOHN. 

A-  Finer  Mansion,    .....  14            2      327 

A  Genuine  Surrender,      ...  6          37      298 

A  Sceptic's  Test, 7          17      300 

Ask  Large  Blessings,    .     .     .     .  16          24      3  jo 

A  Victim  to  Unbelief,        ...  8          24      306 

Awakened  by  the  Word,  .     .     .  i            i      269 
Christ  anticipating  his  Finished 

Work 17            4      34i 

Christ  divine 10          30      317 

Christ  our  Sacrifice,.     .....  i          36      272 

Christ  our  Soul  Food,  ....  6          35       297 

Christ  the  Good  Shepherd,   .     .10  4      315 
Christ    the    Metropolis   of    the 

Scriptures, 13           13       325 

Christ  the  Model  Teacher,    .    »  .  J             2       271; 

Christ's  Coming  at  (he  Sea,  .     .21  4      353 
Christ's    Kingdom    founded  in 

Thought 18          36       347 

Christ's     Love    manifested     in 

Sympathy,    ., n       33,  34    320 

Christians  represent  Christ,  .      .  17          23       3.14 

Christianity  proving  itself,     .     .  10      37,38    318 

Cleaving  to  Christ, 15            7      3; 5 

"  Come  ye  to  the  Waters,"    .     .  7          37      303 
Conversion  of  Count  Gasparin,  7      45,  46    304 
Convicted  by  their   own    Con- 
sciences,  . 8            9      305 

Courteous  Reply  to  an  Infidel,  c          36      2^3 


952 


INDEX. 


Chap. 

Crucifixion  described,   ....  19 

Danger  in  Doubting,    ....  8 

Description  of  our  Saviour,   .     .  19 

Do  the  Truth, 3 

Dr.  Fletcher  and  the  Dying  In- 
fidel,       10 

Dying  of  Thirst, 4 

Ebal  and  Gerizim, 4 

Equal  Honor  to  the  Father  and 

the  Son, ,.  5 

Excuses  for  not  attending  Pub- 
lic Worship, 15 

False  Charity, 5 

Fate  of  the  Apostles,    ....  21 

"  Feed  my  Lambs,"     ....  21 

For  Charlie's  Sake,      ....  14 

God  only  can  do  these  Things,  .  16 

God's  Word, 17 

Gospel  Light  the  only  True  Light,    i 
Guilty  for  not   Coming  to  the 

Light,       3 

Heat  and  Light, 5 

He  healed  the  Distant,      ...  4 
He  needed  Light  from  above,  .11 

"  He  purgeth  it," 15 

"  Him  that  cometh  to  Me,"       .  6 

Honor  God  in  asking  much,       .  16 
'  If   thou  knewest  the   Gift  of 

God," 4 

"  I  in  you," 14 

Improve  the  Light  now,    ...  12 

Integrity  of  the  Sacred  Text,     .  14 

I  would  see  Jesus, 12 

Jesus  at  Jacob's  Well,       ...  4 

Jesus  the  True  Bread,      ...  6 

"Jesus  wept," n 

Justly  ridiculed  for  his  Wicked- 
ness,       8 

Lost ;  from  loving  the  Applause 

of  Men 5 

May  Women  preach  the  Gospel?  4 

No  Hope  for  the  Moralist,    .     .  14 
Obedience    the   Great    Test  of 

Piety 14 

Our  Sorrows  a  Bitter  Cup,    .     .  18 
Parental   Duties  in    regard    to 

Children,       9 

Payson's     Illustration     of     the 

Thread 12 

Peace  in  Jesus, 14 

Peril  in  amassing  Riches,      .     .  2 

Praying  in  the  Name  of  Christ,  15 

Preaching  by  Telegraph,      .     .  9 

Pruning  the  Vine, 15 

Reward  for  a  Cup  of  Cold  Water,     4 

Sanctification  through  the  Truth,  17 

Satan  vanquished, 3 

Saved  by  believing,       .     .     .     .  n 
Scriptural   Separation  from  the 

World, 17 

"  Search  the  Scriptures,"      .     .  5 

Second  Birth, 3 


Verse.  Page. 

.17,  18 

350 

32 

307 

5 

349 

21 

280 

27,  28 

316 

H 

284 

20 

285 

23 

290 

22 

336 

14 

289 

22 

355 

IS 

354 

13 

328 

15 

338 

17 

342 

9 

270 

20 

279 

35 

292 

47 

287 

10 

3i9 

2 

333 

45 

299 

23 

339 

10 

283 

20 

329 

35 

323 

26 

33i 

21 

322 

6 

281 

51 

299 

35 

321 

44 

309 

44 

294 

39 

286 

6 

327 

23 

330 

it 

345 

20 

311 

48 

324 

27 

332 

14 

274 

16 

335 

30 

313 

5 

334 

7 

282 

*9 

343 

16 

279 

40 

32i 

i4 

34* 

39 

293 

3 

276 

Chap.    Verse.  Page. 

Simply  believe, 6      28,  29    297 

Snowdon  and  his  Unitarian 

Friend, 3  35  281 

Spiritual  Vision, 9          25       312 

Sunday  after  the  Resurrection,  .  20          19      352 

Superstition  and  Conscience,     .18          28      346 

The  Boy  that  would  not  tell  a  Lie,  8          40      308 

The  Conversion  of  Noah  Webs- 
ter, LL.  D., 3 

The  Day  of  Christ  seen  from  afar,  8 

The  Divine  Comforter,     .     .     .  16 

The  Eleventh  Commandment,  .  13 

The  Final  Resurrection,   ...  5 

The  Invitation  Society,     ...  4 

The  Power  of  Truth,    .     .    .     .  i 

The  Priceless  Gift, 17 

The  Safe  Pilot, 6 

Through  much  Tribulation,       .  16 

Unconscious  Influence,     ...  20 

Understanding  and  Faith,      .     .  3            9 

Value  of  Personal  Experience,  .  i          46 

What  is  Truth? 18 

"Where  did  Moses  get  that 

Law?" 7 

Wine  that  Jesus  made,      ...  2 

ACTS. 

A  Fruitful  Text, 20 

Almost  and  altogether,      ...  26 

A  Man  who  thought  he  never 

prayed, 19 

A  Minister  reproved-  by  his 

Dream, 6 

A  Modern  Pentecost,  ....  2 

A  Sermon  that  paid  well,       .     .  24 

Bad  Books  and  their  Influence,  19 

Be  True  in  preaching  Funeral 

Sermons, 5 

Bible  Demonology,       .     .     .     .  16 

Bishop  Ridley's  Faithfulness,    .  20 

Blessings  with  Restraint,  ...  28 

Boldly  Confessing  Christ,      .     .  14 

Business  and  Prayer,              .     .  18 

Children  and  Christianity,     .     .  4 

Christ  the  Only  Name,      ...  4 

Christ  the  Soul-Physician,     .     .  9 

Christian  Experience  every- 
where,    16 

Conversion, 3 

Despising  and  ridiculing  Reli- 
gion,    13 

Did  he  not  do  right!     ....  4 

Do  not  leave  Christ  out,    ...  8 

Doing  the  Devil's  Work,       .     .  13 

Dr.  Beecher  on  Revivals,      .     .  5 

Dr.  Nettleton's  Reply  to  a  Cav- 

iler, 16 

Emotional  in  Christianity,     .     .  20 

Established  in  Faith,    .     •     .     .  16 

Exalted  to  give, 5 


7  276 

56  3io 

7  337 

34  326 

28  291 

29  285' 
17  271 
26  345 
21  296 
33  340 

6,  8  35' 

278 
273 

38  348 

19  3oi 

7.  8  273 


35      424 
28      439 


2  380 
I  36o 

24  434 

19  420 

6  375 

1 8  407 

24  422 
30  443 

3  402 

25  4'7 
30  372 
12  36$ 
34  390 

34  4io 

19  367 


41  400 

'9  370 

12  386 

8  398 

14  376 


Extraordinary  Answer  to  Prayer,    28 


29,  30  409 

37,  38  426 

5  406 

31  378 

8  443 


INDEX. 


953 


Chap. 

False  Representations,  .  .  .  25 
Father  Sewall's  Giving,  .  .  .  10 
Glorying  in  Tribulation,  ...  14 
God's  Special  Providence,  .  .  23 
God's  Way  to  a  Wicked  Heart,  17 
God  with  his  People,  ....  7 
Heaven  a  Locality,  ....  i 
Heroism  of  a  Female  Mission- 
ary,   21 

How  all  may  preach,    ....  21 
How  much  a  Christian  is  worth 

to  the  Church, 5 

How  to  have  a  Revival  Church,  2 

How  to  read  the  Scriptures,       .  7 

"  I  am  Jesus," 9 

Importance  of  Revival  Labors,  4 

Infidelity  without  Hope,    ...  25 

Inspiration,      .......  2 

"  It  must  rain  faster,"      ...  2 

Judgments  of  God  manifested,  .  5 

Justification  and  Sanctification,  13 

Life  from  God  alone,    ....  17 

Looking  only  to  Christ,    ...  3 

"  Made  of  one  Blood,"     .     .     .  17 

Mammoth  Place  of  Amusement;  19 

Ministering  Angels,       ....  12 

Ministers  baptised  of  the  Holy 

Ghost,       i 

Omniscience  of  God,    ....  15 

Our  Accusers,      ......  24 

Paul  and  Felix, 24 

Pentecostal  Gifts,    »    ,     .    .    .  2 

Persecuted  because  he  was  good,  22 

Personal  labor, 18 

Power  of  a  Good  Man's  Life,  .  n 

Power  of  Prayer,      .....  4 

Pray, 10 

Prayer  an  Extraordinary  Act,    .  3 

Preaching  Peace  by  Jesus  Christ,  TO 

Preaching  the  Main  Thing,       .  8 

Preaching  the  Whole  Truth,      .  2p 

Preaching  to  a  Single  Hearer,  .  8 

Prepare  to  meet  thy  God,      .     .  26 

Preservation  of  Moses,      ...  7 

Progress  of  Missions,    .     .     .     .  13 

Providence, 23 

Providentially  delivered,  ...  12 
Reading  Prayers  under  Difficul- 
ties,        16 

Ready  to  die, 6 

Religious  Excitement  justifiable,  8 

Remarkable  from  Associations,  27 

Repeating  Sermons,      ....  13 

Resurrection  of  the  Dead,      .     .  24 

Rev.  Wilbur  Fisk,  D.  D.,     .     .  15 
Rowing  and  steering  the  Boat 

of  Life, 2t 

Saved  through  Grace,  .     ...  15 

Sincerity  not  a  Saviour,     ...  8 

Sleeping  in  Church,      ....  20 
Small  Things  make  up  a  Godly 

Life, 23 


Verse.  Page. 


.7 
4 

22 
*7 
24 

9 
ir 

J3 
9 

4i 
42 
26 
5 
4 
ii 
18 
17 
5 
39 
25 

12 
26 
29 

7 

4 
18 
8 
25 
4 
23,24 
24 
24 
3i 
9 
i 
36 
4 
27 
35 
18 

20 

47 
16 

17 

24,25 

15 
8 
7 
42 
15 

22 

6- 
II 

21 

9 

I 

436 
391 
403 
432 
412 

382 

357 

428 
427 

379 
364 
384 
389 
368 
437 
362 
361 
374 
399 
4*3 
365 
4H 
421 
396 

355 
404 
433 
435 
360 
430 
418 
394 
373 
392 
364 
393 
385 
424 
388 
438 
383 
401 
43i 
396 

408 
382 
386 
440 
401 
434 
405 

426 
403 
387 
421 

430 

St.    Paul,    the    Apostle  of  the 
Gentiles,  
Stand  up  for  Jesus,       .... 

22 

5 

12 

16 

4 

17 

4 
27 
26 

6 

2 

4 

i 
i 

'7 
18 
1  1 

17 

i 

22 

H 

14 

Successfully  Preaching  Christ,  . 
Temptations  to    Unfaithfulness 

The  Future  Judgment,      .     .    . 
The  Primitive  Church  and  their 

The  Rescue,    
The  Silver  Cup  restored,  .     .    . 
Undivided  Attention  to  the  Min- 
istry of  the  Word,  .... 
Unitarianism  not  successful,      . 
Unlearned,  yet  Powerful,      .     . 
Wesley's  Testimony  against  In- 
toxicating Liquor,       ,     .     , 
What  the  Church  most  needs,  . 
Where  is  the  Redeemer?  .     .     . 
Whitefield's  Eloquence,    .     .     . 
Willing  to  bear  his  Proportion, 
Witnesses  for  the  Bible,    .     .     . 
Women  as  Helpers  in  the  Church, 
Youthful  Firmness  in  Persecu- 

ROMANS. 

A  Bad  Example  and  its  Influ- 

A  Man  is  responsible  for  his  Be- 
lief      . 

5 

2 

12 

I 

6 
6 
>4 
15 

12 

7 
7 

8 

9 
7 

4 

6 

7 

Beyond  the  Mercy  of  God,    .    . 
Bible   Catechism    on  Temper- 
ance,     
Bishop  Latimer's  Old  Sermon, 
Bodily  Indulgences,      .... 
Can  we  do  no  more  for  Christ? 
Certainty  of  a  General  Judgment, 

Christianity  exemplified,  .     .     . 

Christ  our  Deliverer,    .... 
Christ  our  Strength,      .... 
Christ's  Divinity  and  Humanity, 
Dates  of  Romish  Errors,  .     .     . 
Deceivableness  of  Sin,      .     .     . 
Delivered  unto  Death  for  our 
Sins, 

Did  she  walk  in  Newness  of  Life? 
Different  Estimates  of  Sin,    .     . 

Doing  Good  Prevented  Sin,       . 
Dr.  Rush  on  Theatre-going,       . 
Fternal  Life                                 . 

2 

6 

2 
IO 

4 
5 
16 

Faith  subject  to  the  Will,       .    . 
Faith  triumphing  over  Nature, 
Faith  which  justifies,     .... 
Female  Helpers  in  the  Ministry, 

Chap.    Verse.  Page. 


21  429 

28,29  377 

23  397 

17  406 

29  371 

31  416 

37  373 

44  44i 

8  438 


363 
369 


359 

8  356 

27  4'5 

24  416 

29  393 

2  411 

'4  358 

4  429 


21  499 

7  497 

n  484 

20  462 

6  451 


493 
446 
465 
464 
497 
5oo 
492 
468 
47' 
478 

447 
470 

459 
463 

489 
453 
466 
452 
483 
457 
460 
503 


954 


,INDEX. 


Chap. 

Verse.  Page. 

"God  is  able  to  graff  them  in 

aorain  " 

j  j 

23 

488 

God's  Anvil 

2 

460 

Good  out  of  Evil,      ...... 

8 

28 

475 

5 

15 

461 

Habitual  Christian  Activity, 

15 

501 

Heaven  a  Prepared  Place,,    .     . 

9 

23 

480 

He  will  raise  us  up,  ...... 

8 

ii 

472 

Imputed  Righteousness  of  Christ, 

4 

21,   22 

458 

Instructive    Etvraolpgy  of.    the. 

Word  "  Tribulajiop,",    ,    , 

.8 

35 

477 

Intercession  of  the  Spirit,      .     . 

8 

26 

474 

Jesus  whispering,     

2 

15 

454 

Judicious  Advice,   tp  a  Young 

Wag,    .     .     .^    

3 

3 

454 

Laying  up  Eterna.1  S.tores,     .     . 

2 

5 

450 

Ministry  of  Affliction,  .... 

8 

18 

473 

Not  by  Works,  but  by  Faith,     . 

9 

30 

482 

Not     Conformed,    but    Trans- 

formed,    ........ 

12 

2 

490 

Personal  Responsibility,  .     .     . 

14 

12 

498 

Pious  Christian  Females,       .     . 

16 

12 

5°3 

Power  of  God's  Word,      .     .     . 

13 

13 

496 

Preaching  an  Institution  of  God, 

10 

15 

485 

Relief    for  a    Distressed    Con- 

science,    ..,,.., 

,3. 

24 

455 

Religion  not  to  be  covered  up,  . 

10 

9 

482 

Religion  the  Power  of  God,  . 

i 

16 

445 

Retribution,    

2 

3 

449 

Simplicity  of  Saving  Faith,    .     . 

4 

24 

459 

Slothfulness  forbidden,      .    .    - 

12 

ii 

492 

Suggestions  to  Ministers,      .     . 

IS 

20 

502 

The  Bible  is  the  Ropt,  .     ,    ,    , 

41  . 

18 

487 

The  Body  of  Sin.destroyed,  .     . 

6 

,-6 

464 

The  First  Chapter  of  Romans,  . 

I 

22,  23 

446 

The  Flags  which,  saved  Life,      . 

8 

31 

476 

The  Gospel  of  Christ  the  True 

C'ivi1i7pr 

Q 

2C 

481 

The  old  Scotch  Woman's  Faith, 

8 

38,  39 

479 

The  Railway  Ticket,    .... 

3 

26 

456 

Thomas  Paine'  s  Last  Hours,     . 

6 

21 

467 

Trinity  in  Unity,       

7 

25 

472 

rp              ^Tf»nP«S 

J2 

Q 

491 

Unappreciation  of  the  Bible, 

10 

17 

486 

Unthought-of  Consideration,     . 

13 

12 

495 

Who  are  Saints?.     ..    ..    ..     .     . 

I 

7 

444 

Worthy  Example  of.  Moral  Prin- 

ciple,     

13 

I 

494 

Wreck  of  the  "  Sabbath-Break- 

er,"        

2 

2 

448 

I.  CORINTHIANS. 

A  Compliment,    

14 

19 

545 

An  Infidel  and  his  Dog,    .     .     . 

I 

27 

509 

A  Misdirected  Letter,       .     .     . 

I 

IO 

5°  5 

A  more  Excellent  Way,    .     .     . 

12 

31 

540 

A  Skeptic  silenced,  

I 

20 

506 

Atonement  for  Sin  the  felt  Want 

of  Man,     

'5 

3 

545 

Awakened  by  a  Father's  Dream, 

'5 

34 

547 

"A  Way  of  Escape,"  .... 

IO 

J3 

533 

Be  careful  of  your;  In.flu,ence,     . 

Be  content  to  know  what  God 
reveals,     ......... 

Be  fair  in  Comparing,  .... 

Belief  and  Skepticism,       ... 

Christ  and  him  cruci/ied,   ... 

Christ  is  the  Christian's  .Pass- 
over,            5 

Christ,  not  Oratory, .     ,     ,     ,     , 

Delight  in  doing  Evil,  ,     ... 

Divine  Anathama  explained,      . 

Dr.    Cumming    qn  .the    "  Real 
Presence," 

Drunkenness,       , 

Evil  Company,     , 

False  Philosophy  corrected  by 
Christianity, 

Fashionable  Women,  .... 

For  the  Gospel's  Sake,      ... 

Giving  scripturally  and  by  Res- 
olution,      

God  giveth  the  Increase,  ... 

God's  Word  the  Only  Authority, 

How  we  should  Eat. and  Drink, 

Identity  not  lost  in  Death,    .     . 

Kingdom  of  God,     ...... 

Knowledge  shall  vanish  away,    . 

Knowledge  that  will,  not  profit,  . 

Learning  the  Wa^  tp  Heaven,  . 

Less  Denominational,  but;  m.ore 
Christian,      ..    ......    f    , 

Longing  to  save  Souls,,     ,    ,    . 

Love,  the  True  Test,    .... 

Luther's  Mode  of  Preaching,     , 

Oldest   Christian   Hymn  in  the 
World,      .,,,,,. 

Ordained  to  Stewardship,,      .    .. 

"  Passed  through  the  Sea,"  .     . 

Peter  Vannest  and  the  Predesti- 
narian, 

Preach  Christ  crucified,    ... 

Refusing  to  Commune,      .     .     . 

Scriptural  Temperance,     ... 

So  it  is  when  Believers  die,   .     . 

"  So  we  preach,",     ,.    ,._...     15 

Spiritual  Drink,  .     .    ..     .     .    ,.    .10 

Spiritual  Gifts, 12 

Stars  of  the  First  Magnitude,     . 

Systematic  Giving,    .     .        .    . 

Texts  for  Time's  Flight,  _.    '.     . 

The  Resurrection 

The  Wife's  Prayer  answered,   . 

The    Young    Philosopher    con- 
founded, . 3 

Use  your  Talents, 

Variety  in  Gifts, 

Warned  by  a  Signal-fire,  _.     . 

We  know  in  Part, 

What  disqualifies  for  the  King 
dom  of  God, 6 

What  the   Reading  of  a  Good 
Book  did, 


hap. 

Verse.  Page. 

8 

9   528 

13 

9   542 

I 

21    506 

2 

H   5i3 

2 

2    5" 

5 

7   522 

.  2 

4   5'i 

5 

5   S2i 

16 

22    556 

ii 

24   535 

6 

10   524 

5 

9   523 

15 

56,  57  SS2 

.  7 

3i   527 

9 

23   529 

16 

1   554 

3 

6   5'  5 

i 

25   508 

10 

3i   534 

IS 

42,  43  549 

4 

20   521 

i3 

8   541 

8 

i   527 

2 

13   512 

3 

4   5'4 

9 

22    529 

13 

3   54  1 

2 

i   510 

14 

i5   543 

4 

.   2    517 

10 

I,  2   532 

9 

27   512 

i 

23   5°7 

ii 

28,  29  536 

9 

25  530 

i5 

54   55' 

i5 

1  1   546 

10 

4   533 

12 

i   537 

'5 

4i   5*8 

.l6. 

2   555 

.  7 

29   526 

15 

53   550 

7 

16   525 

3 

19.20  515 

12 

4   538 

12 

8,  9   539 

4 

14   520 

i3 

12   543 

6 

9   524 

4 

7   5'8 

INDEX. 


II.  CORINTHIANS. 

Chap. 

A  Lesson  of  Trust,  ....  i 
A  Living  Epistle,  .....  3 
Anecdote  of  John  Sunday,  .  .  5 
An  Able  Ministry,  .  ...  3 
An  Awful  Confession  —  "  I'm 

Lost,"        4 

An  old  Sea-Captain's  Advice,  .  6 
A  Pupil  of  Fenelon,  ....  4 
A  Successful  Sunday-School 

Teacher,  .     , i 

"  Be  ye  reconciled  to  God,"      .       5 
Christmas  Evans's  Polished  Ar- 
row,       3 

Cyril  of  Caesarea, 5 

Difficulties  settled  by  forgiving 

them, 2 

Dissimulation, 2 

Dr.  Chanhing  as  a  Preacher,      .       i 
Dr.  Mason  and  the  dying  Uni- 
tarian,      .......       3 

Devices  of  Satan  for  Purposes 

of  Advantage  over  Men,      .      2 
Enlargement  a  Great  Blessing,        6 

Epistles  of  Christ, 3 

Fear  of  Judgment, 5 

Fruit  after  many  Days,     ...      4 

Glory  awaiting  us, 4 

Glorying  in  the  Cross  of  Christ,       6 

God's  Promises,       7 

God  was  in  Christ, 5 

He  died  for  us, i 

Hoarding  and  Giving 8 

"  How  can  I  meet  it?"      ...      7 
How  Drunkards  are  made,  .     .       5 
How  the  Doctor  found  Jesus,    .      3 
If  Untrue  to  God,  why  not  Un- 
true to  Man  ? 4 

Intellectual    Culture     not     the 

Highest  Good,       ....      2 
Internal  Glory  of  the  Believer, 

Justly  rebuked, 

Justified  through_Faith  in  Christ, 
•  Light  Shining  into  Dark  Hearts, 

Live  to  be  Useful, 

No  longer  a  Persecutor,  .  . 
Not  Feeling,  but  Faith,  .  .  . 
'"Now  is  the  accepted  Time,"  . 
Our  Relation  to  God,  .... 
"  Persecuted,  but  not  Forsaken," 
Perseverance  in  Soul-saving,  . 
'  Possessing  all  Things,"  .  . 
Preaching  that  takes  hold,  .  . 
Proportionate  Giving,  .  .  . 
Simplicity  of  the  Gospel,  .  . 
Sons  in  the  Family  of  God,  .  . 
Sowing  and  Reaping,  .... 
Stand  fast  in  Christ,  .... 
Straitened  in  Themselves,.  . 
The  Absurdity  of  Error,  .  .  . 
The  Dividing  Line,  .... 


Verse.  Page. 
9.  10     557 

2  563 
17  57* 

6  56$ 

3  57° 

17  582 

2  5^ 

20  558 

20  577 

12  567 

i  573 

7  55Q 

13  604 

8  603 

20  608' 


13  580 

3  564 
10  574 

18  612 
»7  572 

14  619 
i  583 

19  576 

4  602 
14  586 
10  583 

19,  21  615 

4  565 

9  611 

20  606 


566 
578 
605 
570 
575 
23  603 
607 
578 
609 
57 1 
618 


0       579 
1 6    562 


584 

610 
617 
613 
580 
6.5 


Chap.   Terse.  Page> 

The  Fatal  Mirage, 6  7      616 

The  Fullness  in  Christ,     ...      3          13      607 
The  Noble  Convict,  '    ....      5          13      613 
Tholuck's  Seeking  and  Follow- 
ing,        8         16      587 


GALATIANS. 

Beguiling  Souls   t>y  corrupting 

them, ii 

Christian  Liberality,  ....  9 
Christian  Burden  a  Blessing,  .  12 
Evidence  of  Genuine  Conversion,  8 
God's  Way  the  Best  Way,  .  .  12 
Half  a  Century's  Labors,  .-  .  n 
He  did  not  keep  his  Vow,  .  .  9 
He  gave  More  and  felt  Better,  .  9 
"  He  knows  not  what  he  saith,"  13 
Remarkable  Description  of  St. 

Paul's  Person, 10 

St.  Paul  in  Paradise,  .  .  . 
Stingy  Christians,  .... 
Variety  in  Experiences,  .  . 
Weapons  that  are  mighty 

through  God, 10 

"  What  is  the  State  of  your  Soul, 

my  Friend?"      .....     13 


3,9 

23 
8 
9 
7 

10 
4 
7 

12 


595 
589 
598 
588 
598 
596 
590 

601 

593 
597 
589 
594 

592 


5      600 


EPHESIANS. 

A  Solemn  but  True  Charge,  .  .  5  18  637 

A  much  Indulged  Child,  ...  6  2,  3  639 

Absorbed  in  Religion,  ...  4  15  630 

Access  to  God, 2  18  625 

Advice  to  Preachers,  ....  4  29  63 1 

All-sufficiency  of  Christ,  ...  4  10  628 

Be  Gigantic  Christians,  ...  6  10  640 

Christ  our  All  in  All,  ....  i  22,  23  622 

Covetousness, 5  5  635 

Dr.  Miller's  Duck  Story,  .  .  .  6  11  641 

Finding  Happiness  in  God,  .  .  3  20,  21  628 

God  is  not  a  Merchant,  ...  2  8,  9  623 

He  shrewdly  covered  his  Tracks,  6  19  646 

How  best  to  live  in  Peace,  .  .  5  33  639 

Humility  a  Christian  Grace,  .  .  3  8  626 

May  we  so  Pray, 6  18  644 

Not  Justice,  but  Pardon, ...  4  32  634 

Our  Religion  the  First  Thing,  .  3  17,  19  627 

Pastoral  Prudence, i  8  620 

Preaching  from  Experience,  .  6  6  640 

Resisting  the  Spirit,  ....  4  30  632 
So  ought  Husbands  to  love  their 

Wives,      .......  5  25  638 

Speak  the  Truth  always,  ...  6  14  644 

Speaking  Evil, 4  31  633 

Spiritual  Wrestling,  ....  6  12  643 

The  Only  Foundation,  ...  2  20  625 

Things  miscalled  Amusements, .  5  12  636 

Trusted  and  were  Delivered,  .  i  12,  13  621 

Unity  of  the  Bible,  ....  4  13  629 
Why  the  Judge  did  not  help 

them, 5  11  635 


956 


INDEX. 


PHILIPPIANS. 


<<  All  for  the  Best," i 

Be  devout  in  Coversa'tion,    , 

Christian  Effort, 2 

Christian  Labor  not  Masculine, 
Conquering  One's  Self,  .  .  . 

Faithful  Frances, 

God  our  All-sufficiency,     .    .    . 

God's  Name, 2 

Having  the  Mind  of  Christ, 
Making  a  Right  Use  of  his  Eyes, 

Our  High  Calling, 

Positive  Christianity,  .... 
Power  in  the  Pulpit,  .... 
"What  has  it  done  for  you  ? "  . 

COLOSSIANS. 

A  Command  disregarded,  .  . 
Christ  the  Head  of  the  Church, 
Complete  only  in  Christ,  .  .  . 

Drifting, 

Hidden  Treasures  in  the  Word, 
Influence  of  the  Hidden  Life, 

Ministerial  Propriety 

Obedience  to  Parents,  .... 
Our  Completeness  is  in  God,  . 
Riches  of  the  Gospel,  .... 
Rule  of  Forgiveness,  .... 
"  Serious  Affairs  to-morrow,"  . 
The  Unseen  Inheritance,  .  .  . 
Walking  after  the  Pattern,  .  . 
We  need  an  Infinite  Saviour,  . 
Words  timely  spoken,  .  '.  .  . 
Wrestling  in  Prayer,  ....  4 

I.  THESSALONIANS. 

Avoiding  Temptation,  .... 

Carrying  on  Business  for  Christ, 

Christ  our  Substitute,  .... 

"Despise  not  Prophesyings,"    . 

Fully  Saved, 4 

Giving  Thanks  to  God,     .     .     . 

How  to  make  Successful  Pastors, 

Illustrious  Scholars  give  a  United 
Testimony, a 

Not  what  I  want  now,      .     .     . 

Preach  so  as  to  please  God,  .     . 

Quenching  the  Spirit,  .... 

Rowland  Hill's  Master-stroke,  . 

Sanctification  as  viewed  by  Arch- 
bishop Usher, 

The  Coming  of  the  Lord,      .     . 

The  Miller  and  the  Camel,    .     . 

"  Wrath  to  Come," i 

II.  THESSALONIANS. 

Boyhood  of  Dr.  Morrison,     .    , 
Error  blinds  the  Mind,     .     . 
Evangelism  against  Romanism, 


lap. 

Verse. 

Page. 

i 

12 

647 

i 

27 

648 

2 

12 

652 

4 

3 

655 

4 

13 

657 

2 

3 

650 

4 

19 

658 

2 

9,  10 

651 

2 

5 

650 

4 

12 

656 

3 

14 

6S4 

i 

II 

647 

3 

3 

653 

3 

19 

654 

. 
3 

2 

665 

i 

18 

660 

2 

10 

664 

I 

23 

660 

2 

2,  3 

663 

3 

3 

666 

4 

*7 

671 

3 

20 

669 

4 

12 

670 

i 

27 

661 

3 

13 

667 

i 

28 

662 

i 

12 

659 

2 

6 

663 

2 

9 

664 

3 

16 

668 

4 

2 

670 

\N 

3 

S. 
s 

677 

4 

ii 

680 

5 

10 

68  1 

5 

20 

685 

4 

3 

680 

5 

18 

682 

5 

25 

688 

2 

13 

676 

3 

10 

678 

2 

4 

675 

s 

»9 

683 

I 

5 

672 

5 

23 

687 

3 

13 

679 

5 

22 

686 

i 

10 

674 

A: 

3 

fS. 

13 

699 

2 

13 

696 

2 

8 

694 

His  Doctrine  was  old  enough 

but  not  True,     .... 

Idleness  the  Root  of  .Vices,  .  3 

Pray  for  the  Preacher,       .     .  3 
Preaching  to  One  Passenger, 
Punished  for  ever  and  ever,  . 
Punished  in  Part,     .... 
Righteous  Tribulation  to  Trou 

biers,    i 

Romanism  opposed  to  Improve- 
ment,      2 

Stand  by  your  Candidate,      .     .  3 

I.  TIMOTHY. 

Be  not  Burdened, 6 

Boasting  in  Christ,  .....  i 
Christ  our  Mediator,    ....  2 
Death  of  a  Backslider,      ...  5 
Doctrinal  and  Practical  Preach- 
ing,        5 

Doctrinal  Preaching,    ....  4 

Earnest  Faith, 6 

Expository  Preaching,       ...  6 
Faithful  Resistance  to  Evil,  .     .  5 
Glimpses  of  the  Unapproacha- 
ble Light,      ......  6 

Handsomely  declined,  ....  5 

Hardships  of  the  Rich,     ...  6 

Jesuitical  Hypocrisy,    ....  4 

Loving   Silver  the  Root  of  all 

Evil, 6 

Luther's    Argument   with     the 

Devil,        i 

Meditation  as  a  Moral  Duty,     .  4 

Ministerial  Pride, 3 

Modesty  of  Apparel,     ....  2 

Purity  the  Beauty  of  the  Soul,  .  4 
Right  and  Wrong  Relations  to 

Money, 6 

Scandal, 5 

'*  Seen  of  Angels," 3 

Theological  Preaching,     ...  4 

Trust  in  God, 4 

"Very  Injudicious,"     ....  i 

II.  TIMOTHY. 

A  Pious  Mother's  Example,  .  i 

A  Touch  of  the  Whip,  ...  2 

Correct  View  of  the  Pulpit,  .  .  4 
Denying  Christ  through  Covet- 

ousness, 3 

Form  of  Godliness  without  th« 

Power, 3 

God's  Providence  and  Poor  Jack,  3 


Chap.    Verse.  Page. 


Influence  of  the  Bible,       .     . 
"  In  Season,  out  of  Season," 
Preaching  for  a  Crown,     . 
Providential  Deliverance, 
Paul  and  Trophimus,   .. 
Remarkable  proof  of   the   Im 
mortality  of  the  Soul, 


9,  10  695 

10  698 

i  697 

12  693 

9  691 

5  689 


6      690 

4       694 

6       697 


r,  8  718 

11  702 
5  704 

12  713 


12 

3 

20 

16 

22 

!7 
2,3 


12 


711 
720 
717 
716 

720 
717 
721 
708 

719 


15  702 

15  711 

6  705 

9  705 

12  710 

18 


722 
J3  7'4 
16  707' 
16  712 
10  709 
9,  10  701 


723 
724 

5      735 


729 

73° 
73  1 
733 
734 
736 
737 
737 


10      723 


INDEX. 


957 


Chap.    Verse.  Page 

Successful  Preaching,        ...  2          15      726 
Suffering  and  Reigning  joined 

together,    .     .        ....  2          12      726 

The  Bible  tried  by  a  Jury,    .     .  2  9      725 

The  Snare  of  the  Devil,    ...  2          26      728 
Thoroughness  in  Preaching,       .2          25      727 

Various  Readings,   .....  3          16      734 

Voltaire  as  a  Translator,  ...  3          *3      732 

TITUS. 

A  Just  Rebuke,  ......  i          13      74° 

A  Pure  Heart,     ......      i          15      741 

A  Rich  Poor  Man,  .....  2          13      742 

An  Unfaithful  Preacher,  .     .    .      i  3 

His  Mouth  was  stopped,  ...      i          n 

Limited  Atonement,     ....  2          n 

Obey  Authorities,     .....  3  i 

Redeemed  from  all  Iniquity,      .  2 
"  We  have  a  Merciful  God,"     .3 

PHILEMON. 

Joy  from  Refreshing  the  Saints, 
Love  for  the  Saints,  .... 
Obedience  a  Moral  Obligation, 

HEBREWS. 

A  Life  of  Faith,  ......  n 

A  Pulpit  Baptism,    .....  4 

A  Practical  Refutation,.    ...  9 

Atonement  illustrated  by  a  Simile,  5 

Avoid  the  Whirlpool,  ....  4 

Blood-purifying,        .....  9 

Business  that  God  will  not  take,  7 

Character  made  up  of  Morsels,  13 

Chiseled  to  make  'Better,  .     .     .  12 

Christ  the  Unchangeable  one,    .  13 

Cleaving  to  Christ,  .'....  10 

Dead,  yet  Living,"    .'....  n  4 

Delay  Dangerous,    .....  4  7 

Departing  from  God,    ....  3          12 

Dignity  of  Believers,    .    .    .    .  i          14 

Discipline  of  the  Young,  ...  12  9 

Donald  and  the  Duke,       ...  9          24 

Dying  without  Hope  .....  10          27 

Endless  Punishment,    ....  6  2 

Escaped  from  Romanism,     .     .  8  9 

Flying   to  Christ  as  the    Only 

Hope,       .......  6          18      771 

Giving  to  God  a  Condition   of 

Receiving  .......  7  4      773 

God  our  Inheritance,    ....  2          10      751 

Heavier  the  Cross,        ....  12  7      796 

He  found  an  Altar  for  his  Sac- 

rifice.   .....    "...  13          16      802 

He  was  tempted  like  as  we  are,  .4          15      763 

His  Rights  forfeited  .....  12          16      800 

Holiness,    ........  12  14      799 

Innocence  and  Guilt  pictured,    .  3          13      755 
Inscriptions   on  the  Tombs  of 

Believers,      ......  n          13      789 


738 
739 
742 
i       744 
14      743 
5>  6      745 


7      747 

5      746 

21      748 


5  786 

16  I  761; 

27  780 

9  766 

»  758 

22  779 
*3  775 

20,  21  803 

II  798 

8  801 

23  781 
4  785 
7  758 

*2  754 
749 


797 
779 
782 
768 
777 


Chap. 

"  I  will  never  leave  thee,"     .    .  13 

Keep  the  Gate  shut,     .    .    .     .  n 

Look  to  Jesus,      ......  12 

Martyrdom  at  Rome,    .     .     .     .  n 

Melancholy  and  Temptations,  .  10 

Neglected  Truths, 8 

Neglecting  Salvation,  . '   .     .     .  2 

No  Mercy  except  through  Christ,  10 
"  Not    ashamed    to    call    them 

Brethren," 2 

Olympian  Race, 12 

Our  Faith  pleasing  to  God,    .     .  1 1 

Our  Sins  not  hidden  from  God,  4 

Prayer  answered  to  his  Ruin,     .  3 

"  Pray  that  Sermon,"  ....  5 

Reproach  is  Wealth,     .    .     .     .  1 1 

Sanctification  Lost  and  Regainedt  6 

Saved  by  Believing,      .     .     .     .  10 
Saved  with  Utmost  Completeness,   7 

Seeing  Jesus, * 

"Sharper    than    a    Two-edged 

Sword,"    .......  4 

She  died  without  Mercy,  .    .    .  10 
Something  to  hold  on  by,      .    .  4 
Stand  Fast  when  Tempted,       .  * 
Steadfastness   to    Principle  re- 
warded,       3 

The  Anchor  holds,  .....  6 

The  Spoiled  Painting,  ....  12 

Trials  and  Endurance,       ...  6 

Unbelief  as  a  Sliding  Agency,   .  3 

Universal  Obligation,  ....  i 

What  a  Country  that  will  be,     .  it 

JAMES. 

Anger  without  Sin, i 

A  Soul  destroyed  by  Covetousness,   5 

Dress  as  an  Idol,  .   ......  2 


Verse.  Page. 

5  801 

8  788 

2  794 
36  792 
35  784 
10  778 

3  750 
31  783 


11  752 
i  793 
6  787 

13  761 
7.  8  754 

12  767 
26  791 

4,  6  769 

39  785 

25  776 

9  750 

12  759 

28  782 

14  762 

18  752 

14  756 

19  772 

5  795 
*S  77' 
18  757 

6  748 
16  791 


27  807 

3  816 

2  808 

20  821 

22  806 


Dr.  Judson's  Conversion,      .    .  5 

Doers  of  the  Word,      ....  i 
Efficacy  of   Prayer  in  Healing 

the  Sick, 5  15  818 

Every  Sin  forbidden,   ....  a  10  808 
Grace  and  Salvation  from  God,  .  4  6  812 
Great  Results  from  Small  Begin- 
nings,   3  5810 

Humbled,  but  Exalted,  ...  4  10  813 
Hurtful  Pleasures .fotbidden,  ,  ..  .5  5  817 
Perfectness  of  Christianity,  .  .  i  25  806 
Prayer  answered  in  Judgment,  .  4  15  814 
Resisting  the  Devil,  ....  4  7  812 
Sorrows  of  the  Rich,-  .•  .  .  .  5  i  815 
Spiritual  Life  better  than  Cere- 
monies,    2  26  809 

Swearing  a  Great  and  Common 

Sin,      ........  5  12  8iS 

The  Human  ness  of  the  Saints,  5  17,  18  820 

The  Poisoned  Ring,      ....  i  15  805 

The  Tongue  as  an  Index  of  the 

Heart 3  6811 

Wisdom  to  learn  the  Way  to 

Heaven, i  5  804 


953 


INDEX. 


i.  PETER. 

Chap. 

A  Foretaste  of  Coming  Misery,  i 
Captain  Waterman  at  the  Siege 

of  Lucknow,  .....  4 

Cast  all  upon  Christ,    ....  5 

Christian  Courtesy,  .....  3 
Claudius     Buchanan    and    the 

Highlander,       .....  3 

Couple  Heaven  with  it,     ...  5 

Dress  of  Christian  Women,  .     .  3 
Found  again  in  Safety,       .         .2 

Glorifying  God  in  all  Things,     .  4 

Heavenly  Inheritance,      ...  i 

In  Heaviness,  for  a  Season,  .     .  i 

Love  a  Christian  Duty,     ...  2 

Quietness  of  Spirit,  .....  3 

The  Christian's  Calling,    ...  2 

The  Devil  a  Wily  Foe,      ...  5 

The  Holy  Scriptures,    ....  i 

The  Manifold  Wisdom  of  God,  i 

The  Watchword,      .....  i 

"The  Weaker  Vessel,".     ...  3 

"  Waiting  to  be  Born  Again,"     .  i 

What  are  Sinful  Amusements?  4 


II.  PETER. 

A  Better  View  of  Grace,  .  .  .  3 

A  Constant  Miracle,  ....  i 

After-death  Influence,  ....  i 

A  Scoffer  answered,  ....  3 
Bible  Promises  of  General  Ap-: 

plication,  .......  i 

Contributions  to  Error,  ...  2 
Day  of  Judgment  and  Perdition 

of  Ungodly  Men,  ....  3 

Destruction  of  the  Earth  by  Fire,  3 

Dr.  Chalmers  on  Belief,  ...  i 

Growth  in  Grace,  .....  3 
Ignorance  the  Father  of  Infi- 

delity .........  2 

Interesting  Variety  of  the  Bible,  i 

Laying  Aside  the  Bones,  ...  3 
Popish  Practices  in  a  Protestant 

Church,    .......  2 

Present  the  Promises,  ....  i 

Presumption  is  not  Faith,  .  .  2 

The  Bible,  .......  i 

I.  JOHN. 

A  Boy's  Faith  in  God,  ...  5 

Answers  to  Prayer,  .....  5 
Bad  Principles  unsatisfactory  in 

Death,      .......  i 

Beware  of  Pride,      .....  2 

Bishop  Hatto,  or  the  Mouse 

Tower,       .......  3 

Boldness  through  Love,  ...  4 

Coming  back  to  Christ,  ...  2 

Did  not  belong  to  Christ's  Flock,  2 

Divine  Love  for  the  Unworthy,  3 


Chap. 

Verse. 

Page. 

Doctrine  of  the  Trinity,     .    .     . 

2 

23 

863 

Verse. 

Page. 

Effect  of  Prayer,      

2 

868 

'7 

837 

" 

870 

»Q 

0-0 

He  had  the  True  Hope,   .     .    . 

3 

3 

070 
866 

to 

O3o 

Imitation  of  Christ,      .... 

2 

6 

858 

7 

839 

0,, 

It  doth  not  yet  appear  what  we 

"33 

shall  be,    .... 

Of  - 

Q,  . 

Jesus  Christ  the  True  God,  .     . 

3 
5 

20 

005 

878 

J5 

10 

"34 
840 
8-1  r 

Means  of  Grace  properly  used, 
"Mine's    a    Religion    for    all 

i 

3 

85 

0.5* 

Weathers,"    

g 

25 
n 

830 
836 

Not  Eloquence,  but  Love,     .     . 

4 

8 

8, 

823 

Request  of  the  Dying  Infidel,     . 

5 

16 

87- 

868 

6 

823 

828 

The  Antichrists  of  To-day,  .     . 

4 

2 

18 

86  1 

17 

A 

832 

The  Blood  of  Christ,     .... 

I 

7 

856 

21 

829 

This    I    did   for    Thee.     What 

8 

8^q 

doest  Thou  for  Me  ?  .     .    . 

4 

ii 

871 

2C 

°JV 

827 

Victory  over  Himself,  .... 

5 

4 

874 

*3 
12 

°*/ 
824 

Who  are  truly  Strong,  .... 

2 

14 

860 

19 
7 

825 
833 

II.  JOHN. 

23 

826 

Admiral  Farragut  and  the  Rom- 

7 

835 

ish  Priest,     

JO 

880 

Early  Christian  Faith,      .    .    . 

9 

878 

9 

852 

III.  JOHN. 

J9 

845 

Faithfulness  in  the  Discharge  of 

15 

843 

Duty,    

5 

880 

3 

850 

Helping  the  Preacher,  .... 

8 

88  1 

20 

845 

JUDE. 

2 

847 

Contending  for  the  Faith,      .     . 

3 

882 

7 

851 

Dr.  Holland's  Views  of  Unitari- 

00, 

JO 

853 

25 

OO7 
883 

10 

18 

842 

s-- 

Presented  Faultless,     .... 

-  7 
24 

886 

°55 

Rebuking  a  Scoffer,      .... 

10 

884 

12 

84Q 

Who  separate  Themselves,  .     . 

J9 

885 

21 

°4V 
846 

Why  were  not  Angels  redeemed, 

6 

883 

16 

8S4 

REVELATION. 

»5 

850 

A  Remarkable  Meeting,  .     .    . 

19 

6 

932 

4 

84I 

"A  Scarlet-colored  Beast,"  .     . 

I7 

3 

929 

QAQ 

__o 

16 

040 

844 

A  War  against  the  Book,  .     .    . 

5 

7 

2 

925 
905 

Be  a  Christian  everywhere,  .     . 

ii 

15 

920 

Billy  Dawson's  Eloquence,  .    . 

6 

8 

907 

J7 

6 

O21 

14 

875 

Blessed  are  the  Dead,  .... 

14 

'3 

v*.» 

926 

15 

875 

By  these  we  Overcome,    .    .    . 

12 

ii 

921 

Christ  at  the  Heart's  Door,  .    . 

3 

20 

902 

9 

857 

Christ  described  by  John,     .     . 

10 

I 

917 

16 

860 

Christ  is  our  King,        "... 

I-T 

JA 

O7O 

Clinging  —  a  Scripture  Poem,    . 

*7 
22 

20 

VJU 

946 

17 

867 

Crowns  of  the  Saints,    .... 

4 

4 

902 

18 

872 

"Did    you   ever  drink  at  that 

i 

858 

Great  Fountain?"  .... 

21 

6 

937 

19 

862 

Faithful  Dealing  with  Sinners, 

18 

5 

93i 

i 

864 

Faithful  unto  Death,    .... 

2 

10 

893 

INDEX. 


Faithfulness  Rewarded,    .     .     . 

Figures  of  Heaven,      .... 

Five  Steps  to  the  Gallows,     .     . 

From  Darkness  to  Light,  .    .     . 

Fruitless  Professors,      .... 

Gospel  likened  unto  an  Angel,   . 

Grace  a  Spiritual  Sight,     .     .     . 

"  Having  the  Glory  of  God,"     . 

Hear  for  thy  Life, 

How  a  Fly  helped  a  Minister,    . 

"  I  Am," 

gnatius,  a  Primitive  Martyr,  . 

Inexhaustible  Storehouse  of 
Truth, 5 

In  the  Spirit  on  the  Lord's  Day, 

Jesus  the  Lock, 3 

John  on  Patmos, 

Judged  at  the  Last  Day,  .     .     . 

Keeping  our  Garments  Pure, 

"  Let  me  go,  for  I  am  a  Chris- 
tian." ........ 

Lost!  Lost! 

Martyrdom  of  Paschal,     .     .     . 

Meeting  for  the  First  Time  in 
Heaven, 

Not  afraid  of  Father's  Voice,     . 

Not  Denominational,  but  Chris- 
tian,   

Polycarp's  Noble  Confession,     . 

Power  of  the  Bible,      .... 

Powerful  Preaching  of  the  Gos- 


Chap. 

Verge. 

Page. 

15 

4 

927 

7 

17 

911 

9 

21 

916 

22 

5 

941 

2 

29 

895 

8 

2 

913 

7 

14 

911 

21 

II 

941 

I 

3 

889 

2 

ii 

894 

22 

13 

944 

12 

"I7 

922 

5 

i 

904 

I 

10 

892 

3 

7 

899 

i 

9 

89  1 

20 

12 

935 

16 

IS 

928 

19 

8 

933 

20 

'5 

936 

6 

9 

909 

ii 

12 

919 

8 

5 

9iS 

7 

9 

910 

13 

7 

924 

21 

5 

937 

14 

6,7 

925 

959 

Chap.  Verse.  Page. 
Punished  by  a  Judgment  from 

God» 9  ii  9'5 

Remarkable  Examples  of  Bible 

Reading, 5  7  906 

Revelation, t  x 

Rich  for  a  Moment,      ....  3  18  901 

Scarlet' and  Crimson  Sins,     .     .  6  ii  910 

Shall  I  be  One  of  Them?      .     .  15  2,  3  926 
Something  More  Valuable  than 

Gold, ,8  17  931 

Swearing  alone, 21  7  938 

The  Bible  to  be  much  read,  .     .  22  10  942 
The  Deserting  Soldier,      ...  3  5  898 
The  Destroyer's  Work,     .     .     .  10  5,  6  918 
The  Devil  leads  on  to  Destruc- 
tion,     .     '. 20  10  934 

The  New  Jerusalem,    ....  21  10  939 
The  Promises  of  Christ  a  Proof 

of  his  Divinity,       .     .     .     .  i  8  891 

"  Unto  Him  who  hath  loved  us,"  i  5  890 

Walking  with  God,       ....  3  4  897 

Warm  Hearts  wanted,      ...  3  16  900 

Warning  against  the  Saints,  .     .  n  7  918 
Watchfulness     a    Condition    of 

Strength, 3  2  896 

What  shall  I  carry  with  me  into 

Eternity, 22  n  943 

Wise  in  Spiritual  Things,      .     .  8  3  9'4 
Work  of  the  Spirit. — Say,  Come,  22  17  945 
Worship  to  be  given  to  the  Cre- 
ator only,' 4  ii  903 

Ye  are  my  Witnesses,       .    .    .  2  13  895 


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IW    4    193ft 

^1^11            W       "w/v/l 

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THE  UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA  LIBRARY 


